L-R: Malakai Champion, Tom McDonald and Conor McKenna. Pictures: AFL Photos
STATE Leagues around the country are in action for 2026, and we’ll bring you a wrap of all the action.
Check out how your team fared in the VFL, WAFL and SANFL this weekend.
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State league affiliate: Adelaide (SANFL)
This weekend: Central District v Adelaide at X Convenience Oval, Saturday April 18, 2.40pm ACST
Veteran ruckman Reilly O’Brien went big in Adelaide’s nine-point win over Central District on Saturday, gathering 22 disposals, 42 hitouts and eight clearances as he fights for an AFL return.
Chayce Jones was the Crows’ biggest ballwinner with 24 touches and six clearances, also slotting two goals.
Tyler Welsh (10 disposals) also kicked two goals, while Sid Draper (21), Toby Murray (11) and Lachie Sholl (16) each slotted one goal.
James Borlase was busy with 18 disposals, as was Oscar Ryan with 17.
The only other senior Crows in action were Indy Cotton (13 touches), Archie Ludowyke (nine) and Mitchell Marsh (four).
State league affiliate: Brisbane (VFL)
This weekend: Casey Demons v Brisbane at Casey Fields, Sunday April 19, 11.05am AEST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from Brisbane’s clash
Connor McKenna (22 disposals) and Will McLachlan (15) did most of the scoreboard damage for Brisbane with four goals apiece in their side’s 38-point win over Casey on Sunday.
Reece Torrent slotted two goals and was arguably the Lions’ best, finishing with 30 disposals, eight marks and a team-high nine tackles.
Darragh Joyce laid claims of his own with a hefty 16 marks in his 33 touches, Luke Beecken also got busy in the air with 15 grabs, 23 disposals and one goal, while Sam Marshall was another to impress with 28 disposals and six clearances.
Mature-age draftee Tai Hayes would have made his uncle Lenny proud with 15 touches, eight marks and one goal, ruckman Cody Curtin also slotting a goal from nine disposals and 26 hitouts.
Luke Lloyd finished with 15 disposals and seven marks, and Tom Doedee had the ball nine times as he fights for a senior recall.
Other Lions in action included Shadeau Brain (12 disposals), James Tunstill (13), Koby Evans (eight), while Irish debutant Ben Murphy had 11 touches.
State league affiliate: Carlton (VFL)
This weekend: Carlton v Collingwood at Ikon Park, Friday April 17, 7.05pm AEST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from Carlton’s clash
Reigning best and fairest winner George Hewett responded to being dropped with a big game in Carlton’s 31-point VFL win over Collingwood on Friday night.
Hewett gathered 30 disposals, laid eight tackles and had a team-high nine clearances as he put his name forward for an AFL recall.
Cooper Lord was the Blues’ busiest with 35 touches and 10 tackles, with Blake Acres also likely to be under Michael Voss’ eye with 32 disposals.
Veteran Adam Saad had the ball 25 times. Flynn Young (22 touches, nine marks), Jack Ison (18 and seven) and Ashton Moir (13 disposals) each kicked two goals.
Matt Cottrell slotted one goal from 20 touches, while Lachie Fogarty (17 disposals) and Hudson O’Keefe (seven, 18 hitouts) also kicked one goal.
Former Eagle Campbell Chesser was busy with 20 disposals, as was rookie Harry Charleson with 24 and Billy Wilson with 22.
Other senior-listed Blues in action included Jordan Boyd (19), Rob Monahan (16) and Matt Duffy (10).
But the day did not pan out so well for twins Ben and Lucas Camporeale, who both finished the game with injuries. Lucas is in hospital after suffering a laceration to his kidney, while Ben has entered concussion protocols after finishing with 0.5 from 29 disposals.
State league affiliate: Collingwood (VFL)
This weekend: Carlton v Collingwood at Ikon Park, Friday April 17, 7.05pm AEST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from Collingwood’s clash
Sam Swadling was Collingwood’s best, gathering 29 disposals in his side’s disappointing 31-point VFL loss to Carlton on Friday night.
Lachie Sullivan was the next busiest of the senior-listed Magpies with 20 disposals, while Reef McInnes had 19 and Jakob Ryan 17.
Jack Buller was the only multiple goalkicker with two from 13 touches, with Charlie West (16 disposals), Tyan Prindable (six) and Iliro Smit (nine and 11 hitouts) all finishing with one goal apiece.
Harvey Harrison got amongst it with 16 touches and six tackles and Wil Parker had the ball 14 times.
Other Pies in action included Tew Jiath (nine disposals), Joel Cochran (12), and Noah Howes (eight).
State league affiliate: Essendon (VFL)
This weekend: Gold Coast v Essendon at People First Stadium, Saturday April 18, 9.30am AEST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from Essendon’s clash
Essendon shared around the scoring in its six-point win over Gold Coast on Saturday with four senior-listed players sharing the role of Bombers’ leading goalkicker.
Nik Cox (10 disposals), Liam McMahon (14), Jayden Nguyen (23) and Rhys Unwin (13) each came away with a mini bag of three goals.
Zak Johnson was his side’s leading ballwinner with 31 touches, Archie Perkins close behind with 26 and one goal, while first-round draftee Dyson Sharp had the ball 23 times.
Ruckman Nick Bryan is keeping on the pressure for a senior call-up with 16 disposals, 18 hitouts and a team-high seven clearances.
Max Kondogiannis was busy with 20 touches, Matt Guelfi had 13, Kayle Gerreyn also had 13, and SSP signing Will Setterfield finished with 10.
State league affiliate: Peel Thunder (WAFL)
This weekend: Peel Thunder v Perth at Lane Group Stadium, Saturday April 18, 1.10pm AWST
Dockers speedster Jeremy Sharp put in another impressive performance but it wasn’t enough as the Thunder fell in heartbreaking circumstances to Perth.
Sharp, who is still waiting for his first AFL game this season, gathered 34 disposals, three tackles and six inside-50s in the midfield as Peel lost by just one point.
Nathan O’Driscoll had 21 touches and eight tackles, while Brandon Walker (17 disposals, six marks) continued his recovery from a quad injury.
Tobyn Murray kicked two goals and gathered 23 disposals in a strong game, while Aiden Riddle also added two majors as well as 19 hitouts.
Developing forward Charlie Nicholls kicked one goal, while Toby Whan (20 disposals), Oscar McDonald (20) and Cooper Simpson (16) all got their hands on the ball.
Hugh Davies (16), Josh Draper (14) and Adam Sweid (eight) were also in action.
State league affiliate: Geelong (VFL)
This weekend: Geelong v Footscray at GMHBA Stadium, Friday April 17, 3pm AEST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from Geelong’s clash
Midfield duo George Stevens and Mitch Knevitt produced good displays as Geelong fell to a 33-point loss to Footscray on Friday.
Stevens was the leading clearance winner on the ground with 11, to go with 28 disposals and five tackles.
Knevitt had 28 disposals, 10 marks and kicked a major, while Jhye Clark had 20 touches.
Young forward Jesse Mellor impressed with three goals from nine disposals.
Veteran ruck Rhys Stanley had 17 disposals, 30 hitouts and seven clearances.
Lennox Hofmann had 17 disposals for the Cats, Jed Bews finished with 13 and Joe Pike had nine to go with 21 hitouts, while draftee Hunter Holmes had 13 disposals.
State league affiliate: Gold Coast (VFL)
This weekend: Gold Coast v Essendon at People First Stadium, Saturday April 18, 9.30am AEST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from Gold Coast’s clash
Former No.1 draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan made a big statement with five goals in Gold Coast’s six-point loss to Essendon on Saturday.
The Bulldog-turned-Sun’s 5.2 from 13 disposals will have him well in Damien Hardwick’s thoughts, although it’s hard to find space for another key forward alongside Ben King, Ethan Reid and Jed Walter.
Another tall looking for a senior spot is Ned Moyle who impressed with 19 disposals, 33 hitouts and two goals.
Alex Davies was Gold Coast’s biggest ball-winner with 33 touches and nine clearances, Alex Sexton also busy with 29 disposals.
First-round draftee Dylan Patterson was strong with 25 touches, while Nick Holman (six clearances) and Sam Clohesy had 23 apiece, Caleb Graham (10 marks) finished with 21 and Ben Jepson 20.
Rookie Asher Eastham (15 disposals, eight marks) kicked two goals, as did Cooper Bell, while Jai Murray (20 touches), Koby Coulson (18), Max Knobel (13) and Zak Evans (13) slotted one goal each.
Beau Addinsall got amongst it with 17 disposals, Lachlan Gulbin also found the ball 17 times, Caleb Lewis finished with 11 touches and Avery Thomas had eight.
State league affiliate: GWS Giants (VFL)
This weekend: Sydney v Greater Western Sydney at the SCG, Friday April 17, 3.35pm AEST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from Greater Western Sydney’s clash
Kieren Briggs has responded to being axed from the senior side with a good display in Greater Western Sydney’s 22-point loss to Sydney on Friday.
The ruck, dropped last week, was a strong performer at the SCG with 16 disposals, 21 hitouts, 10 clearances and seven tackles.
Youngster Harrison Oliver was busy with 29 disposals, while Max Gruzewski was a presence throughout with 19 touches, 10 marks and a goal.
Jack Ough (28 disposals), Conor Stone (20) and Oskar Taylor (19) were also solid.
Riley Hamilton had 10 touches and kicked two goals, and took one great flying mark, while small forward Josaia Delana finished with 11 and a major and James Leake had 15 disposals.
State league affiliate: Box Hill Hawks (VFL)
This weekend: Port Melbourne v Box Hill at ETU Stadium, Saturday April 18, 2.05pm AEST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from Box Hill’s clash
Box Hill had plenty of standouts in its 73-point thumping of Port Melbourne.
Finn Maginness was the leading ball-winner with 34 touches, while he also kicked three goals, had 11 clearances and five tackles in a dominant all-round outing.
Aidan Schubert kicked three goals from 14 touches, but could have had a bigger impact in front of goal, finishing with 3.5 after missing a number of opportunities.
Cody Anderson (16 disposals, four tackles) and Matt Hill (nine touches) added two goals each.
Max Ramsden (17 disposals, 23 hitouts, seven marks) and Jaime Uhr-Henry (22 hitouts, six clearances) gave the midfielders first use, Jack Dalton was busy with 24 disposals, six marks and four clearances and Henry Hustwaite was in the thick of it with 29 disposals and 11 clearances.
Defender Jack Scrimshaw finished with 22 disposals, six marks and even pushed forward to hit the scoreboard.
Ollie Greeves (12 disposals, three tackles), Cameron Nairn (11 disposals), Harry Morrison (15 disposals), Noah Mraz (18 disposals, four marks), Bailey Macdonald (11 disposals) and James Blanck (six disposals) were other Hawks in action.
State league affiliate: Casey Demons (VFL)
This weekend: Casey Demons v Brisbane at Casey Fields, Sunday April 19, 11.05am AEST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from Casey’s clash
Veteran swingman Tom McDonald reacted to being dropped with a strong performance in Casey’s 38-point loss to Brisbane on Sunday, gathering 23 disposals and eight marks.
The Demons’ 2025 SSP signing Jack Henderson also impressed with 26 touches, seven tackles and seven clearances, while Andy Moniz-Wakefield had 23 disposals, and Ricky Mentha 19.
Luker Kentfield (16 hitouts) and Thomas Matthews (12 disposals) each kicked one goal.
Jed Adams finished with 14 touches and Riley Onley 15.
The only other senior Demons in action were rookies Kalani White (nine disposals) and Oscar Berry (eight), with pre-season signing Paddy Cross (seven, six tackles) also getting involved.
State league affiliate: North Melbourne (VFL)
This weekend: Sandringham v North Melbourne at Trevor Barker Beach Oval, Saturday April 18, 2.05pm AEST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from North Melbourne’s clash
After falling from North Melbourne’s AFL side late last year, Zac Fisher is doing all he can for a recall, impressing with 29 disposals in the Roos’ big 80-point win over Sandringham on Saturday.
Former Swan Jacob Konstanty also looked good with 23 touches and one goal, but could have stood out further with more efficiency around goal, slotting three behinds.
Returning to the state league after successive senior appearances, 2025 mid-season draftee Zac Banch led the scoring with three goals from 17 disposals, while Matt Whitlock (eight touches), River Stevens (11) and Brayden George (12) each kicked two majors.
Cooper Harvey was good with 26 disposals and eight marks, and Toby Pink strong in defence with 11 marks and 18 touches.
Taylor Goad dominated in the ruck with 41 hitouts and five clearances to go with 11 disposals and one goal.
Riley Hardeman was busy with 17 touches and six marks, Hugo Mikunda had 15 disposals, Josh Goater finished with 12, and Wil Dawson had nine.
State league affiliate: Port Adelaide Magpies (SANFL)
This weekend: Port Adelaide v North Adelaide at Alberton Oval, Sunday April 19, 2.10pm ACST
Will Lorenz was the best for Port Adelaide in its 17-point loss to North Adelaide on Sunday, racking up team highs for disposals (25) and clearances (seven).
The Power’s only 2025 draftee, Jack Watkins taken in the rookie draft, also found plenty of the ball with 20 touches and a team-high seven tackles.
Rookie Xavier Walsh made the most of limited opportunities, kicking four goals from seven disposals, with SSP signing Mitch Zadow (eight touches) and former Sun and Docker Will Brodie (14) the only other senior-listed players to kick a goal with one each.
Small forward Tom Anastasopoulos had 16 and six marks, as well as three inside-50, as he eyes a senior debut in his third season on Port’s senior list.
Jackson Mead had 14 disposals, four tackles and two clearances, while Category B rookie Benny Barrett has 11 and four and one.
Brandon Zerk-Thatcher was strong in defence with 14 disposals, four marks and three rebound-50s as he vies for his first senior game of the season.
State league affiliate: Richmond (VFL)
This weekend: No match
State league affiliate: St Kilda (VFL)
This weekend: Coburg v St Kilda at Barry Plant Park, Saturday April 18, 12.05pm AEST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from St Kilda’s clash
Veteran Jack Macrae pushed his case for a senior recall with a solid 20-disposal, nine-tackle and seven-clearance performance in St Kilda’s 29-point win over Coburg on Saturday.
Defender Dougal Howard also impressed with 18 touches and nine marks, while running back Angus Hastie led his side’s ball-winners with 25 disposals and nine marks.
Kye Fincher had 20 touches, Paddy Dow 18 and Liam Henry 17.
Alex Dodson (14 disposals, 29 hitouts) and Patrick Said (14 disposals) were the only AFL-listed Saints to kick goals with one each.
Liam O’Connell finished with 11 touches while Eamonn Armstrong had five.
State league affiliate: Sydney (VFL)
This weekend: Sydney v Greater Western Sydney at the SCG, Friday April 17, 3.35pm AEST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from Sydney’s clash
Mature-age draftee Billy Cootee made an impression in Sydney’s 22-point win over Greater Western Sydney on Friday.
The No.42 pick in last year’s Telstra AFL Draft, Cootee, 23, had 12 disposals and kicked three goals in his second VFL appearance for the Swans.
Caiden Cleary produced a lively display that featured 28 disposals and a goal, while ruck Peter Ladhams was a strong performer with 22 touches, 24 hitouts, seven clearances and a major.
Forward Hayden McLean pushed his case for a senior recall with four goals.
William Edwards (21 disposals), Patrick Snell (15) and Tom Hanily (14) were also solid, while Harry Kyle had 16 disposals.
Aiming for a senior recall, defender Lewis Melican had 17 disposals, while young forward Jesse Dattoli had 16 touches.
State league affiliate: West Coast (WAFL)
This weekend: West Coast v Subiaco at Mineral Resources Park, Sunday April 19, 11.10am AWST
Small forward Malakai Champion put his hand up for a senior recall with three goals in West Coast’s 27-point win over Subiaco on Sunday, the scores coming from 20 disposals.
Tom Gross hit the scoreboard with one goal while gaining team highs in disposals (29) and tackles (seven), Clay Hall slotted two majors from 26 touches and Luca Grego kicked one from 26.
The Eagles shared the scoring around with others to get among the goals including Harvey Johnston (two, 17 disposals), Matt Owies (two, 15), Jack Turner (one, 14), Ryan Maric (one, 12), Jack Hutchinson (one, 12) and Tylah Turner (one, nine).
Even Ruckman Matt Flynn got in on the scoring frenzy with one goal in a very strong performance that saw him dominate the ball ups with 50 hitouts as well as gathering 23 disposals, while his off-sider Harry Barnett had 11 hitouts and eight touches.
Those who didn’t trouble the scorers still kept the statisticians busy: Fin Macrae finishing with 26 disposals, Tyrell Dewar had 21, as did defensive duo Tom Cole and Rhett Bazzo.
State league affiliate: Footscray (VFL)
This weekend: Geelong v Footscray at GMHBA Stadium, Friday April 17, 3pm AEST
MATCH CENTRE Check out all the stats from Footscray’s clash
Adam Treloar pushed his case for a senior recall with a dominant performance in Footscray’s 33-point win against Geelong on Friday.
The All-Australian midfielder has endured a frustrating couple of years but was in fine form at GMHBA Stadium, where he finished with 41 disposals and 10 clearances.
Treloar played just four games last year but has now put together two excellent displays at VFL level in 2026.
Small forwards Laitham Vandermeer and Josh Dolan both kicked three goals.
Jedd Busslinger (24 disposals) and Nick Coffield (24) were busy, while Lachlan McNeil had 24 touches and kicked a goal.
Ryan Gardner had 17 touches and took seven marks, draftee Lachlan Carmichael had 21 disposals and ruck Lachlan Smith finished with nine to go with his 32 hitouts.
Luke Kennedy had 16 disposals, Will Darcy kicked one goal from 12 disposals and Luke Cleary had 17 touches.
