A raft of AFL-listed players pressed their cases for senior selection via the VFL on Sunday.
Richmond opened up the day’s play with a comfortable 25-point win over Carlton at Ikon Park, with Kane Lambert putting his hand selection after recovering from a pre-season hip injury.
In Sydney, the Swans hosted the winless Northern Bullants at Blacktown in a game they would have been heavily favoured to win.
The Swans battled hard to keep themselves in the contest after dropping to an 18-point deficit at quarter time, with Ryan Clarke yet again staking his claim to return to the senior side 37 disposals, 10 marks and six tackles.
He was supported well by Will Gould (24 disposals), Lewis Taylor (25 disposals) and Dylan Stephens (18 disposals) who have all struggled to stamp down their place in the senior side.
Ultimately, they ran out of steam and ended up losing to the Bullants 104-85.
Over at Casey Fields, it was the Demons who hosted Coburg and the AFL premiers showed off their depth with a solid 90-55 win.
Adam Tomlinson hit back well from his axing with 24 disposals and six marks while Jake Melksham (21 disposals) and Luke Dunstan (one goal, 21 disposals) also had reasonable performances.
Wrapping up the day in Port Melbourne, the Borough proved too strong for Essendon putting in a in a clinical performance to win 136-111.
Young key forward Kaine Baldwin was immense for the Dons with five goals, while Tex Wanganeen kicked two of his own.
Harrison Jones also looked lively, but only mustered 1.3 from nine disposals.
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (one goal, four disposals) was quiet in his third game back in the VFL and would be hoping to rekindle some form to assume his place back in the Bombers' forward line permanently.
Essendon remain winless at the state-league level this season and they’ll hope to get on the board when they host Collingwood at Windy Hill on ANZAC Day.