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

Entering the first week of the AFL finals, coaches and clubs will now look at picking their best 22 as every game means that little bit more.

Melbourne's reserve side showcased why they lost only one game in the season, destroying Sydney's seconds.

Brisbane's twos went down to Southport but have a double chance under their belt.

Collingwood lost to Carlton in an Elimination final, which ends their season.

Gold Coast also ended Box Hill's season.

Adelaide in the SANFL will take on North Adelaide in a first qualifying final.

The WAFL season is still going, with one round to go.

Peel Thunder (Fremantle) smashed a West Coast outfit as they try make the final five.

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

Melbourne could welcome back a string of impressive players that performed well in the reserves over the weekend.

Tom McDonald's bid to return to senior football is nearly complete after the swingman was able to get through the qualifying final against Sydney unscathed.

Although didn't have the biggest impact, McDonald managed to slot a major from his 11 touches.

Coach Simon Goodwin now has the decision to rush him back into the AFL side or wait another week, although Casey have the week off.

Luke Dunstan and Sam Weideman also put their hands up for selection as they were some of the dominant players of the day.

For the Swans, small forward Ben Ronke continues his impressive goal kicking form, putting four through the big sticks.

Ronke was lively in the forward line and looked as dangerous as ever, given John Longmire something to think about heading into September.

Collingwood big man Nathan Kreuger returned from his shoulder injury early in the year.

Kreuger struggled to get into the game as Carlton ran riot at Victoria Park.

However, his ability to play at both ends gives Craig McRae another look if he opts to go down that path.

Oliver Henry, Finlay Macrae and Josh Carmichael were also solid as the Pies' VFL season ended.

Brisbane are almost certain to regain Callum Ah Chee for their elimination final with Richmond.

With news that Marcus Adams has been ruled out of the season, the backline for the Lions is a little depleted, with Ah Chee returning from a concussion.

The 24 year old was solid, collecting 16 possessions and two marks.

How AFL players performed in the VFL, SANFL and WAFL

Adelaide

  • Fischer McAsey - one goal, 12 touches and five marks
  • Luke Pedlar - one goal, 31 possessions and eight tackles
  • Billy Frampton - 18 disposals and six marks
  • Elliot Himmelberg - one goal, 17 touches and five clearances
  • Lachlan Sholl - 25 possessions and six tackles

Brisbane

  • Kai Lohmann - one goal, 17 touches and six marks
  • Callum Ah Chee - 16 possessions and two marks
  • Ely Smith - 18 disposals and five clearances
  • Tom Fullarton - two goals, 10 touches and three marks
  • James Tunstill - 25 possessions and five clearances
  • Darcy Fort - 16 disposals, 38 hit-outs and five marks

Carlton

  • Paddy Dow - 33 touches, seven marks and six clearances
  • Jesse Motlop - one goal, nine possessions and four marks
  • Liam Stocker - 25 disposals and five marks
  • Jack Carroll - 15 touches and five clearances
  • Brodie Kemp - two goals, 13 possessions and eight marks
  • Will Setterfield - two goals, 40 disposals, 13 clearances and seven marks

Collingwood

  • Trent Bianco - one goal, 23 touches and five marks
  • Nathan Kreugar - one goal, six possessions and two marks
  • Oliver Henry - one goal, 12 disposals and seven marks
  • Callum Brown - one goal, 27 touches, six tackles and five clearances
  • Finlay Macrae - 28 possessions, nine tackles and five clearances
  • Will Kelly - 14 disposals and eight marks
  • Trey Ruscoe - 11 touches and three marks
  • Caleb Poulter - 16 possessions and five marks
  • Aiden Begg - 23 hit-outs, 12 disposals and four tackles
  • Jack Madgen - one goal, 18 touches and five marks
  • Josh Carmichael - 25 possessions, nine tackles and six clearances

Essendon

  • No Match

Fremantle 

  • Darcy Tucker - two goals, 21 touches and three marks
  • Jye Amiss - two goals, nine possessions and three marks
  • Bailey Banfield - two goals, seven disposals and three tackles
  • Lloyd Meek - one goal, 33 hit-outs, 22 touches and five marks
  • Neil Erasmus - 21 possessions and five tackles
  • Travis Colyer - 10 disposals and six marks
  • Liam Henry - 15 touches and five marks
  • Nathan Wilson - 32 possessions
  • Mitch Crowden - two goals, 20 disposals and nine tackles

Geelong

  • No Match

Gold Coast 

  • Jack Bowes - 28 touches, nine clearances and five tackles
  • Alex Sexton - three goals, 12 possessions and four marks
  • Rory Thompson - 10 disposals, five marks and five tackles
  • Oleg Markov - 10 touches and three marks
  • Josh Corbett - four goals, 25 possessions and 17 marks
  • James Tsitas - 30 disposals, five clearances and three tackles
  • Sam Flanders - 37 touches, 10 marks, six clearances
  • Chris Burgess - two goals, 12 possessions and seven marks
  • Mac Andrew - 11 disposals and four marks
  • Charlie Constable - 31 touches
  • Elijah Hollands - 27 possessions and four marks

GWS Giants

  • No Match

Hawthorn

  • Daniel Howe - 24 touches, five marks and four tackles
  • Liam Shiels - 21 possessions, six clearances and six tackles
  • Kyle Hartigan - seven disposals and four marks

Melbourne 

  • Toby Bedford - 17 touches, eight tackles and five clearances
  • Bailey Laurie - five disposals
  • Fraser Rosman - 13 possessions and six marks
  • Adam Tomlinson - 22 touches and seven marks
  • Jacob Van Rooyen - one goal, 17 disposals and three marks
  • Tom McDonald - one goal, 11 possessions and two marks
  • Sam Weideman - 22 touches, 19 hit-outs and six marks
  • Luke Dunstan - two goals, 38 disposals, 11 clearances and eight marks
  • Mitch Brown - five goals, 18 possessions and six marks

North Melbourne

  • No Match

Port Adelaide

  • No Match

Richmond 

  • No Match

St Kilda

  • No Match

Sydney

  • Harry Cunningham - 23 touches, seven marks and four tackles
  • Sam Wicks - 12 possessions and six tackles
  • Braeden Campbell - 14 disposals and four marks
  • Will Gould - 13 touches and four marks
  • Callum Sinclair - 16 possessions, 38 hit-outs, nine clearances and five tackles
  • Peter Ladhams - 13 disposals and 14 hit-outs
  • Ben Ronke - four goals, 16 touches and four tackles
  • Angus Sheldrick - one goal, 30 possessions and five tackles
  • Joel Amartey - 16 disposals and eight marks

West Coast 

  • Zac Langdon - 15 touches, seven tackles and four marks
  • Sam Petrevski-Seton - 16 possessions and four marks
  • Isiah Winder - one goal, 15 disposals and six tackles
  • Xavier O'Neill - 21 touches and three marks
  • Zane Trew - 12 possessions
  • Jackson Nelson - one goal, 14 disposals and five marks
  • Bailey Williams - 26 hit-outs, 11 touches and two marks
  • Jack Williams - 11 possessions, seven marks and four tackles
  • Josh Rotham - 10 disposals and seven marks
  • Patrick Naish - 28 touches, six marks and three tackles
  • Jai Culley - 14 possessions 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.