Leading into round 18, the race toward the finals is heating up, with the top four being wide open as Gold Coast and Port Adelaide keep their hopes alive.
St Kilda face Western Bulldogs in a do-or-die clash that could see either side not make finals.
Brisbane must bounce back against the Giants otherwise they could fall out of the top four.
Carlton take on Geelong at the MCG on Friday night it what seems like the game of the round, with the winner staking their claims for a double chance.
Essendon are currently playing some strong football and will need to bring the same energy they did against the Lions to defeat Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
The Sporting News has all the latest news on AFL players in the reserves.
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North Melbourne are likely to recall Jason Horne-Francis after a strong showing in the VFL over the weekend.
The no.1 draft pick has received plenty of scrutiny surrounding his behaviours on and off the field but responded brilliantly.
Horne-Francis kicked one goal and collected 31 touches against Collingwood and was arguably the Kangaroos' best.
The 19-year-old was put in the reserves after his two-game suspension following his hit on Giant Josh Kelly.
Western Bulldogs could call upon two of their key forwards as their front half woes continue to be an issue.
Josh Bruce kicked four goals against Sandringham on Sunday from 18 possessions whilst also missing another five shots.
Bruce is making his return from an ACL tear late in 2021 and unfortunately missed out on the chance to play in the Grand Final but could help turn the tides for the Bulldogs.
The former Saint is crucial to their set up, assisting Aaron Naughton up front by providing another viable scoring option.
Sam Darcy could also be unveiled as a debutante, with a string of impressive performances in the reserves.
Darcy kicked one major from 17 disposals and looks confident in his ability to take marks and compete.
Jacob Hopper is almost certain to return for the Giants' clash with Brisbane on Saturday at Manuka Oval.
Hopper was given another week in the VFL to ensure he was ready after overcoming multiple knee injuries.
The 25-year-old had 32 touches and 13 clearances in a dominant performance and looked ready to return to the senior line up.
After being smashed around the contest against Port Adelaide, Mark McVeigh could opt to bring in the bullocking midfielder to help bolster their strength in stoppages.
Scott Lycett will be looked at by coach Ken Hinkley to help counter the Melbourne ruck duo of Max Gawn and Luke Jackson.
Following a shoulder injury that's kept him sidelined for majority of the year, Lycett is ready to make his long-awaited return against the reigning premiers.
The former Eagle had 16 possessions and a goal, whilst also getting his hand to the ball 13 times in stoppages.
How AFL players performed in the VFL, SANFL and WAFL
Adelaide
- Fischer McAsey - three goals, five touches and three marks
- Billy Frampton - 26 possessions and 12 marks
- Elliot Himmelberg - two goals, 15 disposals and seven tackles
- Lachlan Sholl - one goal, 25 touches and eight marks
- Lachlan Gollant - one goal, six possessions and two marks
- Kieran Strachan - 31 hit-outs, 17 disposals and five marks
Brisbane
- No Match
Carlton
- Sam Durdin - 14 touches and five marks
- Paddy Dow - one goal, 23 possessions and 10 clearances
- Lachie Fogarty - 30 disposals, seven marks and seven tackles
- Liam Stocker - 31 touches and four tackles
- Jack Carroll - 17 possessions
- Ed Curnow - 19 disposals and five tackles
Collingwood
- Trent Bianco - 35 touches, six marks and three clearances
- Callum Brown - 21 possessions and three marks
- Finlay Macrae - one goal, 34 disposals, nine tackles and 10 clearances
- Arlo Draper - 20 touches and four marks
- Caleb Poulter - 18 possessions and five marks
- Ash Johnson - two goals, 17 disposals and four marks
Essendon
- No Match
Fremantle
- Darcy Tucker - 21 touches, five marks and five tackles
- Neil Erasmus - 22 possessions and four marks
- Connor Blakely - 26 disposals and six tackles
- Lloyd Meek - 51 hit-outs, one goal, 11 touches and six tackles
- Heath Chapman - 23 possessions, one goal and five tackles
- Joel Hamling - eight disposals
Geelong
- Mitch Knevitt - 17 touches, six clearances and three marks
- Cooper Stephens - one goal, 11 disposals and four tackles
- Jon Ceglar - 36 hit-outs, 23 possessions and seven clearances
- Esava Ratugolea - 10 touches, five marks and five tackles
- Quinton Narkle - 29 disposals, six marks and six clearances
- Francis Evans - five goals, 22 possessions and three marks
- Luke Dahlhaus - 22 touches, four tackles and five clearances
Gold Coast
- Alex Sexton - one goal, 16 touches and six tackles
- Rory Thompson - 12 possessions and six marks
- Josh Corbett - one goal, two disposals and two marks
- James Tsitas - 22 touches, 10 tackles and seven clearances
- Chris Burgess - two goals, nine possessions and five marks
- Mac Andrew - 13 disposals and six marks
- Charlie Constable - one goal, 35 touches and nine clearances
- Elijah Holldans - 21 possessions and four marks
- Darcy Macpherson - 24 disposals and four marks
GWS Giants
- Jacob Hopper - 32 touches and 13 clearances
- Braydon Preuss - 30 hit-outs, six possessions and two clearances
- Jake Riccardi - three goals, 17 disposals and 10 marks
- Zach Sproule - three goals, 16 touches and five marks
- Jarrod Brander - one goal, 21 possessions and eight marks
- Kieran Briggs - 15 disposals, 18 hit-outs and six marks
- Xavier O'Halloran - two goals, 19 touches and five marks
Hawthorn
- Daniel Howe - 27 touches and five marks
- Max Lynch - one goal, 25 hit-outs and 12 possessions
- Tom Phillips - 26 disposals, five marks and eight tackles
- Ned Long - one goal, seven touches and three marks
- Jai Serong - one goal, 11 possessions and five marks
Melbourne
- Bailey Laurie - three goals, 30 touches and four marks
- Jake Melksham - 21 possessions and seven tackles
- Adam Tomlinson - 17 disposals and two marks
- Jacob van Rooyen - two goals, 11 touches and six marks
- Trent Rivers - 20 possessions
- Sam Weideman - two goals, 10 disposals and four marks
- Luke Dunstan - 31 touches and nine clearances
- Jayden Hunt - one goal, 18 possessions and seven marks
- Mitch Brown - one goal, 13 disposals and five marks
North Melbourne
- Kallan Dawson - 20 touches and six marks
- Jason Horne-Francis - one goal, 31 possessions and seven tackles
- Atu Bosenavulagi - 17 disposals and eight marks
- Josh Goater - one goal, 16 touches and seven marks
- Kyron Hayden - 13 possessions and four marks
Port Adelaide
- Steven Motlop - 32 touches, six marks and seven clearances
- Xavier Duursma - 20 possessions and six marks
- Scott Lycett - 16 disposals, one goal and 13 hit-outs
Richmond
- No Match
St Kilda
- Ryan Byrnes - one goal, 26 touches and 10 clearances
- Ben Long - 12 possessions and one tackles
- Matthew Allison - 12 disposals and six marks
- Jarrod Lienert - 20 touches and four marks
- Ben Paton - 23 possessions, five marks and five tackles
- Leo Connolly - 29 disposals and 20 marks
- Tom Campbell - one goal, 25 touches, 32 hit-outs and six clearances
Sydney
- No Match
West Coast
- Zac Langdon - 10 touches and five tackles
- Alex Witherden - 22 possessions and five marks
- Xavier O'Neill - 25 disposals, eight tackles and three marks
- Jackson Nelson - 13 touches and nine tackles
- Patrick Naish - 32 possessions and six marks
- Jai Culley - 16 disposals and seven tackles
Western Bulldogs
- Sam Darcy - one goal, 17 touches and six marks
- Zaine Cord - 16 possessions and eight marks
- Toby McLean - one goal, 27 disposals and nine tackles
- Josh Bruce - four goals, 18 touches and six marks
- Louis Butler - 20 possessions and three tackles
- Tim O'Brien - 17 disposals and seven marks
- Laitham Vandermeer - 13 touches and three marks
- Buku Khamis - 16 possessions and seven marks
- Lachlan McNeil - two goals, 14 disposals and four marks
- Roarke Smith - one goal, 12 touches and four marks
- Jordon Sweet - 30 hit-outs, six clearances and eight possessions
More: Want more AFL? Watch Warriors On The Field celebrating Aboriginal Australia and its long history and association with the AFL. Streaming on AMAZON PRIME VIDEO.
