STATE Leagues around the country are underway, and we’ll bring you a wrap of all the action.
Check out how your team fared in the VFL, SANFL and WAFL this weekend.
State league affiliate: Adelaide (SANFL)
This weekend: Adelaide v Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, Thursday May 2, 3.20pm ACST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from Adelaide’s clash
Lachie Gollant was on target in Adelaide’s convincing 41-point win over Port Adelaide on Thursday, kicking five goals straight.
Former Sun Chris Burgess also hit the scoreboard with three goals from 14 disposals and eight marks.
Looking for his first senior game of 2024, Harry Schoenberg was the Crows’ biggest ball-winner with 27 disposals, also grabbing eight marks and one goal, while Billy Dowling is still searching for an AFL debut and did his chances no harm with 26 touches and seven tackles.
After being the hero at the higher level in the round five win over Carlton, Sam Berry is back in the twos but performed well with 20 disposals and seven tackles.
Lachie Murphy had 19 touches, as did Charlie Edwards who also slotted one goal, Zac Taylor had 18 disposals and James Borlase 17.
2023 first-round draftee Oscar Ryan finished with 15 disposals, ruckman Kieran Strachan racked up 36 hitouts to go with 13 touches and one goal, Will Hamill had 13 disposals and Hugh Bond finished with 12.
State league affiliate: Brisbane (VFL)
This weekend: Brisbane v Gold Coast at Brighton Homes Arena, Sunday May 5, 12.05pm AEST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from Brisbane’s clash
It wasn’t a good day for the Brisbane Lions but it was a big one for Jarryd Lyons, the veteran finishing with 34 disposals, 13 tackles, eight clearances and one goal in his side’s 86-point loss to Gold Coast.
Jaxon Prior (32 disposals, 10 marks) and James Tunstill (25 disposals, seven tackles) also had busy days.
Young ruckman Kalin Lane kicked a goal from 12 touches and 18 hitouts, with fellow big man Darcy Fort getting 16 taps and 11 disposals.
Shadeau Brain finished with 14 touches, Darragh Joyce and Reece Torrent had 16 each, Brandon Ryan got the ball 17 times and Luke Lloyd had 14 disposals.
There weren’t too many goals going the Lions’ way but Logan Morris kicked one from 13 possessions.
State league affiliate: Carlton (VFL)
This weekend: Werribee v Carlton at Avalon Airport Oval, Saturday May 4, 2.05pm AEST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from Carlton’s clash
Jaxon Binns found himself back in the seconds after the briefest taste at AFL level as Carlton’s sub last round, but he’s obviously keen to get back, posting an impressive performance in the Blues’ 32-point VFL loss to Werribee on Saturday.
The hard-working midfielder racked up 24 disposals and eight tackles, also kicking two goals to round out a match that will keep him in Michael Voss’ thoughts.
Brodie Kemp was Carlton’s biggest ballwinner with 26 touches and 13 marks, while Jack Carroll (23 disposals, five clearances, one goal) and Billy Wilson (25 disposals) also got plenty of ball.
Ruck duo Alex Mirkov (35 hitouts, one goal) and Hudson O’Keefe (23 hitouts, 10 disposals, seven clearances, one goal) dominated at the bounces as well as giving a tall option when in the forward line.
Rookies Sam Durdin (15 disposals) and Domanic Akuei (16 disposals) were active.
Harry Lemmey (seven touches, one goal), Ashton Moir (nine disposals) and Rob Monahan (six disposals) were the only other senior-listed players in action.
State league affiliate: Collingwood (VFL)
This weekend: Southport v Collingwood at Fankhauser Reserve, Saturday May 4, 12.05pm AEST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from Collingwood’s clash
Nathan Kreuger played his first game of the year as Collingwood suffered a 27-point loss to Southport on Saturday.
Kreuger kicked a goal from his four disposals in the Magpies’ defeat.
Finlay Macrae (18 disposals and six clearances) and Jack Bytel (18 and six) were the busiest of Collingwood’s midfielders.
Reef McInnes kicked two majors from his 13 disposals and Aiden Begg was solid in the ruck with 16 hitouts, eight disposals and a goal.
Joe Richards also slotted two goals for the Pies, Ash Johnson had 13 disposals and seven marks and Charlie Dean had 13 touches.
State league affiliate: Essendon (VFL)
This weekend: No match
State league affiliate: Peel Thunder (WAFL)
This weekend: Peel Thunder v West Perth at Lane Group Stadium, Saturday May 4, 2.10pm AWST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from Peel Thunder’s clash
Sam Sturt started the game on fire for Peel on Saturday, kicking three goals in the opening 15 minutes, and while his scoring slowed somewhat he still impressed with four goals from 19 disposals in the huge 113-point win over West Perth.
Neil Erasmus was prolific with the ball, finishing with 34 disposals, and also had his chances in front of goal with 1.4, while ball-magnet Will Brodie did what he does, racking up 34 touches and five tackles.
Small forward Jack Delean got amongst the goalkicking action with three majors.
Former Demon Corey Wagner was busy with 24 disposals, with Ethan Hughes (20 touches) also getting plenty of it.
Rookie ruckman Liam Reidy earned his keep at the bounces with 43 hitouts and also picked up 14 disposals, while fellow rookie Karl Worner had 16 touches.
First-year key defender Ollie Murphy had eight disposals and Hugh Davies finished with seven.
State league affiliate: Geelong (VFL)
This weekend: Geelong v Frankston at GMHBA Stadium, Sunday May 5, 1.05pm AEST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from Geelong’s clash
Mature-age recruit Shaun Mannagh has put his name forward should Chris Scott want to make any forward-line changes, the 26-year-old kicking four goals in Geelong’s 64-point win over Frankston on Sunday.
Rookie Ted Clohesy had an influential game, finishing with 27 disposals, eight marks, eight clearances and one goal, while Lawson Humphries also had 27 touches.
Ruckman Shannon Neale kicked two goals to go with 16 hitouts.
Picked up in last year’s mid-season draft, Mitch Hardie was busy with 22 disposals and eight tackles, Irishman Oisin Mullin had 21 touches and Emerson Jeka 23.
The Cats took George Stevens late in last year’s National Draft but he’s showing plenty, picking up 19 disposals, eight tackles and five clearances, with 2023 first-round selection Connor O’Sullivan gathering 14 disposals.
Mitch Knevitt was busy with 21 touches and five clearances, while veteran Jed Bews (seven disposals) and rookie Oscar Murdoch (nine) were quiet.
State league affiliate: Gold Coast (VFL)
This weekend: Brisbane v Gold Coast at Brighton Homes Arena, Sunday May 5, 12.05pm AEST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from Gold Coast’s clash
There were goals aplenty in the Suns’ 86-point win over Brisbane, with five coming off the boot of Jy Farrar.
Veteran Sam Day kicked four and rookie Will Rowlands three from 19 disposals.
Alex Sexton was Gold Coast’s biggest ballwinner with 31 disposals and 11 marks, with James Tsitas (27 disposals, eight tackles) and Alex Davies (26 disposals, 10 tackles and seven clearances) also finding plenty of the ball.
Ruckman Ned Moyle continued his state league dominance with 34 hitouts, 17 disposals, nine clearances and two goals, with help coming at the bounces from Levi Casboult (17 hitouts, eight touches and one goal).
Bodhi Uwland also kicked a goal from 22 disposals and 10 marks, Hewago Oea slotted one from 18 touches, and rookie Lloyd Johnson kicked two from 15 disposals.
Darcy Macpherson was busy with 26 touches and half a dozen clearances, while Jack Mahony got the ball 20 times.
Other senior-listed Suns included Caleb Graham (13 disposals), Joel Jeffrey (11) and Sandy Brock (nine).
State league affiliate: GWS Giants (VFL)
This weekend: Sydney v Greater Western Sydney at the SCG, Saturday May 4, 5.15pm AEST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from Greater Western Sydney’s clash
Veteran defender Nick Haynes turned back the clock in the Giants’ 10-point loss to Sydney, the 31-year-old racking up game-highs for disposals (38) and marks (14).
Conor Stone (16 disposals) and Max Gruzewski (10) kicked three goals apiece.
Harry Rowston was busy with 28 touches, eight clearances and one goal, with Xavier O’Halloran also slotting a major from his 23 disposals and six clearances.
Ruckman Nick Madden (31 hitouts, 13 disposals and eight clearances) and Phoenix Gothard (11 disposals) also kicked one goal apiece.
Rookie Wade Derkson had 18 touches, while Josh Fahey got his share of the ball with 22 disposals.
Other Giants in action included Toby McMullin (nine disposals), Ryan Angwin (15), Lachie Keeffe (nine, 10 hitouts), Cooper Hamilton (eight), Joe Fonti (10), Isaac Cumming (eight) and Leek Aleer (seven).
State league affiliate: Box Hill Hawks (VFL)
This weekend: Footscray v Box Hill at Whitten Oval, Sunday May 5, 11.05am AEST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from Box Hill’s clash
It wasn’t a great day for Box Hill, going down to Footscray, but Jai Serong did his best to get the Hawks home with a 22-disposal, eight-mark game onhis return to the state league level.
Veteran Chad Wingard kicked one goal from 10 touches in his second match back from injury.
Ned Reeves tried to get things going from the stoppages, dominating the hitouts with 36 as well as kicking one goal from his 11 disposals.
Bailey Macdonald threw everything he had into the contest, laying eight tackles to go with 14 touches, while 2023 draftee Bodie Ryan was busy with 20 disposals.
Joshua Bennetts (16 disposals, seven marks) and Jack O’Sullivan (13 disposals) kicked one goal each.
Other Hawthorn-listed players in action included Henry Hustwaite (nine disposals, five tackles), Clay Tucker (14 hitouts) and Max Ramsden (six disposals).
State league affiliate: Casey Demons (VFL)
This weekend: Casey Demons v Williamstown at Casey Fields, Sunday May 5, 2.05pm AEST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from Casey’s clash
Andy Moniz-Wakefield was busy as Casey suffered a 32-point loss to Williamstown on Sunday.
Moniz-Wakefield had a game-high 30 disposals and seven marks as the Demons were beaten.
Matthew Jefferson was the leading forward for the Demons with three majors.
Will Verrall had 17 disposals and 23 hitouts, Kynan Brown had 15 disposals, 10 tackles and a goal and Adam Tomlinson gathered 20 disposals.
Small forward Koltyn Tholstrup applied the pressure with 12 touches and six tackles.
State league affiliate: North Melbourne (VFL)
This weekend: Sandringham v North Melbourne at Trevor Barker Beach Oval, Sunday May 5, 2.05pm AEST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from North Melbourne’s clash
Charlie Lazzaro and Will Phillips pushed for senior recalls by impressing in North Melbourne’s three-point loss to Sandringham on Sunday.
Lazzaro (28 disposals, seven clearances, seven tackles and a goal) and Phillips (29, six, six and one) dominated at Trevor Barker Beach Oval.
Veteran Hugh Greenwood had an enormous 18 tackles to go with his 16 disposals, nine hitouts and a goal.
Curtis Taylor was busy with 21 disposals, while Eddie Ford kicked two goals to go with his 17 touches.
Bigoa Nyuon (15 disposals), Finnbar Maley (14 and a goal) and Dylan Stephens (19) were also solid as Robert Hansen jnr kicked three goals and Tyler Sellers booted two.
Miller Bergman (14 disposals), Toby Pink (nine) and Cooper Harvey (eight) were also in action.
State league affiliate: Port Adelaide Magpies (SANFL)
This weekend: Adelaide v Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, Thursday May 2, 3.20pm ACST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from Port Adelaide’s clash
Back from suspension but denied a return at AFL level, Jeremy Finlayson was Port’s best in its 41-point loss to Adelaide on Thursday, kicking four goals from 24 disposals and eight marks.
Josh Sinn was the busiest around the ball with 29 touches, draftee Will Lorenz not far behind with 26 disposals.
Fellow first-year player Lachlan Charleson kicked two goals from his 18 touches, veteran Tom Clurey had 15 disposals and teenager Tom Anastasopoulos found the ball 10 times, also laying eight tackles.
Talls Dante Visentini (10 disposals, 28 hitouts) and Thomas Scully (eight disposals) kicked one goal apiece.
Other senior-listed Power players in action included Xavier Walsh (eight disposals), Kyle Marshall (seven) and Francis Evans (three).
State league affiliate: Richmond (VFL)
This weekend: Coburg v Richmond at Piranha Park, Saturday May 4, 1.05pm AEST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from Richmond’s clash
If not for a wayward boot Noah Cumberland may have put himself back in the frame for a senior recall, the out-of-favour forward finishing with 1.6 from 14 possessions and an equal team-high six tackles in Richmond’s 32-point win over Coburg on Saturday.
Ruckman Samson Ryan did his chances no harm with two goals from 14 disposals, 26 hitouts and seven clearances.
Jacob Koschitzke also slotted two goals (10 disposals), while small forward Matthew Coulthard kicked one from 17 touches and eight marks.
Kane McAuliffe was busy with 22 disposals and five clearances, Kaleb Smith had 19 touches and James Trezise finished with 16 touches.
Close to a senior debut after being named on the Tigers’ AFL extended interchange, Steely Green had the ball 10 times.
State league affiliate: Sandringham (VFL)
This weekend: Sandringham v North Melbourne at Trevor Barker Beach Oval, Sunday May 5, 2.05pm AEST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from Sandringham’s clash
Lance Collard kicked three goals in Sandringham’s close win over North Melbourne, which was soured by injuries to Hunter Clark and Matt Allison.
Clark kicked a goal before leaving the field with a left knee issue, while Allison hurt his left foot.
Tom Campbell dominated in the ruck with 39 hitouts and eight clearances, sharing the role with Max Heath who had 29 and three.
Defender Arie Schoenmaker was a pillar down back with 27 disposals and six marks, while Zak Jones put in a strong performance in the midfield with 26 disposals and eight clearances.
Paddy Dow put in another solid showing as he works his way back from a knee injury with 18 disposals, five clearances and a goal.
Cooper Sharman kicked a goal before being swung into defence in the third quarter, finishing with 17 disposals and eight marks.
Ben Paton had 17 disposals and eight marks in defence, while Anthony Caminiti kicked one goal from 10 disposals up forward.
State league affiliate: Sydney (VFL)
This weekend: Sydney v Greater Western Sydney at the SCG, Saturday May 4, 5.15pm AEST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from Sydney’s clash
In his second game back from injury Luke Parker has starred in Sydney’s VFL side, grabbing 35 disposals, nine clearances, kicking a goal and letting John Longmire know he’s ready to step straight back up to AFL level.
After starting the game in defence, Joel Hamling moved forward and kicked three goals in the Swans’ 10-point win, while former Bomber Aaron Francis (17 disposals) held down a key defensive post.
Angus Sheldrick was busy with 27 disposals, six tackles and six clearances, with 2023 first round draftee Caiden Cleary also getting plenty of the ball with 25 touches and a goal.
Cooper Vickery (20 disposals) also kicked one goal, as did Caleb Mitchell (20 disposals) and Jacob Konstanty (eight).
Braeden Campbell laid a team-high seven tackles to go with 22 possessions.
Ruckman Lachlan McAndrew had 25 hitouts and nine disposals, and was helped out at the bounces by 18-year-old Will Green with half a dozen taps and 14 touches.
Rookies Will Edwards (18 disposals), Jaiden Magor (16) and Jack Buller (12) all got involved, while Patrick Snell had eight touches.
State league affiliate: West Coast (WAFL)
This weekend: East Perth v West Coast at Sullivan Logistics Stadium, Sunday May 5, 11.05am AWST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from West Coast’s clash
Andrew Gaff was in decent form in West Coast’s 74-point loss to East Perth as he continues to wait for a senior recall.
Gaff, whose last AFL game was in round one, had 21 disposals and six marks in the Eagles’ heavy loss on Sunday.
Midfielder Clay Hall had 17 disposals, 16 of which were handballs, and Harry Edwards had 15 touches including six marks.
Tyrell Dewar was busy and had 15 disposals, kicking 1.3, while Jamaine Jones had 14 touches.
Jai Culley (13 disposals and a goal) was busy, Coby Burgiel had 12 touches and Coen Livingstone had 10 disposals and 16 hitouts.
State league affiliate: Footscray (VFL)
This weekend: Footscray v Box Hill at Whitten Oval, Sunday May 5, 11.05am AEST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from Footscray’s clash
Ryley Sanders and Caleb Daniel continued to push their claims for senior recalls with impressive performances in Footscray’s 13-point win over Box Hill on Sunday.
Sanders, the No.6 pick in last year’s draft, had 27 disposals, 10 tackles and eight clearances in the Bulldogs’ victory.
Daniel was also a strong contributor with his 26 touches, seven marks and four clearances.
First-year player Joel Freijah worked hard for his 27 disposals and 12 marks, while Luke Cleary had 28 disposals.
Alex Keath (19 disposals) and Jedd Busslinger (19) were solid as Rory Lobb had 11 disposals and 15 hitouts but finished goalless.
Small forward Arthur Jones had his chances, but finished with 0.4 from nine disposals.
