Round 5 of the VFL premiership season is in the books, as the league's leaders are starting to take shape.
Frankston, Geelong and GWS extended their winning streaks to three after impressive outings.
Essendon recorded their first victory of the season while Box Hill and Williamstown go a game clear on top of the ladder with Footscray.
Bye: Footscray Bulldogs
Here's a recap of all the VFL action from the weekend...
Richmond (95) def. Casey Demons (75)
Tiger duoย Tyler Sonsie andย Jacob Koschitzke responded well to being looked over for a spot in the senior side.
Sonsie gathered 32 touches, 10 clearances, five marks and a goal, while Koschitzke slotted four majors and assisted in the ruck.
Samson Ryan was impressive as the number one big man in the middle, Noah Cumberland andย Steely Green hit the scoreboard while 2023 mid-season recruit Matthew Coulthard isn't far away from a look at senior level.
Adam Tomlinson was instrumental for the Demons, collecting 38 possessions and 15 marks in defence.
Tom Fullarton presses his case for a club debut, kicking two goals from 25 disposals and six clearances.
Josh Schache (three goals) andย Shane McAdam (three goals) are viable options up forward if coach Simon Goodwin is looking for a new mix in the AFL lineup.
Williamstown Seagulls (101) def. Werribee Tigers (49)
Williamstown soared toward the top of the table thanks to the team-wide effort on Thursday.
Tom Downie was huge in the ruck whileย Mitch Cox slotted three goals from his 15 possessions.
Former Richmond playerย Riley Collier-Dawkins continued his impressive start to the season whileย Will Fordhamย joined in on the act.
Werribee midfielder Dom Brew was massive on Thursday, amassing 25 disposals, 13 tackles and seven clearances in a best-on-ground performance.
Brew did his best to will his side over the line, withย Jack Riding (two goals, 17 touches and eight tackles) andย Kye Declase (23 possessions) following suit.
GWS (94) def. North Melbourne (67)
Adam Kingsley will have a headache after reading the performances of his AFL-listed players in the reserves over the weekend.
Nick Madden was arguably the best afield, recording 31 touches, 14 clearances, eight tackles and 33 hitouts.
Josh Fahey (39 possessions, 10 marks and five tackles) was equally as good while veteranย Nick Haynes took a game-high 17 marks as he puts his hand up for a senior recall.
Lachlan Keeffe (four goals),ย Conor Stoneย (three goals) andย Max Gruzewskiย (three goals) all hit the scoreboard.
As for North Melbourne,ย Tyler Sellers continued his impressive reserve grade form after being dropped, kicking three goals.
Jaidyn Stephenson is starting to regain some form whileย Curtis Taylor (one goal, 25 disposals and 14 marks) andย Liam Shiels (one goal, 23 possessions, 11 tackles and five clearances) may be seen in the senior side sooner rather than later.
Frankston Dolphins (76) def. Coburg Lions (59)
Dolphins playersย Jackson Vossย andย Tyson Milne were impressive in the victory over Coburg, with the pair combining for 46 disposals, 17 marks and seven tackles.
Nick Burke andย Noah Gown slotted three goals each whileย Sebastian Quirk led the side through the midfield, registering 28 touches, seven clearances and four tackles.
The Lions were gallant in defeat, withย Joel Trudgeon seen everywhere on the ground.
Trudgeon gathered 28 disposals, 14 tackles and five clearances in a special performance whileย forwardย Josh D'Intinosanteย nailed four majors in the loss.
Ruckmanย Cooper Keogh was strong, leading the game for clearances (11) and dominating the hit-outs with 38 while amassing 24 touches.
Port Melbourne Borough (85) def. by Gold Coast (90)
Alex Sexton produced another compelling performance for the Suns VFL side, playing an important role across the backline.
Sexton collected 33 touches and 12 marks, whileย Ned Moyle continues to put pressure on the ruck combination under Damien Hardwick, recording 24 touches, 35 hitouts and 11 clearances.
Ben Long's move up forward looks to be successful, with the former Saint kicking 3.4 as veteransย Levi Casboult andย Brandon Ellis are in line to be recalled.
Mid-season fancyย Tom Highmore was arguably the Borough's best, taking 16 marks as a key defender to go with his 26 disposals.
Midfieldersย Robbie McComb (one goal, 24 possessions, six clearances and six tackles) andย Harvey Hooper (one goal, 32 touches, eight clearances and eight marks) were instrumental in the club's chances but ultimately fell short.
Billy Gowers kicked three goals whileย Jimmy Miller andย Kyle Viccars both slotted two majors each.
Carlton (55) def. by Geelong (156)
Geelong's capacity to manage and rest senior players will be comforted by the performances of some of the names in the VFL.
Youngster Toby Conway has done his AFL recall chances no harm, kicking three goals from the ruck, to go with his 20 touches, six clearances and 28 hitouts.
Veteranย Gary Rohan is nearing a return to senior football, slotting four majors whileย Shannon Neale (three goals),ย Shaun Mannaghย (two goals) andย Ted Clohesyย (two) also hit the scoreboard.
Rested youngsterย Jhye Clark andย Connor O'Sullivan were also impressive.
The Blues were simply outplayed in the demolition with a lot of players down on their usual output.
VFL listed playersย Lachlan Young (28 touches, six marks and four tackles),ย Luke Nelson (one goal, 21 possessions and 11 marks) andย Liam McMahon (two goals, 20 disposals and 12 marks) were strong in the efforts.
Ashton Moir was quieter this weekend, gathering 10 touches and a goal whileย Billy Wilson showed glimpses of why he was drafted at Pick 34 last year.
Southport Sharks (86) def. by Brisbane (95)
Jarryd Lyons continues to dominate the VFL with little reward coming from an AFL call-up.
Lyons kicked one goal from his 24 disposals, 10 clearances and six tackles and was joined byย Harry Sharpย (two goals, 22 possessions and nine marks) andย Bruce Reville (25 touches, 10 marks, five clearances and five tackles).
Young forwardย Logan Morris pushes his case for an AFL debut, slotting two goals and providing a strong option up forward whileย Jaxon Prior andย James Tunstill would like their chances again.
Sharks ruckmanย Brayden Crossley was significant, registering 45 hitouts, 13 touches, one goal and three clearances.
Boyd Woodcock (two goals, 20 possessions and four clearances) andย Jacob Dawson (32 disposals and 12 clearances) utilised Crossley's dominance.
Max Pescud, Hugh Dixon andย Campbell Lake were multiple goalkickers.
Sandringham Zebras (87) def. Northern Bullants (30)
Zak Jones responded well to his omission from the senior side, dominating through the midfield.
Making most of ruckmanย Tom Campbell's supremacy (52 hit-outs), Jones gathered 30 touches, nine clearances, five marks and a goal.
Forwardย Jack Hayes kicked three goals and was a backup to Campbell in the ruck while defenders Ben Paton (22 touches, eight marks and four tackles) andย Arie Schoenmakerย (27 possessions and seven marks) giving coach Ross Lyon something to consider.
Recruitย Paddy Dow could also be brought into the AFL side following an impressive 22-disposal, six-clearance game.
Bullants trioย Matthew King (31 touches and 11 marks),ย Patrick Fairlie (28 disposals, seven marks, seven tackles and four clearances) andย Jean-Luc Velissarisย (32 possessions, 10 clearances and five marks) were influential in the disappointing loss.
Collingwood (85) def. by Essendon (97)
Elijah Tsatas responded to being demoted from the year's biggest home-and-away clash, collecting 40 disposals, five clearances and four marks in the VFL win.
Archie Roberts kicked two goals from his 22 possessions while former Crowย Jackson Hately was impressive through the midfield.
Ruckmanย Nick Bryan continues to put his hand up while familiar facesย Dylan Shielย (one goal, 24 disposals and five clearances) andย Matt Guelfi (one goal, 16 possessions and six marks) nearing their best.
Top drafteeย Nate Caddy was quiet.
Finlay Macrae will be talked about once again following another best-on-ground performance in the reserves.
Macrae led the way for the Pies, amassing 31 possessions, one goal, six clearances and five tackles.
Ned Long was equally as good whileย Lachie Sullivan andย Campbell Lane were impressive.
Ash Johnson featured across half-back for parts of the clash before heading forward, finishing with two goals, 20 touches and eight marks.
Charlie Dean was strong in defence whileย Josh Carmichael could've had a day out, kicking 2.3 from his 16 disposals.
Box Hill Hawks (102) def. Sydney (75)
Henry Hustwaite did his senior recall chances no harm, playing an important role in the midfield, collecting 22 touches, seven tackles, five clearances and a goal.
Calsher Dear was significant up forward, kicking 2.4 from his 16 possessions and six marks.
Ned Reevesย continues to build his form back up whileย Josh Wardย will be considered going forward.
Pre-season selectionย Ethan Phillips won't be far away from an AFL debut after another strong performance in defence.
Hawks forwardย Sam Butler suffered a horrific leg injury during the game and is likely to miss the remainder of the season.
As for the Swans, they welcomed back veteranย Luke Parker (34 disposals, six tackles and five clearances), who showed he's a cut above the grade whileย Aaron Francis andย Angus Sheldrick put together high-level games.
Ruckmanย Peter Ladhams continues to put his hand up for selection.
