Adelaide
State league affiliate: Adelaide (SANFL)
This weekend: Glenelg v Adelaide - Friday April 24, 7.10pm, Gliderol Stadium
Adelaide's SANFL match ended in bizarre circumstances when Gliderol Stadium was plunged into darkness by a blackout early in the fourth quarter when scores were level.
After efforts to get the lights back on failed, the match was declared a draw, leaving the Crows SANFL team without a win after four rounds this season.
There were two injuries to AFL-listed players, with Sam Kerridge (corked leg) and Jack Osborn (head knock) sidelined early following heavy collisions.
Osborn's injury left fellow Crows rookie Reilly O'Brien (39 hit-outs) to carry the ruck on his own, which he did well.
Defender Jake Lever, the Crows' first-round selection at last year's NAB AFL Draft, impressed across half-back with 18 possessions and four marks.
Midfielder Matt Crouch (24 possessions, six tackles and eight clearances) also relished the wet conditions and was among the team's best players.
Charlie Cameron (eight possessions) played his first SANFL game for the season after spending the first three round at AFL level.
Brisbane Lions
State league affiliate: Brisbane Lions (NEAFL)
This weekend: Brisbane Lions v Ainslie - Saturday April 25, 12pm, Coorparoo
Experienced swingman Brent Staker finished with five goals – after being omitted from the Lions' round four clash against West Coast – but was inaccurate in front of goal with nine behinds.
Rookie forward Matthew Hammelmann also bagged five goals.
Veteran Matt Maguire was taken off the ground on a stretcher just before three-quarter time after colliding with Ainslie's Josh Bennett and played no further part in the match. Lions football manager Dean Warren told AFL.com.au Maguire was "severely concussed" as a result of the knock, but regained his faculties in the rooms.
Maguire will be reassessed on Sunday along with forward Jackson Paine, who rolled his ankle in a marking contest in the third quarter, Warren said.
Carlton
State league affiliate: Northern Blues (VFL)
This weekend: Port Melbourne v Northern Blues - Saturday April 25, 2pm, North Port Oval
Emerging midfielder Nick Graham relished the wet conditions, finishing with 26 disposals and one goal in his side's 23-point loss to the Borough.
Ruckman Robbie Warnock did his chances of senior selection no harm with 19 touches.
"He was certainly the dominant ruckman … he played with lots of energy and is in good form – he's ready to go if Carlton select him," Northern Blues general manager Garry O'Sullivan told AFL.com.au.
Defender-turned-forward Matthew Watson played in attack for the whole match and booted three majors, including two first-quarter goals.
Second-year Blue Nick Holman impressed with his run-with role on Port Melbourne's James Magner, restricting his opponent to 16 disposals.
Collingwood
State league affiliate: Collingwood (VFL)
This weekend: Essendon v Collingwood - Sunday April 26, 11.42am, Windy Hill
Father-son recruit Darcy Moore succumbed to a hamstring injury in the final quarter of his team's 32-point loss to Essendon.
Rookie-listed backman Tony Armstrong sustained a knee injury in the first term and didn't feature in the second half.
Midfielder Clinton Young got through unharmed in his return from a hamstring injury, kicking the first goal of the match before being rested in the final term.
Young finished with 18 touches and five rebound 50s in his first competitive outing since round 22 last season.
Midfielder Jordan De Goey, who was taken with pick No.5 in last year's NAB AFL Draft, was named the Pies' best, while Patrick Karnezis (29 touches) and Alex Fasolo (22) played their roles.
Essendon
State league affiliate: Essendon (VFL)
This weekend: Essendon v Collingwood - Sunday April 26, 11.42am, Windy Hill
Midfielder Jackson Merrett accumulated 33 possessions and kicked a goal in the 32-point win over Collingwood.
Defender Ariel Steinberg was solid in defensive 50, gathering 21 disposal and seven marks, while fellow backman James Gwilt and on-baller Nick O'Brien finished with 27 possessions apiece.
Tall forward Shaun McKernan (two goals) and midfielder Elliott Kavanagh were also solid.
Fremantle
State league affiliate: Peel Thunder (WAFL)
This weekend: Peel Thunder v Claremont - Sunday April 26, 2.15pm, Bendigo Bank Stadium
Key defender Alex Silvagni was taken off the ground with a suspected left hamstring injury early in the game and didn't play any further part.
It was Silvagni's first game back since overcoming a hamstring injury last month.
The Thunder were led by rookie Jacob Ballard, who finished with 29 possessions and one goal in his team's 27-point win.
Livewire Hayden Crozier had 27 touches, seven marks, seven inside 50s and booted a goal.
Midfielder Connor Blakely also found plenty of the ball with 24 disposals.
Geelong
State league affiliate: Geelong (VFL)
This weekend: Bye
Gold Coast
State league affiliate: Gold Coast (NEAFL)
This weekend: Gold Coast v Sydney Swans - Saturday April 25, 12pm, Harrup Park
Rookie Keegan Brooksby kicked two goals and was named among the Suns' best in their 68-point loss to the Sydney Swans.
Up and coming backman Henry Schade and experienced rookie Andrew Raines were also kept busy.
Greater Western Sydney
State league affiliate: UWS Giants (NEAFL)
This weekend: Eastlake v UWS Giants - Saturday April 25, 1pm, Allinsure Park
Academy draftee Jack Steele was named best afield in his team's 76-point win, finishing with 32 touches, 11 marks, seven tackles and a goal.
After receiving a heavy knock and sitting out the second half last week, defender Tim Golds returned to form with 21 touches.
Youngsters Jack Barrett (34 touches, nine tackles), Paul Ahern (30 touches, six marks, one goal), Matt Buntine (16 touches, five marks) and Zac Williams (27 touches, five tackles) were also named among the Giants' most prominent.
Up forward, Rory Lobb kicked five goals, while Will Hoskin-Elliott kicked four.
The game was relocated from StarTrack Oval to Allinsure Park in Queanbeyan due to the weather.
Hawthorn
State league affiliate: Box Hill Hawks (VFL)
This weekend: Box Hill Hawks v Coburg - Sunday April 26, 2pm, Box Hill City Oval
With defenders Brian Lake and James Frawley on the Hawks' injury list, fellow backman Ryan Schoenmakers was rested from Box Hill's 20-point victory over Coburg.
Schoenmakers had been named emergency for the Hawks' AFL side for the last two weeks.
Youngster Alex Woodward gathered 36 possessions (23 contested), seven inside 50s and eight clearances in a dominant display in the middle.
On-ballers Jono O'Rourke and Jed Anderson were also solid contributors for the Hawks.
Melbourne
State league affiliate: Casey Scorpions (VFL)
This weekend: Footscray v Casey Scorpions - Sunday April 26, 12pm, Whitten Oval
Midfielder Jimmy Toumpas had 28 possessions and laid seven tackles in Casey's 24-point loss to Footscray.
He was complemented by on-baller Aiden Riley with 24 touches and seven tackles.
Former Demons co-captain Jack Grimes had 18 touches and laid a team-high nine tackles.
Tagger Jordie McKenzie and rookie James Harmes collected 20 touches apiece, while versatile tall Cam Pedersen booted three goals.
North Melbourne
State league affiliates: Werribee, North Ballarat (VFL)
This weekend: Werribee v North Ballarat - Saturday April 25, 2pm, Avalon Airport Oval
Defender Lachie Hansen made a successful return from injury in his first competitive match since round 23 last year, collecting seven touches. The 26-year-old, who had post-season surgery on both hips, came in at quarter-time and played out three quarters.
North Melbourne development manager Ben Dyer told AFL.com.au Hansen looked more comfortable as the game went on.
For North Ballarat, forward Aaron Black matched up on draftee – and fellow Roo – Ed Vickers-Willis and kicked two goals.
Port Adelaide
State league affiliate: Port Adelaide (SANFL)
This weekend: Port Adelaide v Norwood - Friday April 24, 7.10pm, Adelaide Oval
Versatile Port tall Paul Stewart suffered an injury scare in the SANFL on Friday night when he was crunched by teammate Tom Logan when running back with the flight of the ball. He was taken from the ground on a stretcher but was later cleared of injury.
AFL-listed wingman Karl Amon was among the Magpies' best players in the 21-point loss, finishing with eight clearances and a goal in his 19 possessions.
Midfielder Sam Gray (30 possessions and 13 clearances) was also excellent, while Cam O'Shea was solid with four rebound 50s in wet conditions.
Richmond
State league affiliate: Richmond (VFL)
This weekend: Frankston v Richmond - Saturday April 25, 2.15pm, Frankston Oval
Experienced midfielder Nathan Foley was best on ground in the Tigers' 53-point victory, amassing 30 possessions and 16 clearances.
Forward Ty Vickery led the goalkicking with four majors, while Liam McBean added three goals and Ben Lennon booted two.
Big man Shaun Hampson accumulated 69 hit-outs in a dominant ruck performance.
Young on-baller Corey Ellis also performed solidly with 24 disposals and 11 clearances.
St Kilda
State league affiliate: Sandringham (VFL)
This weekend: Williamstown v Sandringham - Sunday April 26, 2pm, Burbank Oval
Emerging midfielder Blake Acres was among Sandringham's major ball winners, accumulating 28 disposals.
Draftee Daniel McKenzie, who was taken with pick No.22 in last year's NAB AFL Draft, had 26 touches.
Backman Jimmy Webster and on-baller Josh Saunders showcased their talents with 23 disposals and seven tackles apiece.
Sydney Swans
State league affiliate: Sydney Swans (NEAFL)
This weekend: Gold Coast v Sydney Swans - Saturday April 25, 12pm, Harrup Park
In his second appearance in the NEAFL, veteran midfielder Adam Goodes was named among the Swans' best in his side's 68-point victory.
The dual Brownlow medallist played his role without dominating the match and kicked a third-quarter goal.
Rookie Sam Naismith registered five goals in a solid display, while fellow Swans-listed players Harry Marsh and Tom Mitchell also featured heavily.
West Coast
State league affiliate: East Perth (WAFL)
This weekend: Perth v East Perth - Saturday April 25, 2.15pm, Lathlain Park
Father-son recruit Alec Waterman was among East Perth's leading ball winners, collecting 24 disposals, five marks and kicking two kicks in his side's whopping 103-point win.
Young midfielder Brant Colledge had 16 touches and kicked a goal.
Western Bulldogs
State league affiliate: Footscray (VFL)
This weekend: Footscray v Casey Scorpions - Sunday April 26, 12pm, Whitten Oval
Midfielder Lachie Hunter put in a solid performance in Footscray's four-goal win over Casey, gathering 33 touches.
The 20-year-old was joined by midfielder Brett Goodes, who was omitted from the Bulldogs' round four clash against Adelaide, with 24 disposals.
In attack, Jack Redpath and Tom Campbell registered four goals apiece, while omitted ruckman Will Minson finished with a goal.
All times are local
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
