VFL
Footscray 10. 13 (73) def. Essendon 10.9 (69)
A see-sawing game at Whitten Oval saw Footscray get the chocolates behind Tom Liberatore's 21 disposals and eight tackles.
Tom Campbell and Matthew Leuenberger went head to head in a high quality ruck match up, with the Dog coming out on top with 40 hit outs, 17 touches, five tackles and a goal in the tight win.
Essendon's Shaun McKernan bagged four goals in the loss while Jackson Merrett kicked three from his 23 touches.
Williamstown 15.14 (104) def. Sandringham 12.8 (80)
Williamstown cemented their place in the VFL's upper echelon with a strong performance despite Darren Minchington and Jack Lonie kicking three goals apiece.
2015 first-rounder Nathan Freeman collected 30 disposals in the loss.
Northern Bluesย 14.16 (100) def. Coburg 13.13 (91)
Carlton's Nick Graham starred for North Ballarat on Sunday with 33 disposals, nine tackles and six inside 50s as the Blues climbed up to third on the ladder.
Former Cat Billie Smedts booted two goals while Sam Kerridge reeled in 16 marks while collecting 32 touches in a near-best on ground performance.
Casey Scorpions 15.12 (102) def. Collingwood 13.5 (83)
Chris Mayne's four goal haul wasn't enough to lift the Pies over Casey on Saturday afternoon as former Pie Ben Kennedy's 28 touches, nine inside 50s and six tackles was instrumental in the Scorpions' win.
Jarryd Blair gathered 39 touches (31 handballs!) as he stakes his claim for an AFL return while Jackson Ramsay also put in an impressive performance with 28 touches and seven marks in the loss.
Sam Weiderman and Dean Kent kicked four between them for Casey to set up the Scorpions win.
North Ballarat 11.9 (75) def. by Box Hill 12.16 (88)
In a top vs bottom clash, Box Hill narrowly escaped with the win with poor kicking not helping their cause on Sunday afternoon.
Marc Pittonet amassed 54 hit outs in the Hawks win while Vickery kicked 1.1 from his 11 touches. Kurt Heatherley led all players with 29 touches as the Hawks maintained a six-point lead on top of the VFL ladder.
