Nine things we learned from round five
• After the siren: Who dares wins for the season's surprise packet
Fantasy form watch: round five

Adelaide

State league affiliate: Adelaide (SANFL)
This weekend: South Adelaide v Adelaide, Sunday May 3, 11.30am, Noarlunga Oval 

Midfielder Sam Kerridge led the way, amassing a game-high 35 possessions and five clearances in the Crows' 14-point defeat.

Kerridge was complemented by fellow on-baller Mitch Grigg, who had 29 touches, nine clearances and kicked a goal.

Defender Jake Lever, the Crows' first-round draft selection last year, collected 26 touches and six rebounds.

In attack, Crows rookie Keenan Ramsey snared two goals.

For the second consecutive week, the Crows' SANFL match was interrupted by a power outage.

 

The game, originally set for Saturday night at Hickinbotham Oval, was rescheduled due to the pre-game technical fault.

It came just a week after the Crows-Glenelg match at Gliderol Stadium ended prematurely following another power outage, with the game declared a draw midway through the last term.

Brisbane Lions

State league affiliate: Brisbane Lions (NEAFL)
This weekend: Gold Coast v Brisbane Lions - Saturday May 2, 8.15pm, Metricon Stadium

Silky midfielder James Aish will come under scrutiny after being reported for a high third-quarter bump on Suns rookie Keegan Brooksby.

Brooksby was concussed in the collision and didn't feature for the rest of the match as a precaution. 

On-baller Aish accumulated 19 possessions (11 kicks, eight handballs) in the Lions' 25-point loss.

Defender Ryan Harwood (23 touches) and utility Ryan Lester (21 touches, two goals) were also among the Lions' leading ball winners.

Carlton

State league affiliate: Northern Blues (VFL)
This weekend: Sandringham v Northern Blues - Sunday May 3, 2pm, Trevor Barker Beach Oval

Livewire forward Troy Menzel suffered a potential hamstring injury setback in the Blues' six-point victory.

The 20-year-old, who took part in his first match since round two, played out three quarters and was rested in the final term following the injury scare.

Menzel finished with eight disposals, three marks and kicked two goals in his limited time on the ground.

On Sunday evening, a Northern Blues spokesman told AFL.com.au Menzel received medical attention in the change rooms post-match.

Nick Holman had 19 touches and booted a goal playing through the middle, while Blues-listed rookie Bradley Walsh also impressed with 20 disposals and two goals.

Collingwood

State league affiliate: Collingwood (VFL)
This weekend: Collingwood v Footscray - Saturday May 2, 1pm, Victoria Park

In his second game back from a hamstring injury, midfielder Clinton Young suffered hamstring "tightness" in the early stages of the second term.

"He just had some tightness and given his recent history, it was best to be on the side of caution," Collingwood coach Dale Tapping told AFL.com.au

"It was about at the 10-minute mark of the second quarter and he didn't come back on."

The former Hawk will have scans on Monday to determine the severity of the injury.

Draftee Matt Scharenberg made a successful return from his knee reconstruction, helping the Magpies to a narrow four-point win over Footscray. The No. 6 pick at the 2013 NAB AFL Draft finished the game on the bench but got through the match unscathed, as did Ben Kennedy. Draftee Jordan De Goey was one of the club's best with three goals.

Ruckman Jarrod Witts competed strongly against Western Bulldog ruckmen Will Minson and Tom Campbell.

Essendon

State league affiliate: Essendon (VFL)
This weekend: Essendon v Casey Scorpions - Sunday May 3, 12pm, Windy Hill

Defender Ariel Steinberg was a standout for the Bombers despite the 33-point loss.

Orazio Fantasia, Nick O'Brien, Elliott Kavanagh, Jason Ashby were also prominent, while Shaun Edwards slotted two goals.

Fremantle

State league affiliate: Peel Thunder (WAFL)
This weekend: Swan Districts v Peel Thunder - Saturday May 2, 2.15pm, Steel Blue Oval

Rookie-listed Docker Jacob Ballard impressed with 19 disposals (11 kicks, eight handballs) and a goal in Peel's 47-point defeat.

First-round draft pick Lachie Weller performed solidly with 21 touches (12 kicks, nine handballs), five inside 50s and a goal and fellow youngster Brady Grey accumulated 22 possessions (11 kicks, 11 handballs) and registered a goal.

On-baller Tommy Sheridan had 20 touches, while livewire Hayden Crozier finished with 17 touches and one goal. Big man Jonathon Griffin amassed a game-high 33 hit-outs.

Geelong

State league affiliate: Geelong (VFL)
This weekend: Richmond v Geelong - Saturday May 2, 2.15pm, Punt Road Oval

Midfielder Billie Smedts sustained a suspected collarbone fracture in the Cats' thrilling eight-point win over the Tigers in the VFL.

On Sunday, the Cats told AFL.com.au Smedts would have scans on Monday to determine the extent of the injury.

In better news, ruckman Hamish McIntosh was named his side's best with 25 disposals (nine contested), 13 marks, 27 hit-outs and two goals.

Draftee Jordan Cunico had 26 possessions, seven marks and kicked two goals.

Ex-Demon Sam Blease (26 touches), injury-prone midfielder Josh Cowan (23) and draftee Dean Gore (23) also found the ball.

First-round draft selection Nakia Cockatoo had 22 touches (11 contested), seven clearances, laid a team-high eight tackles and booted a goal.

Gold Coast

State league affiliate: Gold Coast (NEAFL)
This weekend: Gold Coast v Brisbane Lions - Saturday May 2, 8.15pm, Metricon Stadium

Mature-aged rookie Keegan Brooksby came off the ground with concussion after being on the receiving end of high contact from Lion James Aish, who was reported.

The 25-year-old ruckman didn’t take any further part in the match after the third-quarter bump.

NEAFL Suns coach Josh Fraser told AFL.com.au Brooksby was taken off as "a precautionary measure in the end" and he didn't sustain any jaw injury.

Aaron Hall responded well after being dropped from the Suns' AFL round five clash, amassing 31 disposals (22 kicks, nine handballs), five marks and a goal.

"He looked like he was the one that was going to break the game open," Fraser said.

Ex-Hawk Mitch Hallahan impressed with his clearance work, finishing with 22 touches (12 kicks, 10 handballs) and a goal.

GWS

State league affiliate: UWS Giants (NEAFL)
This weekend: NT Thunder v UWS Giants - Saturday May 2, 6.30pm, TIO Stadium

Matt Buntine, Tim Mohr, Adam Kennedy, Dylan Addision, Jed Lamb and Patrick McKenna were named the Giants' best players in their 10-point loss.

Lamb led the goalkicking with three majors.

Hawthorn

State league affiliate: Box Hill Hawks (VFL)
This weekend: Bye

Melbourne

State league affiliate: Casey Scorpions (VFL)
This weekend: Essendon v Casey Scorpions - Sunday May 3, 12pm, Windy Hill

On-baller Matt Jones was prominent with 27 possessions in Casey's 33-point win. 

Ruckman-forward Jack Fitzpatrick (24 touches), utility Rohan Bail (23) and midfielder Aidan Riley (22) also found plenty of the ball.

Bail and draftee Alex Neal-Bullen laid seven tackles apiece, while forward Max Gawn's strong presence in attack was rewarded with three goals.

North Melbourne

State league affiliates: Werribee, North Ballarat (VFL)
This weekend: Port Melbourne v Werribee - Saturday May 2, 2pm, North Port Oval; North Ballarat v Williamstown - Saturday May 2, 1pm, Eureka Stadium

The day belonged to ruckman-forward Majak Daw, who put in a best-on-ground performance for Werribee.

The 195cm big man finished with 17 possessions, eight marks and three goals.

After playing three quarters last week in his return from post-season hip surgery, Lachie Hansen took some encouraging steps forward in his customary defensive position.

The 26-year-old ended with 14 disposals, 11 marks and four tackles and played out close to the full match.

Port Adelaide

State league affiliate: Port Adelaide (SANFL)
This weekend: Port Adelaide v Woodville-West Torrens - Saturday May 2, 2.10pm, Alberton Oval

The Magpies stumbled at home and kicked just two goals in the second half to lose to the Eagles by 17 points. Experienced utility Paul Stewart pushed for AFL selection with 29 disposals, as did Sam Colquhoun (25 disposals, 12 marks and five tackles), Brendon Ah Chee (22 disposals, five tackles) and Cam O’Shea.

Richmond

State league affiliate: Richmond (VFL)
This weekend: Richmond v Geelong - Saturday May 2, 2.15pm, Punt Road Oval

The Tigers narrowly lost by eight points but the good news for fans was the return of midfielder Reece Conca.

Conca and fellow senior-listed player Dylan Grimes made successful returns from hamstring injuries.

Richmond VFL coach Tim Clarke told AFL.com.au Conca played about 70 minutes of game time and "finished off the game strongly" in the final term before being rested.

Grimes featured across the half-back line and played out the full game.

"We played him a little bit higher up the ground and he contributed well defensively," Clarke said.

Rookie-listed midfielder Matt Thomas was the Tigers' leading possession getter with 30 touches.

Fellow rookie Jason Castagna had 25 disposals and draftee Connor Menadue finished with 24 touches.

Forward Liam McBean led the goalkicking with three majors, while ruckman Shaun Hampson kicked one.

St Kilda

State league affiliate: Sandringham (VFL)
This weekend: Sandringham v Northern Blues - Sunday May 3, 2pm, Trevor Barker Beach Oval

Saints forward Spencer White was the focal point in attack, registering three goals. 

Omitted Saint Tom Curren had 22 disposals in a promising display, while emerging on-baller Darren Minchington also contributed with 17 touches. 

Nathan Wright and Ahmed Saad, who were both axed from the Saints' round five AFL clash, were named among the Zebras' best in the six-point loss.

Sydney Swans

State league affiliate: Sydney Swans (NEAFL)
This weekend: Sydney University v Sydney Swans - Saturday May 2, 5.10pm, Sydney Cricket Ground

Defender Nic Newman, who was recruited with pick No.35 in last year's rookie draft, got through unscathed in his first competitive hit-out after a five-month recovery from a knee injury.

The 22-year-old, who won last year's VFL Fothergill-Round Medal as the most promising young talent, was eased into his first match back and registered a goal.

For the second straight week, midfielder Harry Marsh was named the Swans' best in the 41-point defeat.

West Coast

State league affiliate: East Perth (WAFL)
This weekend: East Perth v South Fremantle - Saturday May 2, 2.15pm, Medibank Stadium

Eagles emergencies Brant Colledge and Mark Hutchings were last-minute inclusions for East Perth.

Colledge continued his good form despite the 13-point loss, accumulating 27 touches (18 kicks, nine handballs), six marks and five inside 50s. Inside midfielder Hutchings had 20 touches (10 kicks, 10 handballs) and kicked a goal.

Youngster Tom Barrass was also named among the Royals' best with 14 touches (nine kicks, five handballs).

Western Bulldogs

State league affiliate: Footscray (VFL)
This weekend: Collingwood v Footscray - Saturday May 2, 1pm, Victoria Park

Defender Shane Biggs, who joined the Bulldogs from the Sydney Swans in last year's trade period, was his side's major ball winner with 30 touches.

Medium forward Bailey Dale and midfielder Lachie Hunter finished with 28 disposals and two goals apiece in the Dogs' four-point defeat. Forward-ruckman Jake Redpath added three goals and Jarrad Grant kicked two.

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