Round 3 of the VFL season has offered plenty of insight into which players are pressing their case for a recall to AFL level.
A dropped Bulldog was arguably the best performer from Round 3, falling three disposals short of the 50-mark in a win over Richmond, who were hit with a number of injuries in the loss.
A GWS flanker has continued to turn heads at the state league level, recording 80 disposals across the past two weeks. The same can be said for a Suns recruit, who is having a strong start to life in Queensland.
An attacking ball-winner for Werribee could be one to watch ahead of next month's Mid-Season Draft after a strong pair of performances.
Here's a quick wrap-up of the weekend's action from the VFL.
Brisbane vs Collingwood (118 - 51)
Senior midfield pair Rhys Mathieson and Jarryd Lyons combined for 82 possessions and 22 clearances against the Magpies to help continue the Lions' undefeated start to the season.
Defender Noah Answerth was also among the leading ball winners with 31 possessions, while also chipping in with a goal and eight marks.
Returning ruckman Darcy Fort led the goalkicker with three majors to go along with 34 hit-outs, 11 clearances and 20 disposals in a dominant effort over a youthful Collingwood outfit.
For the Magpies, Finlay Macrae continued his strong start to the season with another 28 possessions, while rookie Ed Allan was again among Josh Fraser's best performers.
North Melbourne vs Carlton (46 - 98)
The Blues claimed their first win of the season in beating the Roos at Arden Street, with inside midfielder Paddy Dow again among Carlton's best.
The former No.2 pick recorded 32 possessions and two goals, an effort that was matched by first-year winger Jaxon Binns, who also had two goals from his 31 touches.
Former Swan Ben Ronke led the way with four goals, while Brodie Kemp was impressive with 13 marks and 32 possessions.
North Melbourne defender Flynn Perez was among the leading names for the Roos in the defeat, while young star George Wardlaw was again impressive with 15 possessions, six clearances and a goal.
Williamstown vs Port Melbourne (124 - 47)
Former Hawthorn midfielder James Cousins was a standout for the Seagulls in their large win over the Borough, recording 32 disposals, six marks, eight tackles and 12 clearances for the day.
Ex-Carlton player Finbar O'Dwyer and former Giants big man Tom Downie were also impressive, with the latter returning from injury to assist Williamstown to their second win of the year.
Mathew Walker and Nick Ebinger led the way for the Seagulls in front of goal with five majors each.
For Port Melbourne, Marcus Lentini and Dylan Clarke were again impressive from midfield, while Anthony Anastasio was their only multiple goalkicker.
Coburg v GWS (67 - 113)
GWS secured their second win on the trot with a strong outing against the Lions after fringe forward Wade Derksen booted five goals from 15 possessions.
The Mid-Season Draft recruit stood tall in the absence of 2022 No.1 pick Aaron Cadman, while Max Gruzewski was again impressive in attack with another two majors.
Defender Josh Fahey has stuck his hand up for a debut at AFL level after recording 37 possessions against Coburg, an outing that comes a week after his 43 disposals last week against Carlton.
Irishman Callum Brown and midfielder Xavier O'Halloran were also among the best for GWS.
Coburg's Sam Mason managed to boot three goals in the heavy loss, while Flynn Gentile led the Lions for most touches.
Southport vs Werribee (63 - 86)
Werribee's Shaun Mannagh enjoyed a day out against the Sharks on Saturday, collecting 40 possessions and booting four goals in a man-of-the-match display. That performance backed up a strong Round 1 outing against Brisbane to have the midfield-forward potentially on the radar of AFL clubs for the 2023 Mid-Season Draft.
Shark Fraser Thurlow equalled Mannagh's goal tally with four of his own, but it wasn't enough to see Southport land their second win of the season.
Southport pair Boyd Woodcock and Jesse Joyce were also among the Sharks' best in midfield, while Kye Declase was a standout for the Tigers with 27 possessions and two goals.
Richmond vs Western Bulldogs (57 -80)
The Bulldogs claimed their first win of the season thanks to a sensational afternoon from dropped midfielder Toby McLean, who recorded 47 disposals, 17 clearances, nine tackles, seven marks and seven inside 50s in the 23-point win.
That effort may have McLean back in the mix for a return to AFL level this week, while young tall Sam Darcy might join him in heading to South Australia after his two-goal performance.
The Tigers' depth will be tested in the coming weeks, with Robbie Tarrant (hip), Bigoa Nyuon (ankle) and Kaelan Bradtke (hand) all sustaining injuries in the defeat.
Defender Ben Miller was impressive in needing to take on the ruck workload, recording 33 hit-outs in what was a tough evening for the Tigers.
Sandringham vs Gold Coast (50 - 67)
The Suns continued their undefeated start to the year in handing Sandringham their second loss of the season on Sunday with a comeback win over the Zebras.
Pre-season recruit Brodie McLaughlin again finds himself knocking on the door for an AFL debut after collecting 25 possessions and three goals to be seen as Gold Coast's best performer.
Charlie Constable continued his dominance at the state league level with 36 possessions, while fellow fringe suns Connor Blakely, James Tsitas and Alex Davies also impressed.
AFL-listed defender Tom Highmore was a standout for the Zebras, recording 12 marks and 21 possessions in the loss, while Cooper Sharman and Darby Hipwell also had strong outings.
Northern Bullants vs Essendon (65 - 88)
A number of Essendon players are continuing to gain attention from the club's AFL selection committee, with midfield pair Will Snelling and Ben Hobbs helping lead the Bombers to a win over the Bullants on Sunday in Port Melbourne.
Snelling ended the day with 28 disposals and two goals, while Hobbs recorded 27 possessions, seven tackles, nine clearances and a goal.
Defensive pair Rhett Montgomerie and Nick Hind continued to find strong form at VFL level, while forward Patrik Voss couldn't capitalise in front of goal, recording one goal from five set shots.
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti made his return to the field after battling soreness to boot two goals from 10 touches.
Jean-Luc Velissaris and Saad El-Hawli were the standouts for the Bullants, recording 28 and 26 possessions respectively.
Casey vs Frankston (109 - 49)
Casey held onto their top spot after a 10-goal win over the Dolphins, led by an emphatic performance from midfield-forward Bailey Laurie.
Laurie recorded 35 disposals, eight clearances, six tackles and a goal in the Demons' win, with fellow AFL-listed names in Andy Moniz-Wakefield, Luke Dunstan and Blake Howes also impressing.
After his four-goal haul last week, first-year forward Matt Jefferson added another four majors to his season tally, while Josh Schache and Tom Sheridan also chipped in with three each.
Ryley Stoddart was a strong performer for the Dolphins with 31 touches and 10 marks, as was Will Fordham, who had 33 possessions and eight clearances in the loss.
Geelong vs Box Hill (52 - 107)
Box Hill put on a dominant performance over Geelong to continue their unbeaten start to the year, with former Saint Ed Phillips earning best-afield plaudits.
The veteran Hawk amassed 31 possessions, 10 marks and seven tackles for the evening under tough conditions to help steer his side to a strong victory.
Young ruckman Max Lynch was dominant in the middle to record 34 hit-outs, seven clearances and 19 touches in the win, while Lachie Bramble, Callum Brown and Sam Butler, who kicked four goals, were also impressive.
Dropped midfielder Tanner Bruhn looked to show his worth at VFL level, recording 36 possessions and six clearances in a tough evening for the Cats.
Former Essendon wingman Brayden Ham and second-year Cat Ollie Dempsey were also among Geelong's best.
