MATCH DETAILS
2025 Smithy's VFL Grand Final
Footscray Bulldogs (1st) vs Southport Sharks (3rd)
Sunday, September 21, 2:15pm AEST
IKON Park, Carlton North • Wurundjeri
Broadcast: The 2025 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final will be broadcast live and free on the Seven Network via 7mate 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: 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 from midday on Tuesday, September 16. Patrons purchasing at the gate are advised the payment method is card only.
Entry via Gate 5 and Gate 6 ONLY.
The Bulldogs Shop will be located outside Gate 6 (main entrance) at IKON Park with all the latest merch available for purchase so you can cheer on the Dogs in style!
LAST MEETING
Footscray 7.9 (51) def. by Southport 9.7 (61)
Preliminary Final, 2024
The Footscray Bulldogs brought a valiant fight to their 2024 Preliminary Final, narrowly falling short by 10 points in a spirited back-and-forth clash at Mission Whitten Oval. The Dogs found patches of momentum throughout the contest, winning their share of contested possessions early and creating late chances that kept the result in the balance.
Caleb Poulter was industrious through the middle, gathering 15 disposals and applying eight tackles that represented the Bulldogs’ pressure.
Dan Orgill added grit around the contest with 13 disposals and two clearances, while Arthur Jones injected speed on the outside with nine touches and two clearances of his own. Cooper Craig-Peters delivered one of the standout performances, amassing 25 disposals, 11 tackles and seven clearances in an impressive midfield display.
THE LINE-UP
Check back at 12:20pm Friday for the full team!
WHO TO WATCH
As a graduate of the Footscray VFL program, Anthony Scott enters the Grand Final carrying a wealth of experience and determination. His journey is one defined by resilience: after initially missing out on the AFL draft, he joined Richmond’s VFL program, only to find opportunities limited. Rather than faltering, Scott turned to amateur football, using it as a platform to demonstrate his ability and tenacity. The result was immediate and convincing – he claimed Footscray’s Best and Fairest in his debut season and has since established himself as a versatile AFL-listed player, equally capable across all three lines.
Scott’s form in the Preliminary Final was emphatic, amassing 37 disposals – 18 kicks and 19 handballs – alongside four marks, seven tackles, and nine clearances. That performance produces compelling momentum heading into the Grand Final, positioning him as a central figure on the day and one whose relentless work rate will be welcomed.
