There was plenty of VFL, SANFL and WAFL action on the weekend with some interesting storylines standing out.
One of them was the postponement of the Melbourne versus Sydney game, due to the COVID situation in New South Wales.
Here’s everything you need to know from the state leagues on the weekend.
Nathan Freeman continues his VFL domination
Frankston was smashed on the weekend by Williamstown, but Nathan Freeman continued his dominant start to the season, picking up 44 disposals in the loss.
Freeman is averaging 40 disposals across the opening month of the season and the former top-10 draft pick must be entering mid-season draft calculations.
Former Adelaide first-round pick Jordan Galluci picked up 16 disposals and kicked a goal for Williamstown, while delisted Kangaroo Mitchell Hibberd finished with 31 touches.
Nic Negrepontis
Blues ruckman a certainty for Round 9
Carlton ruckman Tom De Koning is a class above VFL level.
Two games into his return from injury, De Koning has shown he is ready for a return at AFL level to begin what should be a breakout season.
He won 34 hit-outs and moved well around the ground.
Midfielders Will Setterfield and Paddy Dow took advantage with strong games on-ball, while Nic Newman also impressed down back.
Small forward Josh Honey bobbed up with two impressive goals and would also be knocking on the door.
Nic Negrepontis
Cats respond in VFL thumping
Josh Jenkins and Jordan Clark were two standouts in Geelong’s 45-point win over the Northern Bullants in the VFL on Thursday night.
Jenkins, 32, bullied the Bullants’ defence, including former Blue Ben Silvagni, booting seven goals in a dominant display to power the Cats to a 117-72 victory at Marvel Stadium.
Clark responded to his AFL omission by finding plenty of the ball through the midfield.
Alex Zaia
Young Magpie responds to omission
After a few weeks in the seniors, Fin Macrae was dropped by the Pies and responded in the best possible way.
Macrae picked up 31 disposals and laid five tackles in Collingwood’s win over Coburg.
Tom Wilson continues to impress in the VFL as well, gathering 24 disposals and taking seven marks.
Nic Negrepontis
Dogs defender dominates
Bulldogs defender Lewis Young was impassable on Sunday afternoon, picking off all of Carlton’s forward thrusts.
He took 17 marks and had 31 disposals in the game, intercepting everything.
Mitch Wallis continues to press for selection, winning 29 disposals in the midfield, while Josh Schache bounced back well after he was dropped following one game back in the seniors. He started in defence and looked comfortable before being moved forward and kicking three goals.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan was taken out of the game early with a head knock.
Nic Negrepontis
Kangaroos midfielder closing in on AFL return
Trent Dumont continues to find his form after missing the start of the season with injury.
Dumont had 24 disposals in the club’s 107-point loss to Southport on the weekend.
Fraser Thurlow (four goals), Tom Fields (three) and Billy Gowers (three) all dominated for the Sharks.
Nic Negrepontis
Talls amongst the goals in SANFL Showdown
Port Adelaide claimed the SANFL Showdown on Saturday afternoon, beating Adelaide by 14 points at the Adelaide Oval.
Magpies forward/ruck Pete Ladhams finished with three goals and 15 hit-outs while Crows tall Billy Frampton helped himself to four goals, eight marks and seven hit-outs.
For the victorious Port side, Jarrod Lienert led the way with 28 disposals while Riley Bonner had the ball 26 times and also kicked two goals.
Chayce Jones (27 touches) and Jackson Hately (26 disposals, 13 tackles and seven clearances) were the most prolific for the Crows, who trailed by 34 points at half-time before improving in the second half.
Andrew Slevison
Peel win, Eagles thumped in WAFL
A handful of Dockers contributed to Peel Thunder’s 15-point win over Perth in the WAFL.
Brett Bewley picked up 24 possessions and took six marks with Luke Valente providing able support with 23 touches of his own.
Peel now sits fifth on the ladder.
The Eagles were crushed by 125 points by East Fremantle as they slumped to a fifth straight defeat.
Xaiver O’Neill was a shining light for West Coast with 34 touches, 2019 draftee Ben Johnson had the ball 29 times and Brayden Ainsworth finished with 23 disposals.
Former Collingwood and St Kilda big man Jonathon Marsh bagged seven goals while ex-Carlton midfielder Blaine Boekhorst picked up 41 touches and former Sun Josh Schoenfeld had 40 for the Sharks.
Andrew Slevison