The local clubs behind the VFL Grand Final players
This Sunday will be the first time that two standalone clubs (no AFL alignment) will contest the Smithy’s VFL Grand Final since AFL reserves and AFL-aligned teams first came into the VFL competition for the 2000 season, when minor premiers Werribee take on the Southport Sharks at IKON Park.
The last standalone club to win the VFL premiership was Port Melbourne in 2017, who defeated Richmond in the Grand Final. In the 25 years since 2000, standalone clubs have won VFL premierships on three occasions: Port Melbourne (2017, 2011) and Williamstown (2015).
2024 Smithy's VFL Grand Final
Werribee (1st) vs Southport Sharks (5th)
Sunday, September 22
3:10pm AEST
IKON Park
Broadcast: The 2024 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final will be broadcast live and free on the Seven Network via Channel 7 in Victoria and 7plus nationally. The match will also be streamed live and free on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.
Ticketing: For the 2024 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final admission prices will be adults $20, concession/pensioners $15 and children under 15 free. Tickets can be purchased at www.intix.com.au/org/vfl. Patrons purchasing at the gate are advised the payment method is card only.
Werribee finished the 2024 Smithy’s VFL season on top of the ladder to win its first minor premiership since 2005, and will be seeking redemption after a heartbreaking loss to the Gold Coast SUNS in the 2023 Smithy's VFL Grand Final.
The Tigers are aiming to break a 31-year premiership drought since its last and only Victorian Football Association/ Victorian Football League flag in 1993.
With victory in the 2024 VFL Grand Final, Southport would become the second-straight Queensland-based VFL premier after Gold Coast SUNS became the first non-Victorian VFL premier in 2023.
For more information, check out the 2024 Smithy's VFL Grand Final fact sheet.
Many of the players expected to play in this Sunday's Smithy's VFL Grand Final began their football careers at community clubs across Victoria, including six Southport players.
See below for the list of players expected to feature in the Grand Final and the community clubs where they began their journeys.
Werribee
1. Hudson Garoni - Wodonga JFC/Wodonga Football & Sports Club (VIC)
4. Cooper Whyte - Grovedale Tigers (VIC)
7. Nick Hayes - Brinkworth Spalding Redhill Football Club (SA)
8. Jack Henderson - Blighty Football Club/Deniliquin FNC (NSW)
9. Louis Pinnuck - Strathmerton FC (VIC)
10. Kobe Innand - Ocean Grove (Juniors and Seniors)/Werribee Centrals/North Shore (VIC)
16. Harrison Grintell - Narrandera Eagles/Narrandera Imperial FNC (NSW)
17. Aidan Johnson - Lavington Panthers JFC & FNC/Yarraville Seddon Eagles/Brock Burrum Saints (VIC)
18. Nathan Cooper - Westbrook Junior AFL Club/Pennant Hills Demons/Baulkham Hills FC (NSW)
19. Sam Azzi - St Patricks JFC/North Albury FC (NSW)
20. Flynn Young - Ocean Grove JFC/Barwon Heads/Newton & Chilwell/St Josephs/Grovedale Tigers (VIC)
22. Bior Malual - Werribee Centrals/Werribee Districts/Airport West (VIC)
24. Jay Dahlhaus - St Mary's (Juniors and Seniors) (VIC)
26. Riley Bice - St Patrick's JFC/Murray Magpies/Albury FC (NSW)
27. Jesse Clark - St Josephs (Juniors & Seniors) (VIC)
28. Stefan Radovanovic - Keilor (VIC)
29. Dominic Brew (C) - Albury JFC/Albury FC/North Albury (NSW)
32. Samuel Paea - Maribyrnong Park FC/Aberfeldie (VIC)
33. Jack Riding - North Ballarat FNC (VIC)
34. Jaelen Pavlidis - Werribee Districts (VIC)
35. Jake Smith - Williamstown Juniors/Geelong West Giants (VIC)
36. Zac Banch - Yarrawonga JFC & FNC/Shepparton Swans FC (VIC)
45. Connor Thar - Werribee Districts/Lara (VIC)
50. Sam Conway - Amateurs JFC/St Mary's (AFL Barwon) (VIC)
Southport Sharks
1. Boyd Woodcock - Bute/Paskeville/Bute/North Adelaide/Broadview JFC/North Adelaide (SA)
2. Zac Foot - Langwarrin CFC & FNC (VIC)
3. Jacob Dawson (C) - Burleigh Juniors & Seniors/Pal Beach Currumbin (QLD)
4. Michael Manteit - Phillip Island FC/Kilcunda Bass FC/Melbourne HS Old Boys (VIC)
5. Jacob Heron - Cairns Saints (Juniors & Seniors) (QLD)
6. Max Spencer - Palm Beach Currumbin (Juniors & Seniors) (QLD)
10. Mackenzie Willis - Kingborough Tigers JFC/Hobart FC/Tigers FC (TAS)
11. Ben Jepson - Camberwell Sharks JFC/Old Carey (VIC)
12. Jay Lockhart - Scottsdale FC/North Launceston FC (TAS)
14. Matt McGuinness - Lauderdale Juniors & Seniors (TAS)
15. Wylie Buzza - Darling Downs Crows/Mt Gravatt (QLD)
16. Matt Shannon - Numurkah FC/Congupna FC/Shepparton FNC/Tatura FNC (VIC)
17. Keegan Gray - Heywood JFC/Portland FNCC/Bell Park (VIC)
18. Rhys Clark - Kyabram (Junior & Senior) FNC/Bendigo FC (VIC)
20. Brayden Crossley (C) - Burleigh (Juniors & Seniors)/Palm Beach Currumbin (QLD)
21. Jackson Edwards - Henley JFC (SA)
25. Jesse Joyce - Tweed Coolangatta (Juniors & Seniors)/Palm Beach Currumbin (QLD)
27. Will Sexton - Finley FC/Yarrawonga FNC (NSW)
28. Jack Sexton - Finley FC/Yarrawonga FNC (NSW)
29. Hugh Dixon - Kingborough Tigers JFC (TAS)
30. Nicholas Williams - Kingborough Tigers JFC (TAS)/Sandy Bay Lions JFC (TAS)/Surfers Paradise (Juniors & Seniors) (QLD)
32. Brock Aston - Coolaroo FC/Darling Downs/Wests Juniors/Morningside/Redland-Victoria Point Sharks (QLD)
33. Campbell Lake - Ormeau Juniors/Coomera/Labrador (QLD)
39. William Derrington - Labrador/Cairns Saints (Juniors & Seniors) (QLD)
