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State of Play - VFL/W Podcast

AFL
VFL
VFLW
Footscray
Southport Sharks
Tasmania
Collingwood Football Club
Geelong Cats
Frankston Dolphins
Footscray Bulldogs
Coburg Football Club
Southport
Box Hill Hawks
North Melbourne Football Club
Domestic Violence
GWS Giants
Tasmanian Devils
Port Melbourne
Carlton Football Club
Werribee Football Club
Coburg

The official weekly podcast of the Victorian Football League, talking all things Smithy’s VFL and rebel VFLW.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes100Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Sports

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Artwork for State of Play

Latest Episodes

Joe Pignataro and Gemma Bastiani bring you the State of Play in the Smithy's VFL and VFLW competitions.

Catch up on:

• A shock loss to Williamstown reignites the #1 seed debate

• Steph Asciak a Bulldogs hero

• Essendon continuing this catapul... more

Joe Pignataro and Gemma Bastiani bring you the State of Play in the Smithy's VFL and VFLW competitions.

Catch up on:

• Gemma's pre-season prediction comes back to haunt her

• Frankston's found a new forward on the eve of the finals

• Carlton'... more

Joe Pignataro and Gemma Bastiani bring you the State of Play in the Smithy's VFL and VFLW competitions.

Catch up on:

• Geelong are taunting their opposition at the top of the ladder

• North Melbourne blew a golden opportunity to break into the... more

Joe Pignataro and Gemma Bastiani bring you the State of Play in the Smithy's VFL and VFLW competitions.

Catch up on:

• Have Williamstown surpassed the Magpies?

• Could Footscray go on a surprise September run?

• Unflappable formline of the Ca... more

Joe Pignataro and Gemma Bastiani bring you the State of Play in the Smithy's VFL and VFLW competitions.

Catch up on:

• Is there vulnerability in the Collingwood VFLW line-up?

• Williamstown's incredibly healthy VFLW list

• Question marks over... more

Joe Pignataro and Gemma Bastiani bring you the State of Play in the Smithy's VFL and VFLW competitions.

Catch up on:

• Williamstown's ruck duo proving to be a handful

• Carlton's season is in free-fall

• Tasmania breakthrough for a historic f... more

Joe Pignataro and Gemma Bastiani bring you the State of Play in the Smithy's VFL and VFLW competitions.

Catch up on:

• The reigning premiers are in free-fall

• Noah Yze playing with excitement & freedom at Sandy

• Williamstown the third best ... more

Joe Pignataro and Gemma Bastiani bring you the State of Play in the Smithy's VFL and VFLW competitions.

Catch up on:

• Gemma's day at Casey Fields

• Werribee continuing their climb up the ladder

• Bernardi leads the Bombers to their first win... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Grace White
Tasmanian Devils captain, inaugural Tassie VFLW player
Tasmanian Devils / Tassie VFLW
Episode: Tassie's history-making victory, Voss the boss at the Dolphins, Carlton in free-fall
Jackson Voss
Frankston Dolphins player, pivotal in their late heroics and standout on-field
Frankston Dolphins
Episode: Tassie's history-making victory, Voss the boss at the Dolphins, Carlton in free-fall
Christina Bernardi
Regular guest, Essendon AFLW/VFLW player, development coach
Essendon Football Club
Episode: Footscray in the doldrums, No Benno - No Bombers, Willy's outstanding weekend
Charlie Lazzaro
AFL player, joined State of Play to discuss his move to Werribee and season outlook
Werribee Football Club
Episode: The importance of a captain, checkpoint Charlie at home with Werribee
Daniel Capuron
VFL/AFL forward who kicked five goals in the weekend
Geelong Cats (VFL)
Episode: VFL Cats are purring, is North Melbourne-Werribee gettable?
Phil Cleary
Former Coburg player/coach, campaigner for Vicki Cleary Day
Coburg Football Club / Vicki Cleary Day
Episode: BONUS | Phil Cleary pays tribute to the life of Vicki Cleary
Gryan Myers
Geelong player, interviewed about return from injury and team performance
Geelong Football Club
Episode: Burgers boilover, Darling of Darebin, Blue skies at Carlton
Daniel Ward
Special guest, former player and coach of Sandy Zebras
Sandy Zebras (Sandringham Sarafan?)
Episode: Tassie story of 2026, Respect for Richmond, Sandy Warding off the Saints
Tom Hird
Captain of Port Melbourne, VFL player
Port Melbourne
Episode: Moving weekend on the ladder & have you Hird about Port's win over Brisbane?

Hosts

Gemma Bastiani
Host of the State of Play podcast
Joey Pignataro
Co-host of the show and voice of the program

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Tassie's historic day, Footscray settling into new life, Lowther finding his Tiger paws
Q: How are you feeling after the win and the travel to the game?
Dan Lowther expressed elation at the victory, emphasized the effort and competitiveness of the squad, and noted the challenging conditions and humidity, framing the win as a strong start to the season.
Reid all about the Roos back-to-back flags; Footscray's VFL flag to lose
Q: What was the thinking behind moving Stella Reid to the forward line for the Grand Final?
The coaches trusted her versatility and believed she could influence the game more effectively in attack, especially given the close contest, which paid off with her three goals including the match-winner.
Be a hero Bailey + Bodie on the siren = Semi-final weekend living up to the hype!
Q: How did Bodie Ryan end up in the forward line for Box Hill, and what did the kick on the siren mean for the team?
Bodie described how a last-30-second switch put him forward; his accurate kick on the siren sealed the win and sparked belief for the semifinal challenge ahead.
Be a hero Bailey + Bodie on the siren = Semi-final weekend living up to the hype!
Q: What was the atmosphere like at the Frankston game and which players stood out?
The atmosphere was electric with a large home crowd; Bailey Lambert, Darby Hipwell, and Tom Blumise were repeatedly cited as influential players, while Angus Grant stepped up when Noah Gown was out.
1 Foot in front of the other, Geelong's secret weapon is made of secret stuff!
Q: What's it like to play under coach Jackson Kornberg, and how has that influenced your development?
Tommy praised Kornberg for his mentorship, availability, and knowledge, noting how the coach's guidance has helped him stay on track and continue improving.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About State of Play

What is State of Play about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly rundown of the Victorian Football League ecosystem, with heavy emphasis on VFL and VFLW results, player spotlights, and strategic analysis. Episodes blend game-by-game breakdowns, ladder dynamics, and behind-the-scenes anecdotes, often anchored by long-form interviews with current players, coaches, and notable media voices. Expect deep dives into team form, cross-league movement, and weekend highlights across multiple clubs, plus personal stories from guests that shed light on player development, leadership, and the broader football ecosystem. A standout pattern is the consistent pairing of expert analysis with guest perspectives—from rising stars and established players to coaches and broadcasters—providing listeners with both tac... more

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Which podcasts are similar to State of Play?

These podcasts share a similar audience with State of Play:

1. VFL Rewind
2. The Big W Podcast
3. Dan Does Footy
4. Footy & Friends
5. AFL Daily

How many episodes of State of Play are there?

State of Play launched 3 years ago and published 100 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on State of Play?

Recent guests on State of Play include:

1. Grace White
2. Jackson Voss
3. Christina Bernardi
4. Charlie Lazzaro
5. Daniel Capuron
6. Phil Cleary
7. Gryan Myers
8. Daniel Ward

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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