AFL finals is back in a big way, with a return to the MCG hosting 80,000 and 90,000 respectively on Friday and Saturday after a couple years away.
Richmond and the Western Bulldogs were eliminated in thrilling contests, as Brisbane and Fremantle managed to down their opposition despite looking like losing at times.
Sydney flexed their muscles against the reigning premiers on Friday night, booking themselves a home preliminary final and are in the box seat to play in the Grand Final.
On Saturday afternoon, Geelong managed to escape with the victory after Collingwood were leading for the majority of the game.
Max Holmes kicked the sealer with 90 seconds to go, as the Cats secured themselves a week off and a home preliminary final at the home of football in two weeks.
In the VFL, teams lined up for a semi final, with the Lions and Swans the only side playing over the weekend with their AFL affiliate side still in premiership contention.
Carlton and the Gold Coast were the other teams.
The WAFL played their last round of the home-and-away season, with Peel Thunder (Fremantle) finishing the year off strong, while West Coast were downed by Claremont and finished on the bottom of the ladder.
South Australian league SANFL only had Adelaide participate in the finals, as the club pushes for premiership glory.
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
Entering the second week of the finals, Sydney and Geelong have afforded themselves a break before they host a preliminary final.
However, the Pies have a date with the Dockers on Saturday evening, while the Demons play against the Lions on Friday.
Fremantle's Matt Taberner wasn't brought in for the do-or-die clash against the Bulldogs but has been given another chance to play following a comeback victory by the home side.
Youngster Jye Amiss filled the Taberner-sized void, slotting two crucial majors as the Dockers surged to a semi final.
Taberner kicked two goals himself in the WAFL, from 13 disposals and four marks.
Nat Fyfe is also being watched with a close eye, despite the unlikelihood he overcomes his hamstring troubles.
Chris Fagan will be forced into one change for the semi final, as ruckman Oscar McInerney was subbed out of the elimination with concussion.
Facing 12-day protocols, McInerney will not take his place against the Demons, with Darcy Fort expected to replace him.
However, Jarryd Lyons, Tom Fullarton and Ryan Lester are all in waiting, while Cam Rayner and Noah Answerth will be available after serving one-game suspensions.
Lyons was pulled out of the senior side but managed to play in the VFL, collecting 16 possessions, five marks, five tackles and four clearances, putting his name back into consideration.
Fullarton was serviceable in the reserves, hitting the scoreboard (two goals) from his 15 disposals, 14 hit-outs and four marks.
Lester also put himself on the selection table with an impressive performance, kicking one goal while also amassing 24 touches, nine marks and five tackles.
Sydney will have something to consider for two weeks time, as Hayden McLean has come knocking on the door for a senior recall.
McLean slotted four goals, as he gathered 13 touches, nine marks and six tackles.
Logan McDonald was awfully quiet, collecting a measly four touches from 59 per cent game time and looked to have succumbed to the pressure of a big final.
Awaiting their opposition in a fortnight's time, coach John Longmire has some major decisions to make.
How AFL players performed in the VFL, SANFL and WAFL
Adelaide
- Fischer McAsey - seven touches, two marks and two tackles
- Luke Pedlar - two goals, 12 possessions and four marks
- Billy Frampton - 21 disposals and 10 marks
- Elliot Himmelberg - 20 touches, eight marks and six tackles
- Lachlan Sholl - 19 possessions, five tackles and four marks
- Lachlan Gollant - two goals, four disposals and two marks
- Kieran Strachan - 32 hit-outs, one goal, 13 touches and six marks
Brisbane
- Kai Lohmann - 12 touches, four tackles and two marks
- Ely Smith - one goal, 23 possessions and five marks
- Nakia Cockatoo - 11 disposals, six tackles and three marks
- James Madden - 15 touches, four clearances and three marks
- Jarryd Lyons - 16 possessions, five marks, five tackles and four clearances
- Tom Fullarton - two goals, 15 disposals, 14 hit-outs and four marks
- Ryan Lester - one goal, 24 touches, nine marks and five tackles
Carlton
- Paddy Dow - one goal, 41 touches, 15 clearances and seven tackles
- Jesse Motlop - one goal, 11 possessions and three tackles
- Liam Stocker - 25 disposals and two marks
- Jack Carroll - 32 touches, 12 clearances and two marks
- Brodie Kemp - one goal, 13 possessions and three marks
- Sam Durdin - 15 disposals and seven marks
- Will Setterfield - 23 touches, nine tackles and four clearances
Collingwood
- No Match
Essendon
- No Match
Fremantle
- Darcy Tucker - one touch and two tackles
- Connor Blakely - 31 possessions, six marks and two tackles
- Lloyd Meek - three goals, 29 hit-outs, 22 disposals, six marks and five tackles
- Ethan Hughes - two goals, 30 touches and 10 marks
- Josh Treacy - two goals, nine possessions and five marks
- Matt Taberner - two goals, 13 disposals and four marks
- Neil Erasmus - one goal, 32 touches, eight tackles and six marks
- Travis Colyer - two goals, 21 possessions and 11 marks
- Bailey Banfield - 12 disposals, three marks and three tackles
- Nathan Wilson - 21 touches, nine marks and four tackles
- Sam Sturt - four goals, 13 possessions and eight marks
- Mitch Crowden - one goal, 38 disposals, eight marks and four tackles
Geelong
- No Match
Gold Coast
- Jack Bowes - two goals, 26 touches and five marks
- Alex Sexton - three goals, 11 possessions and three marks
- Josh Corbett - 14 disposals and seven marks
- Jeremy Sharp - two goals, 24 touches and 13 marks
- James Tsitas - one goal, 31 possessions, seven marks and seven tackles
- Sam Flanders - 46 disposals, 10 clearances and seven marks
- Chris Burgess - four goals, eight touches and six marks
- Mac Andrew - 11 possessions and five marks
- Charlie Constable - 35 disposals, eight clearances and four marks
- Elijah Hollands - 26 possessions, four marks and four tackles
- Darcy Macpherson - 24 disposals and eight marks
- Hewago Paul Oea - 16 touches
GWS Giants
- No Match
Hawthorn
- No Match
Melbourne
- No Match
North Melbourne
- No Match
Port Adelaide
- No Match
Richmond
- No Match
St Kilda
- No Match
Sydney
- Hayden McLean - four goals, 13 touches, nine marks and six tackles
- Harry Cunningham - 22 possessions, seven marks and three tackles
- Sam Wicks - 19 disposals, seven clearances and six tackles
- Braeden Campbell - one goal, 24 touches and five tackles
- Will Gould - 24 possessions and 11 marks
- Callum Sinclair - two goals, 18 hit-outs, 14 disposals and seven marks
- Ben Ronke - two goals, 21 touches, five marks and five tackles
- Lewis Taylor - 19 possessions and four marks
- James Bell - one goal, 26 disposals, seven clearances and four marks
- Matt Roberts - one goal, 30 touches and six marks
- Joel Amartey - one goal, 13 possessions and five clearances
West Coast
- Zac Langdon - one goal, 12 touches and five tackles
- Sam Petrevski-Seton - 21 possessions, six tackles and five marks
- Isiah Winder - 13 disposals and three marks
- Xavier O'Neill - 16 touches and two marks
- Zane Trew - 17 possessions, four marks and three tackles
- Jackson Nelson - one goal, 32 disposals, seven tackles and six marks
- Jack Williams - one goal and seven touches
- Josh Rotham - 14 possessions and five marks
- Patrick Naish - one goal, 33 disposals and 11 marks
- Jai Culley - 17 touches
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.
