Round 21 began with a thrilling Friday night contest between Melbourne (2nd position) and Collingwood (3rd).
The Pies managed to prevail by seven points in what was arguably the game of the season.
Hawthorn scraped through a win against Gold Coast while GWS responded brilliantly after last week's disappointing effort.
The Western Bulldogs' finals hopes remains in tatters after failing to defeat Fremantle, while Geelong sit a game clear following a strong victory over St Kilda.
Richmond jump back into the eight, defeating Port Adelaide in Adelaide, as Sydney keep their top four chances alive with a win over North Melbourne.
Carlton's position in the eight looks like it's in jeopardy, losing to Brisbane at the Gabba while Adelaide spoiled Josh Kennedy's farewell game at Optus Stadium, despite the star forward kicking eight goals.
The Sporting News has all the latest news on AFL players in the reserves.
SEE YOUR TEAM: Adelaide | Brisbane | Carlton | Collingwood | Essendon | Fremantle | Geelong | Gold Coast | GWS | Hawthorn | Melbourne | North Melbourne | Port Adelaide | Richmond | St Kilda | Sydney | West Coast | Western Bulldogs
Ben Cunnington could make his long-awaited return this week after dealing with bouts of testicular cancer, keeping him off the field since round 19 last year.
Bringing him straight back into the senior side was decided against, as Cunnington played in the VFL, collecting 18 touches, four marks and three tackles.
The veteran's comeback is nearly complete and will be a sight for sore eyes for North Melbourne fans, bringing some positivity to a disappointing season.
The Western Bulldogs could bring in an array of players, as some of their regular faces performed strongly in the reserves.
With their season hanging in the balance, coach Luke Beveridge might make some tough decisions to ensure his club has the best opportunity of playing finals.
Dropped key forward Josh Schache proved to be a viable option for Beveridge, kicking seven goals from 23 disposals over the weekend.
Stefan Martin could be brought in to help Tim English despite the Dogs unveiling son-of-a-gun Sam Darcy over the weekend.
Martin kicked two majors and had 28 possessions as well as 24 hit-outs and eight clearances in a dominating performance.
Premiership player Lachie Hunter is also fighting for his spot in the side as he's struggled to break into it following some personal time away from football.
Hunter slotted three goals from his 31 touches.
St Kilda must bring in some help for Rowan Marshall in the ruck, as the absence of Paddy Ryder is hurting them and their finals chances.
Tom Campbell seems to be the most viable option in the next fortnight, with the former Kangaroo performing strongly in the VFL over the year.
Campbell put through two goals from his 28 disposals, while also stacking the stat sheet with 34 hit-outs and five clearances.
Matt Crouch continues to put his hand up for senior selection, despite being dropped three times so far this season.
Experienced Hawk Liam Shiels is also making a push after another scintillating effort in the reserves.
Collingwood's swingman Jack Madgen is also in contention.
How AFL players performed in the VFL, SANFL and WAFL
Adelaide
- Fischer McAsey - three goals, seven touches and five marks
- Matt Crouch - 42 possessions, eight clearances and six marks
- Riley Thilthorpe - 11 disposals and six marks
- Josh Rachele - seven touches and five marks
- Luke Pedlar - one goal, 16 possessions and eight marks
- Billy Frampton - 22 disposals and six marks
- James Rowe - two goals and 16 touches
- Lachlan Sholl - 35 possessions and six marks
Brisbane
- Kai Lohmann - five touches and two tackles
- Nakia Cockatoo - 13 possessions and four marks
- James Madden - 12 disposals and four marks
- Jaxon Prior - one goal, 14 touches and six marks
- Tom Fullarton - two goals and 14 possessions
- James Tunstill - 14 disposals and five marks
- Darcy Fort - 18 touches, 20 hit-outs and five marks
- Ryan Lester - 27 possessions, seven marks and six clearances
Carlton
- No Match
Collingwood
- Oliver Henry - three goals, 10 touches and seven marks
- Callum Brown - 26 possessions, nine tackles and six clearances
- Finlay Macrae - one goal, 23 disposals and seven tackles
- Arlo Draper - 19 touches and 10 tackles
- Will Kelly - one goal, 13 possessions and five marks
- Trey Ruscoe - one goal, 17 disposals and six marks
- Caleb Poulter - one goal, 18 touches and four marks
- Jack Madgen - five goals, 25 possessions and 12 marks
Essendon
- Jye Menzie - one goal, 12 touches and four marks
- Aaron Francis - 16 possessions and five marks
- Tom Cutler - 18 disposals
- Michael Hurley - one goal, 10 touches and six marks
- Nick Bryan - 10 possessions, 19 hit-outs and three clearances
- Kaine Baldwin - two goals, 11 disposals and three marks
- Andrew Phillips - one goal, 44 hit-outs, 18 touches and seven marks
Fremantle
- No Match
Geelong
- Shaun Higgins - one goal, 23 touches and seven clearances
- Toby Conway - 15 possessions and five clearances
- Mitch Knevitt - 24 disposals, six tackles and five clearances
- Jon Ceglar - one touch and four hit-outs
- Esava Ratugolea - 12 possessions and eight marks
- Quinton Narkle - one goal, 29 disposals and three tackles
Gold Coast
- No Match
GWS Giants
- Wade Derksen - 14 touches, six clearances and five marks
- Connor Stone - 10 possessions and three marks
- Zach Sproule - two goals, 14 disposals and six marks
- Xavier O'Halloran - one goal, 18 touches and six marks
- Jake Stein - two goals, 11 possessions and eight marks
Hawthorn
- Daniel Howe - 20 touches, four marks and four tackles
- Tom Phillips - one goal, 25 possessions and two clearances
- Liam Shiels - one goal, 31 disposals, 11 tackles and 11 clearances
Melbourne
- No Match
North Melbourne
- Jack Mahony - six touches and two tackles
- Ben Cunnington - 18 possessions, four marks and three tackles
- Atu Bosenvulagi - 22 disposals and 10 marks
- Aiden Bonar - 17 touches and three marks
- Tarryn Thomas - one goal, 20 possessions, six tackles and five clearances
- Charlie Comben - three goals, 13 disposals and eight marks
- Phoenix Spicer - one goal and 11 touches
Port Adelaide
- Orazio Fantasia - one goal, 11 touches and five tackles
- Mitch Georgiades - two goals, 15 possessions and six marks
- Sam Hayes - 32 hit-outs, 10 touches and three marks
- Sam Mayes - 27 possessions, nine tackles and four marks
- Trent Dumont - 21 disposals, eight tackles and four marks
Richmond
- Jake Aarts - one goal, 29 touches and six tackles
- Ivan Soldo - two goals, 30 hit-outs, nine possessions and five tackles
- Riley Collier-Dawkins - 30 disposals, 12 clearances and five tackles
- Thomson Dow - one goal, 23 touches and nine clearances
- Samson Ryan - five goals, 18 possessions and 12 marks
- Sydney Stack - three goals, 18 disposals and four tackles
- Hugo Ralphsmith - one goal, 21 touches and three marks
St Kilda
- Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera - 20 touches and four marks
- Ryan Brynes - one goal, 15 possessions, six tackles and five clearances
- Jack Bytel - one goal, 28 disposals and six tackles
- Dean Kent - one goal, 21 touches and five marks
- Jarrod Lienert - 11 possessions
- Tom Highmore - 22 disposals and five marks
- Tom Campbell - two goals, 28 touches, 34 hit-outs and five clearances
Sydney
- Hayden McLean - two goals, 18 touches and 12 marks
- Harry Cunningham - 23 possessions and eight marks
- Josh Kennedy - 12 disposals and four marks
- Sam Wicks - three goals, 28 touches and six tackles
- Callum Sinclair - one goal, 15 possessions and eight marks
- Peter Ladhams - 28 disposals, seven marks and 17 hit-outs
- James Bell - two goals, 27 touches, nine marks and six tackles
- Joel Amartey - three goals, 14 possessions and six marks
West Coast
- Isiah Winder - one goal, 33 touches and three marks
- Alex Witherden - 24 possessions and nine marks
- Zane Trew - 13 disposals and four tackles
- Jackson Nelson - one goal, 12 touches and seven tackles
- Josh Rotham - 29 hit-outs and 12 possessions
- Patrick Naish - 27 disposals, six marks and three tackles
Western Bulldogs
- Lachie Hunter - three goals, 31 touches, seven clearances and five marks
- Stefan Martin - two goals, 28 possessions, 24 hit-outs and eight clearances
- Hayden Crozier - 19 disposals and eight marks
- Josh Schache - seven goals, 23 touches and nine marks
- Taylor Duryea - 16 possessions and four marks
- Louis Butler - 22 disposals and eight marks
- Tim O'Brien - 19 touches and seven marks
- Robbie McComb - one goal, 30 possessions and 10 marks
- Roarke Smith - two goals, 19 disposals and 10 marks
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.
