AFL State Leagues and VFL: How your team's reserves fared during AFL round 5

Kieran Francis

AFL State Leagues and VFL: How your team's reserves fared during AFL round 5 image

Melbourne have a selection dilemma on their hands with both Ben Brown and Sam Weideman pressing for senior action, while GWS could include Jesse Hogan for his club debut after an impressive VFL performance.

The VFL kicked off with its first round of the season, while the SANFL and WAFL continued with their third weekend of matches.

Sporting News investigates which players have put their hands up for selection in AFL round five.

Adelaide

STATE LEAGUE AFFILIATE: Adelaide (SANFL)

Adelaide 11.6 (72) lost to Woodville-West Torrens 24.11 (155) (SANFL Rd 3 - Sat Apr 17)

It was a dirty day for the Crows' SANFL team, getting belted by Woodville-West Torrens, and seeing former players Tyson Stengle (4.2) and Riley Knight (two goals, 34 disposals) dominate.

Small forward Tariek Newchurch edged closer to a senior debut with three goals from 16 disposals, while veteran David Mackay continued to build match fitness.

Elliott Himmelberg hauled in 10 marks as he attempts to reclaim his position in the senior forward line ahead of Billy Frampton.

No. 2 draft pick Riley Thilthorpe had 10 disposals but failed to have a huge impact on the match.

Brisbane

STATE LEAGUE AFFILIATE: Brisbane (VFL)

Brisbane 15.14 (104) defeated Essendon 5.8 (38) (VFL Rd 1 - Sat Apr 17)

Utility Connor Ballenden belied his 200cm frame to pick up 31 disposals and 15 marks in an impressive effort, while Rhys Mathieson had 34 possessions and kicked two majors.

Small forward Keidean Coleman also kicked two goals and found plenty of the footy.

Nakia Cockatoo  continued to build fitness with a quiet 11 disposal match.

Rhys Mathieson

Carlton

STATE LEAGUE AFFILIATE: Carlton (VFL)

Carlton 16.12 (108) lost to Southport 17.7 (109) (VFL Rd 1 - Sat Apr 17)

Liam Stocker had his most dominant VFL performance, firming for a senior recall with 38 possessions, while  Matthew Owies kicked four goals.

Will Setterfield struggled to have much impact after being dropped, but  David Cuningham was among Carlton's best in a midfield role.

Sam Ramsay continued his solid block of form with another impressive performance in the engine room.

Collingwood

STATE LEAGUE AFFILIATE: Collingwood (VFL)

Collingwood 10.9 (69) defeated Werribee 9.8 (62) (VFL Rd 1 - Sat Apr 17)

Mason Cox responded to being dropped with two goals and 10 disposals, while  Will Hoskin-Elliott kicked a goal from nine touches.

Jay Rantall was the Magpies' best player, with Tyler Brown also prominent in midfied.

Oliver Henry kicked two goals.

Mason Cox

Essendon

STATE LEAGUE AFFILIATE: Essendon (VFL)

Essendon 5.8 (38) lost to Brisbane 15.14 (104) (VFL Rd 1 - Sat Apr 17)

In a match with few positives,  Patrick Ambrose  continued his recovery from injury unscathed, while project ruckman Nick Bryan had a mammoth 27 disposals and 34 hitouts.

Back up ruck Andrew Phillips kicked two of the Bombers' five goals.

Fremantle

STATE LEAGUE AFFILIATE: Peel Thunder (WAFL)

Peel Thunder 11.11 (77) lost to South Fremantle 14.11 (95) (WAFL Rd 3 - Sat Apr 17)

Peel's leading disposal winner was Connor Blakely with 25, as the midfielder continued to put together a solid block of form.

A senior regular from last season, Taylin Duman , put in a solid performance with 18 disposals and five marks.

Sam Sturt  responded to being dropped with two goals from 13 touches, while Liam Henry (16 possessions) and Stefan Giro (17) were contributors.

Geelong

STATE LEAGUE AFFILIATE: Geelong (VFL)

Geelong 18.15 (123) defeated North Melbourne 6.8 (44) (VFL Rd 1 - Sun Apr 18)

Josh Jenkins  kicked four goals from seven scoring shots as a swag of Geelong players pushed their case forward for senior selection.

Zach Guthrie (27 disposals), Charlie Constable (26) and Oscar Brownless (24) all had an impact with the ball.

Esava Ratugolea struggled to have a strong impact with one goal from 14 touches.

Esava Ratugolea

Gold Coast

STATE LEAGUE AFFILIATE: Gold Coast (VFL)

Gold Coast Suns 6.6 (42) lost to Footscray 16.13 (109) (VFL Rd 1 - Sat Apr 17)

Several Suns listed players put their hand up for senior selection led by Brayden Fiorini , who had 31 possessions.

Will Brodie, Rory Atkins, Jeremy Sharp and Jordan Murdoch were also solid contributors.

GWS

STATE LEAGUE AFFILIATE: GWS (VFL)

GWS 10.10 (70) lost to Sydney 15.6 (96) (VFL Rd 1 - Sat Apr 17)

Jesse Hogan  booted 3.2 from 11 disposals as he edges closer to a GWS senior debut, while Tanner Bruhn could be an inclusion after picking up 27 disposals and two goals.

Ruckmen  Matthew Flynn  and Kieren Briggs had 47 hitouts between each other.

Nick Shipley gathered 24 possessions in midfield as he bids to add to his three senior games.

Hawthorn

STATE LEAGUE AFFILATE: BOX HILL (VFL)

Box Hill 10.7 (67) lost to Casey Demons 17.16 (108) (VFL Rd 1 - Sun Apr 18)

Emerson Jeka kicked another bag of goals - this time three - as he strengthened his chances of a Hawthorn debut, while  Fergus Greene  also chipped in with three majors.

Defender  Michael Hartley was among the Hawks' leading possession getters with 20 disposals.

Melbourne

STATE LEAGUE AFFILIATE: Casey Demons (VFL)

Casey Demons 17.16 (108) defeated Box Hill 10.7 (67) VFL Rd 1 - Sun Apr 18)

Sam Weideman dominated with seven of Casey's 17 goals as he bids to earn a spot in the senor team, while  Ben Brown  kicked three of his own.

A swag of fringe Demons were among the team's best players including Kade Chandler, Neville Jetta, Aaron vandenBerg and Jay Lockhart.

Neville Jetta

North Melbourne

STATE LEAGUE AFFILIATE: North Melbourne (VFL)

North Melbourne 6.8 (44) lost to Geelong 18.15 (123) (VFL Rd 1 - Sun Apr 18)

In a dirty day for the Kangaroos,  Dom Tyson  shone with 29 disposals, while Connor Menadue had 20 possessions.

Taylor Garner kicked two goals as he pushed his claim for a senior position.

Port Adelaide

STATE LEAGUE AFFILIATE: Port Adelaide (SANFL)

Port Adelaide 10.12 (72) lost to South Adelaide 12.9 (81) (SANFL Rd 3 - Sat Apr 17)

Tom Rockliff  had 41 disposals and seven clearances as he continued to push his claims for a senior recall.

Jarrod Leinert was once again among Port's best players with 22 touches and eight defensive 50 rebounds.

Sam Powell-Pepper  struggled to get amongst it after making his return to football after a break, while  Peter Ladhams  had seven clearances while playing in the ruck.

Kane Farrell  and Trent McKenzie also played but will struggle to break into Port's senior team that comfortably defeated Carlton.

Richmond

STATE LEAGUE AFFILIATE: Richmond (VFL)

Richmond 13.17 (95) defeated Sandringham 7.13 (55) (VFL Rd 1- Fri Apr 16)

Another Rioli debut is on the horizon after Maurice Rioli impressed with his work rate and endeavour, kicking two goals from nine disposals.

Midfielders Jack Ross (34 disposals), Patrick Naish (33) and Riley Collier-Dawkins (31) were dominant in the engine room.

Callum Coleman-Jones kicked two goals from 22 possessions, while Sydney Stack 's return to football saw him have a quiet match.

Sydney Stack

St Kilda

STATE LEAGUE AFFILIATE: Sandringham (VFL)

Sandringham 7.13 (55) lost to Richmond 13.17 (95)  (VFL Rd 1- Fri Apr 16)

In a dismal overall performance by the St Kilda reserves,  Shaun McKernan  kicked four of seven goals and had a team-high 23 touches.

Midfielder Ryan Byrnes continued to build match fitness with a goal from 21 possessions, while Oscar Clavarino took 14 marks in one of his most promising games at VFL level.

A swag of Saints players didn't have their best performances including Dean Kent and Tom Highmore .

Sydney

STATE LEAGUE AFFILIATE: Sydney (VFL)

Sydney 15.6 (96) defeated GWS 10.10 (70) (VFL Rd 1 - Sat Apr 17)

James Rowbottom  laid a game-high seven tackles among his 23 disposals as he continued his return from injury, while Hayden McLean kicked three goals as he eyes a recall with Lance Franklin's injury.

Callum Sinclair  amassed 34 hitouts and kicked a goal as he staked his senior claim, while  Lewis Taylor  snagged a major from his 20 touches.

Colin O'Riordan, Ryan Clarke, James Bell and Kaiden Brand  were among the Swans' best players.

West Coast

STATE LEAGUE AFFILIATE: West Coast (WAFL)

West Coast 8.7 (55) lost to Swan Districts 13.16 (94) (WAFL Rd 3 - Sat Apr 17)

Several Eagles midfielders had big matches with Brayden Ainsworth and Hamish Brayshaw both picking up 32 disposals.

Jamaine Jones  impressed after being dropped from the senior team, laying nine tackles and kicking two goals among his 26 possessions.

Mark Hutchings  continued to build match fitness after a return from injury, while  Luke Foley  put his name up for selection after reportedly being close last week.

Western Bulldogs

STATE LEAGUE AFFILIATE: Footscray (VFL)

Footscray 16.13 (109) defeated Gold Coast Suns 6.6 (42) (VFL Rd 1 - Sat Apr 17)

Josh Schache  staked his claim for selection with five goals from nine scoring shots, while no.1 draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan snagged two majors.

Will Hayes  was the Bulldogs' most dominant midfielder with 29 possessions and he was ably supported in the engine room by Riley Garcia , Lin Jong and Rhylee West.

Mitch Wallis  struggled to have an impact during the match, as did Cody Weightman .

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan Bulldogs

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis Photo

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.