A brilliant super Sunday of VFL has helped determine the final VFL ladder, with Casey and Williamstown both netting important wins, and Frankston and Brisbane splitting the points.
The Demons defeated Box Hill by 23 points, dominating proceedings, with Collingwood and Richmond's losses helping ensure they bypass wildcard round after winning the last four games of their home and away season.
Needing to win to make the top 10, Williamstown beat Richmond VFL by 21 points, consigning the Tigers to wildcard weekend action and knocking Coburg, which had a bye, out of finals.
Frankston's Nick Burke kicked a goal after the siren to tie the game against Brisbane, ensuring a top four finish for the Dolphins, while Brisbane VFL dropped to sixth on the table.
Meanwhile, the Hawks' loss, paired with Footscray's 105-point massacre of Carlton VFL ensured the Dogs finished on top of the VFL table.
VFL Wildcard Fixture
Saturday, August 23Second Wildcard Final: Richmond (8th) vs GWS Giants (9th)
ETU Stadium, 12:10pm AEST
Broadcaster: 7mate and 7plus
Sunday, August 24
First Wildcard Final: Collingwood (7th) vs Williamstown (10th)
Victoria Park, 2:05pm AEST
Broadcaster: AFL.com.au
Below is a game-by-game wrap...
Southport (103) defeat North Melbourne VFL (81)
VFL stars Boyd Woodcock and Jacob Dawson led Southport to a come-from-behind win against the Roos.
Missing emerging winger Tai Hayes, Michael Manteit had his highest possession tally of the season with 31 disposals, while Josh Gore kicked 4.2.
For North Melbourne, Darcy Macpherson had a day out with 36 disposals, two goals and six tackles, while Matt Clarkson, the son of AFL senior coach Alastair, combined 23 disposals and a goal.
Northern Bullants (41) def by Werribee (85)
Reigning premiers Werribee finished its season with a win thanks to a seven goal to two second half.
Second year VFL midfielder Jake Smith played arguably his best game at the level, racking up 34 disposals to give himself an excellent platform to launch into 2026.
Hudson Garoni kicked his third back of four in the last four weeks, while Jack Riding had 36 possessions.
Will Elliott kicked three goals for the Bullants, with the haul lifting the young key forward's tally to 13 from 11 games in 2025.
Port Melbourne (78) def Collingwood VFL (70)
A five-goal haul to Dominic Bedendo inspired Port Melbourne to a surprise eight point win in a down year for the traditional VFL club.
The Borough trailed for much of the match but took the lead in the last 20 minutes and held onto it, with Charlie Lazarro running rampant to finish with a whopping 45 disposals and seven tackles.
Famous Essendon names Dyson Heppell (38 disposals) and Tom Hird (30) were also influential.
For Collingwood, dropped veterans Tom Mitchell and Will Hoskin-Elliott were both serviceable but neither banged the selection door down, with Mitchell having 17 disposals and eight tackles, while Hoskin-Elliott had 12 and a goal.
Winger Roan Steele racked up 32 disposals and a goal, while key forward/ruck Mason Cox kept the pressure on AFL men Dan McStay and Tim Membrey with 20 touches, 29 hitouts and a goal.
Sandringham (54) v Essendon (115)
Essendon finished its season with a big-win in a dead rubber between two bottom four sides on the table, but much of the interest was reserved for the pair of AFL Draft prospects in action.
Top five pick contender Cooper Duff-Tytler debuted for Essendon and kicked two first quarter goals to frank the hype that surrounds his name.
Having split his time between playing school footy for Penleigh and Essendon Grammar and Vic Metro at the U18s National Championships in recent times, Duff-Tytler has slowly started getting more exposure forward.
That's where he played for the Bombers and finished with 3.2 from 13 disposals in an important showing of his diverse skillset.
Meanwhile, St Kilda NGA prospect Kye Fincher made his VFL debut and was named Sandringham's player of the day, with his 24 touches bettered only by AFL-listed Jack Carroll and vice captain Ethan Williams.
His ball use impressed and he played with great confidence and energy off the back of an U18s National Championships which has him viewed as a second round prospect.
It was Sandringham and St Kilda's last match as a VFL alignment, with St Kilda to field its own reserves side in 2026 and Sandringham to go standalone.
Gold Coast (94) def GWS VFL (64)
A six goal to zero last quarter lifted Gold Coast to a last round VFL victory and consigned the Giants VFL to an away wildcard match next weekend.
Gold Coast Academy AFL Draft prospects Koby Coulson, Beau Addinsall and Dylan Patterson all shone.
Coulson, an U18s All Australian member, had 26 disposals, a goal and five tackles in a hard-running effort, Beau Addinsall's inside work was phenomenal as he won 26 possessions and Patterson had 24 touches.
Unused at AFL level in 2025, Tom Berry had 43 disposals, while ruck Ned Moyle and first year player Leo Lombard were also impressive.
For GWS, Harrison Oliver had a career-high 34 disposals and bottom-aged Academy player Ethan Matthews had 16 touches.
Sydney (66) def by Geelong VFL (111)
Out of contract veterans Mitch Duncan and Cam Guthrie both played out what could be their last game in the hoops in an off-broadway VFL match on Sunday.
Both returning from injury, Duncan had 21 disposals and a goal and Guthrie finished with nine disposals.
Second-year midfielders George Stevens and Jhye Clark were the leading possession-winners for the Cats, while Jay Polkinghorne kicked four goals.
Matt Roberts staked his claim for an AFL recall with 36 disposals for the Swans.
Veteran midfielder Taylor Adams finished his year on a high in the state league with 23 disposals and nine tackles, while youngster Corey Warner's 36 disposals were impressive.
Footscray (146) def Carlton (31)
Footscray locked in top spot on the VFL table with a 15-goal to one second half lifting it to an enormous victory over Carlton.
Adam Treloar had a day out, combining 40 disposals with 10 tackles and a goal to press a commanding case for AFL selection.
Caleb Poulter put himself in AFL selection consideration with six goals, while Taylor Duryea had 30 disposals.
Mid-Season pickups Michael Sellwood and Zac Walker both had moments; Sellwood continuing his strong form with 29 disposals and Walker swung forward for the first time since his arrival and having three scoring shots.
Jordan Boyd and Harry Charleson were Carlton's leading ball winners.
Casey (88) def Box Hill (65)
Luker Kentfield continued his late-season push for an AFL debut by kicking three goals in a surprise victory for Casey over the top-two Hawks.
The 194cm forward has kicked multiples in all but one of his last seven games at VFL level and stood up in big moments and converted when Casey often struggled on Sunday.
Jack Billings was given plenty of space to do as he pleased in the midfield, finishing with 40 disposals, while Riley Bonner was the general in defence with 38 disposals.
Melbourne NGA Draft prospect Toby Sinnema made his VFL debut and used his venomous left foot to great effect, gathering 15 disposals and kicking a crucial third quarter major.
Sam Butler, Henry Hustwaite, Jasper Scaife and Ned Reeves led the way for Box Hill, which go into finals off the back of consecutive losses, resulting in them surrendering top spot.
Frankston 89 drew with Brisbane 89
Frankston secured a top four finish in the VFL thanks to an after-the-siren goal by Nick Burke at Kinetic Stadium on Sunday.
Trailing by seven points at the 28-minute-mark of the last quarter in a tense battle all day, established VFL forward Corey Ellison kicked a behind before Burke took a strong mark and finished from 30 out on a 45-degree angle.
Former Adelaide-listed Will Hamill and former Sandringham captain Darby Hipweel led the way throughout the day, while young ruck Harry Coe competed well with the seasoned Oscar McInerney.
For Brisbane, Dan Annable continued his great streak of VFL form with a team-high 25 disposals and seven tackles, while Deven Robertson had 25 touches.
Williamstown (73) def Richmond VFL (52)
It got within 12 points midway through the last quarter, but Williamstown was never seriously threatened by Richmond as it played for a spot in the VFL Wildcard Round.
Brodie McLaughlin kicked four goals, Jake Greiser had 31 disposals and Riley Collier-Dawkins was also important in the win.
Richmond AFL mid Kaleb Smith and Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal contender Harry Scott led Richmond's unrelenting fight, while Lachy Wilson was also excellent with his dash and pressure.
