The State Leagues are heating up, and many are pressing their claims to be selected in their respective senior sides.
North Adelaide 12.10.82 def. Adelaide 9.6.60
Mature-aged rookie, Pat Wilson was the Crows' best in another loss, this time at the hands of North Adelaide, finishing with a 22-point deficit.
Wilson, however, added to his impressive start to the year with 31 possessions and a goal, while dropped-forward Lachlan Murphy and father-son prodigy Jackson Edwards, each collected 21 touches. However, with Taylor Walker to likely return for the showdown against cross-town rivals, expect Con Pyke to limit his changes this week.
Norwood 17.14.112 def. Port Adelaide Magpies 13.12.90
AFL-listed players dominated for the Magpies in the 22-point defeat to Norwood, with Sam Powell-Pepper and Tom Rockliff doing themselves no harm in a possible return to the senior side.
Rockliff has suffered a calf injury thus far in 2018, but looked to get close to his 2017 form, with 31 touches and a goal. Powell-Pepper has been unavailable for the senior side after an off-field indiscretion, and played his second straight game in the reserves, collecting 25 disposals and kicking two majors.
Former Demon, Jimmy Toumpas and Joe Atley were also important for the Magpies, collecting 30 disposals, and 28 and seven tackles respectively.
Peel Thunder 14.14.98 def. Claremont 11.12.78
Danyle Pearce will surely be a lock-in this weekend for the Dockers, after another dominating performance for Peel Thunder. He collected 33 touches in his side's 20-point victory. Tommy Sheridan also dominated with the ball, collecting 28 touches, while key-forward, Shane Kersten was busy, amassing 21 touches.
Harley Bennell also made his return to footy, finishing with nine disposals.
East Fremantle 6.12.48 def by. East Perth 10.21.81
An inaccurate East Perth took the chocolates over East Fremantle, with Luke Partington leading the way for their 33-point victory. Partington collected 29 possessions and a goal, as he put his hand up to replace the injured, Luke Shuey.
Brayden Ainsworth also kept his name in Adam Simpson's head, with 23 touches and a goal, being influential in all parts of the ground.
Southport Sharks 19.19.133 def. GWS Giants 7.5.47
After a disappointing display against the Cats in Geelong, no Giants' reserve player put their hand up for selecting as they were thumped by 86 points.
Sam Taylor had 32 touches, while Isaac Cumming had 27 possessions while Harry Perryman and Tim Mohr were the only others who put in a solid performance in what was a disappointing day for the Giants.
Canberra 11.14.80 def. Gold Coast 7.9.51
Omitted livewire, Aaron Hall was again one of Gold Coast's best, as this time they went down to Canberra by 29-points. He had 22 disposals, but more importantly was able to throw his weight around, collecting nine tackles. Will Brodie was exceptional, collecting 32 touches, while big-man, Peter Wright collected just the eight disposals, and a solitary behind.
Sydney 9.17.71 def by. Aspley 11.6.72
Sydney will be ruing the missed opportunities in this game, going down by a single point in an inaccurate kicking display. Allir Allir put together a great perfromance all over the ground, collecting 21 disposals, 11 hit-outs, three clearances and five inside 50s, while both Nic Newman and Daniel Robinson both collected 34 touches each.
Ruckman Darcy Cameron again impressed, finishing with 21 touches (15 kicks, six handballs), seven tackles, six clearances, four inside 50s, 37 hit-outs, a goal and 10 marks.
Frankston 8.8.56 def by. Northern Blues 14.11.95
After a disappointing start to the season, Jacob Weitering may have earned himself a recall to the senior side, finishing the game with 28 disposals, 17 marks in his side's 39-point victory.
Former Port ruckman, Matthew Lobbe kicked two goals, while dropped father-son prodigy, Jack Silvagni also showed his potential with a 20-disposal and nine-tackle performance.
Essendon 19.19.133 def. North Melbourne 10.7.67
Aaron Francis made his return to football following his time off for personal leave, albeit being relatively quiet in his return, finishing with just eight touches and a goal in his side's thumping victory of North Melbourne. Dylan Clarke [30 touches], Jake Long [29] and Kyle Langford [25 plus a goal] were the Bombers' best.
For the Kangaroos, number four pick in the NAB AFL Draft a year ago, Luke Davis-Uniacke had 18 touches in what was a terrible day for the Kangaroos. He, along with Sam Durdin [17 touches] and Ben McKay [15] were the best for North Melbourne in what was a disappointing day.
Box Hill Hawks 18.11.119 def. Sandringham Zebras 8.7.55
It was a successful return for Hawthorn ruckman Jonathan Ceglar, after spending the last 20 months on the sidelines. He kicked two goals and was influential in the contest as the Hawks ran out comfortable winners over the Zebras.
Jono O'Rourke also dominated, collecting 30 touches and snagging two goals, while David Mirra responded well from his omission, with a strong performance in the back six.
For the Zebras, the story was all about young top-ten pick, Nathan Freeman, who again made his return from a hamstring issue. Not only did he get through the game unscathed, he showed glimpses of what St. Kilda need in their senior side, finishing with 31 touches, seven marks and four tackles.
Dropped midfielder, Jack Sinclair, responded just how Alan Richardson would've wanted, finishing with 30 disposals and a goal in a disappointing day for the Zebras.
Daniel McKenzie and Doultan Langlands also made successful returns from injury, as Ed Phillips continued to raise his name at the selection table, finishing with 35 possessions.
Werribee 8.9.57 def by. Collingwood 16.14.110
Daniel Wells again elevated his game, itching closer to a return to the senior side being a solid contributor in the Pies' victory, and kicking a goal. Levi Greenwood was also influential, in his first game back from his knee injury.
Footscray 11.5.71 def. Richmond 9.16.70
Footscray escaped with a one-point victory against last year's Grand Finalist, Richmond. Former Lion, Josh Schache, returned from injury with a three goal performance, including the last to give his side the lead in the dying seconds.
Jackson Trengove and Tom Campbell were strong in the middle, amassing 48 hit-outs between them.
For the Tigers, Anthony Miles was again strong for the second's, finishing with 32 touches, six marks, four tackles and a goal. Shai Bolton was dangerous up forward, booting two majors, while Brandon Ellis was serviceable, finishing with 18 disposals and six tackles.