AFL players in the reserves: Who's pressing their case for a senior return via VFL, WAFL or SANFL?

Aidan Cellini

AFL players in the reserves: Who's pressing their case for a senior return via VFL, WAFL or SANFL? image

With only one round remaining in the regular season, 10 teams are still in the hunt for a premiership, with Carlton, St Kilda and Western Bulldogs all fighting for eighth position.

Geelong secured the minor premiership and could go into the final round resting some of their stars, as they prepare for a home Qualifying Final.

Sydney jumped to second with a strong win over Collingwood, but will still need to defeat the Saints to ensure a top-two finish. 

Melbourne travel to the Gabba to face Brisbane, with the loser likely to miss a double chance.

Collingwood and Carlton's match up on Sunday at the MCG is sizing up to be the biggest game of the year, with plenty to play for.

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

James Harmes is almost set to join the senior side for Melbourne, after finding it tough to crack in once suffering a concussion in round 20.

Harmes was the medical sub for the past two weeks and was dominant in the VFL over the weekend, gathering 34 touches, eight tackles and six marks.

Melbourne face Brisbane in the last round of the year, with both sides attempting to secure a top four spot and a double chance.

The 26-year-old is a strong chance to play and could be deployed as a run-with player, most likely being given the difficult task of Lachie Neale.

North Melbourne have a smattering of young talent that performed strongly in the reserves and could be brought in for round 23.

Jason Horne-Francis and Tarryn Thomas were dominant for the Kangaroos' seconds, showcasing their ability on Saturday.

Horne-Francis responded to being omitted for the Adelaide clash, gathering 29 possessions, nine clearances and six marks, almost forcing coach Leigh Adams' hand at the selection table.

Out-of-favour Thomas played his best game for the year, kicking three majors from 29 disposals and looked like his damaging self.

Jason Horne-Francis - North Melbourne
Getty Images

Small forward Jack Mahony also put his hand up, slotting four goals from his 17 touches.

Gold Coast should recall Brayden Fiorini for the last game, rewarding the midfielder for his efforts.

Fiorini was easily best on ground in the VFL against Southport, kicking two goals from his 32 disposals as well as 17 clearances and 14 tackles.

The Suns are out of the finals race and will look to add their 10th win of the season against North Melbourne.

Collingwood will also look at Finlay Macrae for the round 23 clash with Carlton on Sunday, with the match having plenty of ramifications for both sides.

The Pies' winning streak ended at the hands of Sydney and now face missing the top four if they lose to the Blues.

Macrae's inside ability would be a handy inclusion for the senior side, with the youngster collecting 29 possessions and eight clearances while also hitting the scoreboard.

Finlay Macrae.jpg
Getty Images

Peter Ladhams also continues to put his hand up for the Swans, despite the ruck-combination of Tom Hickey and Sam Reid being one of the better duos in the competition at this present time.

How AFL players performed in the VFL, SANFL and WAFL

Adelaide

  • Fischer McAsey - one goal and nine touches
  • Matt Crouch - 30 possessions, seven clearances and four tackles
  • Jackson Hately - one goal, 31 disposals and eight tackles
  • Billy Frampton - 23 touches and five marks
  • Elliot Himmelberg - 22 possessions and 10 marks
  • Lachlan Sholl - 25 disposals and five tackles
  • Lachlan Gollant - five goals, nine touches and five marks
  • Kieran Strachan - one goal, 20 possessions, 45 hit-outs and five marks

Brisbane

  • Kai Lohmann - three goals, 25 touches, five marks and four tackles
  • Deven Robertson - one goal, 24 possessions, nine tackles and six clearances
  • Nakia Cockatoo - seven disposals and two marks
  • James Madden - 12 touches and five marks
  • Henry Smith - three goals, 14 possessions and five marks
  • Tom Fullarton - three goals, 14 disposals and four marks
  • Harry Sharp - one goal, 10 touches and two marks
  • James Tunstill - one goal, 19 possessions and two clearances
  • Darcy Fort - 22 hit-outs, 11 disposals and six clearances
  • Blake Coleman - two goals, 15 touches and six marks
  • Will Ashcroft* - one goal, 32 possessions, six tackles and six clearances

Carlton

  • Paddy Dow - 34 touches and eight clearances
  • Lachie Fogarty - one goal, 19 possessions and 14 tackles
  • Tom De Koning - one goal, 14 disposals, 18 hit-outs and six clearances
  • Jack Carroll - 22 touches, 10 tackles and seven clearances
  • Brodie Kemp - eight possessions and seven tackles
  • Lachie Plowman - 13 disposals and three tackles
  • Sam Durdin - 16 touches and three tackles
  • Will Hayes - 31 possessions, eight tackles and five clearances

Collingwood

  • Oliver Henry - eight touches and five marks
  • Jack Macrae - two goals, 29 possessions, eight clearances and five tackles
  • Arlo Draper - 13 disposals, seven tackles and four marks
  • Will Kelly - 13 touches 
  • Trey Ruscoe - 23 possessions and three marks
  • Caleb Poulter - 22 disposals
  • Aiden Begg - 13 touches, 11 hit-outs and nine clearances
  • Jack Madgen - 15 possessions and seven marks

Essendon

  • Alwyn Davey* - one goal, seven touches and four tackles
  • Jye Menzie - two goals, 20 possessions and six marks
  • Aaron Francis - 18 disposals and 10 marks
  • Tom Cutler - one goal and 16 touches
  • Michael Hurley - 14 possessions and eight marks
  • Harrison Jones - one goal, nine disposals and three marks
  • Kaine Baldwin - 12 touches, four tackles and four marks
  • Andrew Phillips - 46 hit-outs, 11 possessions and six clearances
  • Alec Waterman - one goal, 12 disposals and four tackles

Fremantle 

  • Neil Erasmus - 20 touches, six tackles and four marks
  • Connor Blakely - 31 possessions, seven marks and five tackles
  • Lloyd Meek - 40 hit-outs, 22 disposals and five marks
  • Jye Amiss - two goals and four touches
  • Travis Colyer - two goals, 11 possessions and five marks
  • Liam Henry - 18 disposals, five marks and three tackles
  • Mitch Crowden - 28 touches, six marks and three tackles

Geelong

  • Shaun Higgins - one goal, 20 touches and four marks
  • Toby Conway - 13 possessions, 18 hit-outs and three marks
  • Mitch Knevitt - 13 disposals and four marks
  • Esava Ratugolea - 18 touches, six marks and six clearances
  • Quinton Narkle - 18 possessions, six clearances and five marks
  • Nick Stevens - 20 disposals and four tackles
  • Francis Evans - one goal, 18 touches and four clearances
  • Shannon Neale - two goals, 11 possessions and five marks

Gold Coast 

  • Rory Atkins - 16 touches and seven marks
  • Jack Bowes - 18 possessions, seven clearances and six tackles
  • Alex Sexton - three goals, 15 dispoasls and three tackles
  • Brayden Fiorini - two goals, 32 touches, 17 clearances and 14 tackles
  • Rory Thompson - three disposals
  • Oleg Markov - 11 touches
  • Josh Corbett - four goals, eight possessions and two marks
  • James Tsitas - 25 disposals, 10 tackles and six clearances
  • Chris Burgess - three goals, nine touches and five marks
  • Charlie Constable - 20 possessions and nine tackles

GWS Giants

  • No Match

Hawthorn

  • Daniel Howe - 29 touches, five marks and four tackles
  • Max Lynch - one goal, 22 hit-outs, 17 possessions and six clearances
  • Kyle Hartigan - 10 disposals and five marks
  • Sam Butler - one goal, 13 touches and three tackles
  • Jack Saunders - one goal, 25 possessions and 11 marks

Melbourne 

  • James Harmes - 34 touches, eight tackles and six marks
  • Bailey Laurie - one goal, 21 possessions and six tackles
  • Jake Bowey - one goal, 23 disposals and five marks
  • Adam Tomlinson - 21 touches and five marks
  • Jacob Van Rooyen - eight possessions and three tackles
  • Blake Howes - one goal, 18 disposals and five marks
  • Sam Weideman - 23 touches and six marks
  • Luke Dunstan -14 possessions and eight tackles
  • Oscar Baker - 25 disposals and three tackles

North Melbourne

  • Jack Mahony - four goals, 17 touches, six marks and four tackles
  • Jason Horne-Francis - 29 possessions, nine clearances and six marks
  • Aiden Bonar - 21 disposals and six marks
  • Josh Walker - 18 touches and 10 marks
  • Tarryn Thomas - three goals, 29 possessions and five marks
  • Kayne Turner - 15 disposals and five marks
  • Charlie Comben - three goals, nine touches and six marks
  • Phoenix Spicer - two possessions
  • Flynn Perez - 27 disposals and seven marks

Port Adelaide

  • Trent McKenzie - 22 touches and six marks
  • Brynn Teakle - one goal, 14 possessions and four marks
  • Sam Mayes - one goal, 36 disposals and seven tackles

Richmond 

  • No Match

St Kilda

  • Ryan Byrnes - 26 touches, nine tackles and seven clearances
  • Jack Bytel - 29 possessions, 14 clearances and 10 tackles
  • Dean Kent - three goals, 13 disposals and three marks
  • Leo Connolly - 20 touches and five marks
  • Tom Campbell - 42 hit-outs, 22 possessions and 11 clearances

Sydney

  • Hayden McLean - one goal, 13 touches and seven marks
  • Harry Cunningham - 26 possessions and 14 marks
  • Sam Wicks - two goals, 21 disposals and seven tackles
  • Will Gould - 23 touches and seven marks
  • Callum Sinclair - 16 possessions and five marks
  • Peter Ladhams - 32 disposals, 28 hit-outs, 12 marks and seven clearances
  • Ben Ronke - one goal, nine touches and four marks
  • Lewis Taylor - one goal, 29 possessions, six tackles and six clearances
  • Angus Sheldrick - 31 disposals, 10 clearances and six tackles
  • James Bell - 18 touches and five tackles
  • Joel Amartey - two goals, 16 possessions and nine marks

West Coast 

  • Isiah Winder - 30 touches, two marks and two tackles
  • Alex Witherden - 26 possessions, four marks and three tackles
  • Zane Trew - 15 disposals and four tackles

Western Bulldogs

  • No Match

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

Aidan Cellini

Aidan Cellini Photo

Aidan has surrounded himself with all types of sport, but resonates most with AFL and basketball as he still plays both competitively. He loves being active and enjoys sharing sporting moments with friends and family.

In his spare time, Aidan likes to read biographies as well as keep active and healthy. He's also a big fan of Matthew McConaughey and Marvel movies.