

The official weekly podcast of the Victorian Football League, talking all things Smithy’s VFL and rebel VFLW.
Bernardi's Bombers go bang! O'Farrell's Carlton dream, Richmond resurgence required
Joe Pignataro and Gemma Bastiani bring you the State of Play in the Smithy's VFL and Rebel VFLW competitions.
The Rebel VFLW second round threw up some interesting results while there's a runaway pack at the top of the Smithy's VFL ladder
Catch up on:
- Harry O'Farrell lives out a boyhood dream at Carlton
- Are the Giants going under the radar in the VFL?
- An Essendon coaching masterclass in the VFLW
- INTERVIEW: Christina Bernardi; Essendon forward
- Frankston continue to impress Gemma
- This is the weekend for a Richmond resurgence
- Games that you can't afford to miss this weekend in both competitions
Subscribe to the State of Play VFL/W Podcast wherever you get your podcast to never miss a moment, a fresh episode is released in-season every Tuesday.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Coburg: In like Flynn, Roos & Pies make opening round statements
Joe Pignataro and Gemma Bastiani bring you the State of Play in the Smithy's VFL and Rebel VFLW competitions.
We are recapping the opening round of the Rebel VFLW season while Coburg ended a 17 year drought against Williamstown in Round 4 of the Smithy's VFL
Catch up on:
- Kangaroos make a statement in the Rebel VFLW
- Why Collingwood are one of the Rebel VFLW premiership contenders
- Another contender for Mark of the Year in the Smithy's VFL
- INTERVIEW: Flynn Gentile; Coburg midfielder
- A round of applause for the fans of Frankston
- The all-important must-watch matches this Anzac weekend
Subscribe to the State of Play VFL/W Podcast wherever you get your podcast to never miss a moment, a fresh episode is released in-season every Tuesday.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Collingwood VFLW program: A force to be reckoned with
A heavy off-season of recruiting at Collingwood in the VFLW space has landed them near the top when it comes to pre-season premiership favouritism.
Four new recruits to the Magpies were part of the Rebel VFLW representative team that proved to be successful on a historical evening during Gather Round over the SANFLW.
State of Play host Gemma Bastiani caught up with Lily-Rose Williamson, Tahlia Fellows, Lauren Szigeti and new Magpies captain Dom Carbone immediately after the win.
Subscribe to the State of Play VFL/W Podcast wherever you get your podcast to never miss a moment, a fresh episode is released in-season every Tuesday.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nigel Carmody: The VFL has changed my life
A historic weekend in Adelaide saw the Smithy's VFL representative team end a 22 year drought by beating the SANFL.
Former player in the competition and now highly respected broadcaster Nigel Carmody has been the Chair of Selectors for the 2024 and 2025 Big V programs, at the conclusion of the game, Carmody went one-on-one with State of Play host, Joe Pignataro.
Subscribe to the State of Play VFL/W Podcast wherever you get your podcast to never miss a moment, a fresh episode is released in-season every Tuesday.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
History making weekend of the Big V in Adelaide
Joe Pignataro and Gemma Bastiani bring you the State of Play in the Smithy's VFL and Rebel VFLW competitions.
This weeks edition is your one stop shop for everything related to our historical weekend as part of the AFL's Gather Round in South Australia
Catch up on:
- Rebel VFLW representative side claim the win in their first ever game
- Performance of Tahlia Fellows & Lilyrose Williamson
- After 22 long years, the Smithy's VFL representative side breaks through
- Louis Pinnuck puts his name in lights in a BOG display
- Previewing the opening round of the Rebel VFLW season this weekend
Subscribe to the State of Play VFL/W Podcast wherever you get your podcast to never miss a moment, a fresh episode is released in-season every Tuesday.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Big V preview: Is Dom, is good
Joe Pignataro and Gemma Bastiani bring you the State of Play in the Smithy's VFL and Rebel VFLW competitions.
In this bonus edition of State of Play, hear from both representative state coaches
- Dom Brew; Captain of the Smithy's VFL representative team
- Dom Carbone; Captain of the Rebel VFLW representative team
Subscribe to the State of Play VFL/W Podcast wherever you get your podcast to never miss a moment, a fresh episode is released in-season every Tuesday.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Hynes the Hero, Cats refuse to slide, a new Collingwood 6-footer
Joe Pignataro and Gemma Bastiani bring you the State of Play in the Smithy's VFL and Rebel VFLW competitions.
The next stop for the Smithy's VFL and Rebel VFLW is Adelaide, representative footy is a key pillar as part of the AFL's Gather Round this weekend.
Catch up on:
- The "sliding" Geelong move to 3-0
- Hynes sends Dogs fans into hysterics
- Wardius with a GIANT claim on an AFL debut
- Get to know "The Penong Flyer "
- INTERVIEW: Brylie Dauparas; Smithy’s Marketing Manager
- A preview of both representative games this weekend
Subscribe to the State of Play VFL/W Podcast wherever you get your podcast to never miss a moment, a fresh episode is released in-season every Tuesday.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Garner inspires a Richmond Resurgence, Young Bee makes his mark
Joe Pignataro and Gemma Bastiani bring you the State of Play in the Smithy's VFL and Rebel VFLW competitions.
It's time to unpack both Rebel VFLW and Smithy's VFL representative squads ahead of the representative games during Gather Round.
Catch up on:
- Rebel VFLW squad of 50 has been announced
- The make up of the Smithy's VFL 43-man squad
- Has Kreuger already been beaten for Mark of the Year?
- Which Werribee youngster shone the brightest in Round 2?
- INTERVIEW: Joel Garner; Richmond's match winning midfielder
- Do the Bombers have a momentum problem in third quarters?
- The games you can't afford to miss this weekend
Subscribe to the State of Play VFL/W Podcast wherever you get your podcast to never miss a moment, a fresh episode is released in-season every Tuesday.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Young Dog barking mad, MOTY contender, Sharks bite Bee's in the GF rematch
Joe Pignataro and Gemma Bastiani bring you the State of Play in the Smithy's VFL and Rebel VFLW competitions.
Recapping a big opening round of the season, and looking ahead to what's in store with Round 2 being considered a Super Saturday!
Catch up on:
- 3 more players added to Joey's Big V list that selectors must consider
- An early contender for mark of the year
- Unpacking the season's first draw
- A young Dog lit up the Whitten Oval under lights on Saturday night
- INTERVIEW: Matthew Primus; Coach of the Southport Sharks
- Why Lewis Hayes should get an AFL debut in the Bombers backline
- The games you can't afford to miss this weekend
Subscribe to the State of Play VFL/W Podcast wherever you get your podcast to never miss a moment, a fresh episode is released in-season every Tuesday.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2025 is on our doorstep, the Big V returns & our season predictions
Joe Pignataro and Gemma Bastiani bring you the State of Play in the Smithy's VFL and Rebel VFLW competitions.
We are on the doorstep of the 2025 season from kicking off and we have you covered wall-to-wall with our season preview.
Catch up on:
- The news from the off-season
- VFL players getting the chance to make their AFL debut this weekend
- INTERVIEW: Brett Gourley; Coach of the North Melbourne VFLW premiers and Rebel VFLW representative side
- INTERVIEW: Zane Littlejohn; Coach of the Box Hill Hawks and men's Smithy's VFL. representative side
- Joey's predictions for the season ahead
Subscribe to the State of Play VFL/W Podcast wherever you get your podcast to never miss a moment, a fresh episode is released in-season every Tuesday.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.