Adelaide

State league affiliate: Adelaide (SANFL)
This weekend: South Adelaide v Adelaide, First Semi Final - Sunday September 11, 12.10pm, Adelaide Oval

After being elevated the Crows' senior list last month, Jono Beech has been building his form each week, peaking against South Adelaide with seven goals.

The 25-year-old dominated in one-on-one aerial contests, taking nine marks and even having stints on the wing in a best-on-ground performance.

In his first game after four weeks sidelined with a corked buttock, Paul Seedsman played on a wing and had no restrictions on his game time, finishing with 15 possessions, six tackles and four inside 50s.

"He worked into the game really well and linked up with his run and speed, so it was a really good game from him coming back," development coach Tate Kaesler told AFL.com.au.

Ricky Henderson played on both a wing and forward, finishing with 2.1 and 18 possessions in a solid hit-out.

Other senior-listed Crows to impress were inside midfielder Mitch Grigg (28 possessions and a goal), Dean Gore (23 and a goal) and Harry Dear, who booted four goals. 

Category B rookie Hugh Greenwood has stood up in finals, according to Kaesler, and had 16 possessions, 10 tackles and two goals.  

In a sour note, midfielder Cam Ellis-Yolmen picked up a hamstring injury in the first quarter, putting him in doubt for the Crows' finals campaign.

Ellis-Yolmen played in the Crows' round 23 loss to West Coast but was squeezed out of the finals team when Rory Sloane returned from suspension. 

Brisbane Lions

State league affiliate: Brisbane Lions (NEAFL)
This weekend: Did not qualify for NEAFL finals

Carlton

State league affiliate: Northern Blues (VFL)
This weekend: Did not qualify for VFL finals

Collingwood

State league affiliate: Collingwood (VFL)
This weekend: Bye; qualified for VFL preliminary final

Essendon

State league affiliate: Essendon (VFL)
This weekend: Footscray v Essendon, Second Semi Final - Sunday September 11, 2.40pm, North Port Oval

Speedster Shaun Edwards was lively across half-back and through the middle, kicking a team-lifting goal in the 19-point semi-final loss.

Although Edwards kicked three behinds, he redeemed himself late in the third quarter by drilling a long running goal, as the Bombers dominated general play.

Essendon kicked an inaccurate 4.7 to Footscray's 1.2 in the third term, which proved the difference in the end.

Midfielder Will Hams displayed his strong tackling pressure and kicked a left-foot running goal from outside 50m in the third term.

Forward Nick Kommer's (two goals) defensive skills in the third quarter set up separate Bomber goals. On the first occasion, Kommer smothered and followed up his work by laying a brilliant tackle, which led to a turnover and a Sam Michael goal.

Later in the quarter, Kommer was awarded a free kick for his chase-down tackle, resulting in a strong pack mark in the square and goal to first-round draftee Aaron Francis (two goals).

Francis used his towering 190cm frame to leap for the ball in attack, although the youngster missed a couple of gettable chances to add to his tally.

Onballer James Polkinghorne was as reliable as ever, snapping a goal out of congestion in the second term but he, too, missed chances to score in the third quarter.

Fremantle

State league affiliate: Peel Thunder (WAFL)
This weekend: West Perth v Peel Thunder, First Semi Final - Sunday September 4, 2.15pm, HBF Arena

Midfielder Connor Blakely stole the show in Peel's 60-point semi final win, collecting 35 disposals, seven marks and five inside 50s.

The 20-year-old was well complemented in the midfield by Matt de Boer, who gathered 31 possessions for the second straight week to go with his nine tackles and a goal.

They were the main beneficiaries of Zac Clarke's ruck dominance after the big man accumulated a game-high 37 hit-outs, 20 disposals and six marks.

Young midfielder Ed Langdon also brought his teammates into the game with 27 touches, 11 marks and a goal, while out-of-contract defender Alex Silvagni held firm across half-back.

Fielding 17 Fremantle-listed players, Peel proved too strong for West Perth and won through to its maiden preliminary final.

Geelong

State league affiliate: Geelong (VFL)
This weekend: Eliminated from VFL finals

Gold Coast

State league affiliate: Gold Coast (NEAFL)
This weekend: Eliminated from NEAFL finals

GWS

State league affiliate: Giants (NEAFL)
This weekend: Sydney Swans v Giants, Grand Final - Sunday September 11, 1.30pm, Blacktown International Sportspark

The Giants won their first piece of silverware on Sunday, with AFL-listed pair Jake Barrett (32 possessions and two goals) and Rhys Palmer (32 and 1.4) crucial to the club's Grand Final win over the Sydney Swans.

Palmer last played at AFL level in round 16 and has been in devastating form at NEAFL level, tallying four goals, 35 possessions, 13 tackles and 14 clearances in last week's preliminary final.

The Giants win was soured, however, with Matt Kennedy suffering an ankle injury that puts his availability for the Giants' looming preliminary final in doubt. 

Rookie Sam Reid was also involved in a head clash with Swan Zak Jones but was able to play on and finished with 21 possessions, 11 tackles and a goal.

Ruckman Tom Downie, who gave his team a 62-40 advantage in hit-outs, was solid and there is a slim chance he could be required to replace Shane Mumford, who will be scrutinised by the Match Review Panel on Monday.   

Hawthorn

State league affiliate: Box Hill (VFL)
This weekend: Did not qualify for VFL finals

Melbourne

State league affiliate: Casey Scorpions (VFL)
This weekend: Bye; qualified for VFL preliminary final

North Melbourne

State league affiliate: Werribee (VFL)
This weekend: Did not qualify for VFL finals

Port Adelaide

State league affiliate: Port Adelaide (SANFL)
This weekend: Did not qualify for SANFL finals

Richmond

State league affiliate: Richmond (VFL)
This weekend: Did not qualify for VFL finals

St Kilda

State league affiliate: Sandringham (VFL)
This weekend: Williamstown v Sandringham, First Semi Final - Saturday September 10, 11.40am, North Port Oval

Sandringham was bundled out of the VFL finals, suffering a 46-point loss to Williamstown at Port Melbourne on Saturday, despite strong efforts from delisted St Kilda pair Josh Saunders and Tom Curren.

Saunders, a 22-year-old midfielder who played 22 games for the Saints but none this year, amassed 34 possessions – the second most on the field – and was critical to a third-quarter fightback.

Curren, 24, who played 25 games for the club, was also impressive in the heavy conditions, gathering 27 disposals. 

Rookie midfielder Jack Sinclair did much of the grunt work with 25 touches and 10 tackles, while ruckman Billy Longer produced another lionhearted performance and Brodie Murdoch was a solid contributor.

Sydney Swans

State league affiliate: Sydney Swans (NEAFL)
This weekend: Sydney Swans v Giants, Grand Final - Sunday September 11, 1.30pm, Blacktown International Sportspark

In a blow to his chances of returning for the Swans' semi-final, Zak Jones was taken from the ground on a stretcher in the fourth quarter after a nasty head clash with Giant Sam Reid. 

Jones racked up 20 possessions and six tackles before his day ended to be among his team's better players. It was his second game back at state-league level after recovering from a high ankle sprain suffered against Hawthorn in round 17.

The Swans took the precaution of withdrawing Jeremy Laidler and Toby Nankervis in case they were needed next week to cover injuries at AFL level.

Also staking claims for an AFL return on Sunday were Harry Cunningham (15 possessions, seven marks and a goal) and Dean Towers (16 and five marks).

Rookie Nic Newman was the Swans' star with 35 possessions and two goals, winning the Andrew Ireland Medal as best afield, while Jordan Foote racked up 29 possessions and 10 tackles.

Brandon Jack and James Rose have been impressive in recent weeks and finished with 20 and 19 possessions respectively. 

West Coast

State league affiliate: East Perth (WAFL)
This weekend: Eliminated from WAFL finals

Western Bulldogs

State league affiliate: Footscray (VFL)
This weekend: Footscray v Essendon, Second Semi Final - Sunday September 11, 2.40pm, North Port Oval

Midfielder Nathan Hrovat kicked the match-winning goal from the tightest of angles in Footscray's come-from-behind 19-point triumph.

Hrovat improved the angle and slotted the set shot from the boundary after Bomber Jake Long's errant kick landed out of bounds on the full.

The Bulldogs trailed by 18 points at three-quarter time, but had the momentum in the final quarter and overran the tiring Bombers.

Bulldogs Lukas Webb, Roarke Smith and Toby McLean were late withdrawals from the clash as the club looks for suitable options to replace injured midfielder Lin Jong (collarbone).

Veteran Jed Adcock controlled the ball in the tense final quarter, working in tandem with Mitch Honeychurch. 

Forward Bailey Dale was reliable in attack, using his strong overhead marking ability to slot three first-half goals, while Koby Stevens, who was omitted from the Bulldogs' elimination final squad against West Coast, was kept relatively quiet.

Footscray takes on Collingwood in next Saturday's preliminary final.

All times are local