• Nine things we learned from round three
• Fantasy form watch: This week's pig and Presti
• After the siren: The win that saved a season
COLLINGWOOD defender Ben Reid's experience was on display in Collingwood's 35-point loss to North Ballarat in the VFL in Sunday.
The 25-year-old played as a loose man in defence in the first term, took several overhead marks and set up from the backline, before being rested halfway through the final term.
Father-son recruit Darcy Moore proved difficult to contain in the middle and matched up on North Melbourne draftees Sam Durdin and Braydon Preuss.
Midfielder Jordan De Goey, the Magpies' No.5 selection in last year's draft, was also named among his side's best.
Livewire Alex Fasolo played up forward – despite being named across the half-back line – and booted two goals.
Ruckman Jarrod Witts continued to make good progress in his comeback from a shoulder reconstruction, spending much of the game in the ruck with stints up forward.
North Melbourne midfielder Trent Dumont was one of the Roosters' leading ball-winners, collecting 18 touches in the first half before finishing with 25 touches and 11 tackles.
Essendon big man Jonathan Giles was prolific in the ruck and across the ground despite the Bombers' agonising one-point after-the-siren loss to Sandringham.
Giles, who joined the Bombers from Greater Western Sydney in last year's trade period, took a strong pack mark in defence in the second term and drifted forward to kick a goal, while injury-prone Bomber Tayte Pears played in attack and registered three goals.
Sandringham fielded 15 St Kilda-listed players against the Bombers, with midfielders Josh Saunders (21 possessions), Tom Curren (20) and Darren Minchington (19 touches, eight tackles) all prominent.
Melbourne utility Rohan Bail kicked three goals and was the Demons' leading scorer in Casey's comprehensive 60-point win over Frankston while midfielder Viv Michie was close to his side's best.
Versatile tall Cam Pedersen and midfielder Aidan Riley kicked two apiece, while midfielder Jimmy Toumpas and father-son recruit Billy Stretch also performed solidly.
Former Demons co-captain Jack Grimes played across the half-back flank before drifting into the middle, but had a minimal impact on the game.
Meanwhile on Saturday, Hawthorn premiership defender Matt Spangher has suffered a hamstring injury in his first competitive hit-out for the year.
The injury occurred in the opening term of Box Hill's round one VFL clash against Footscray at Whitten Oval.
Spangher immediately left the field and was assessed by club doctors.
It was the 27-year-old's first game of the year after battling a calf injury throughout the pre-season.
He missed the Hawks' NAB Challenge series and while he was available for selection in rounds one and two of the AFL season, the Hawks decided he would return via the VFL.
Spangher was the only casualty during Box Hill's 13-point win over last year's VFL premiers Footscray.
Forward Sam Grimley, who kicked four goals in the victory, told Channel Seven the injury to Spangher "didn't look good".
Forgotten Bulldog Clay Smith made his much anticipated return to football after rupturing the ACL in his right knee for a second time last year.
Smith was prolific in the opening half but ran out of steam as the game wore on, finishing with 24 touches.
Jack Redpath looked dangerous in attack and kicked two goals for the Bulldogs, while midfielder Lachie Hunter was impressive with 25 disposals.
Carlton recruits Mark Whiley and Jason Tutt are pushing for senior selection following an impressive first VFL game for the Northern Blues.
Former Giant Whiley had 28 touches and kicked a goal, while former Bulldog Tutt booted three.
Draftee Blaine Boekhorst was also a solid contributor in the Blues' nail-biting one-point loss to Williamstown on Saturday.
Meanwhile Cats rookie Tom Read and forward Shane Kersten have starred in Geelong's 18-point win over Werribee, kicking three goals each.
Jake Kolodjashnij chimed in with two majors and was among Geelong's best players.
North Melbourne's Daniel Currie was solid in the ruck for Werribee, while the Roos' pick 36 in last year's draft, athletic defender Ed Vickers-Willis, was among the best.
Richmond forward Tyrone Vickery kicked three goals in the Tigers' loss to Coburg on Saturday.
Jake Kolodjashnij chimed in with two majors and was among Geelong's best players.
North Melbourne ruckman Majak Daw was named among Werribee's best, performing roles up forward and in the ruck.
Daw ended the match with 17 possessions, 10 hit-outs, eight marks and five tackles, and lined up on experienced Cat Jared Rivers when he drifted forward.
Fellow North big man Daniel Currie was solid in the ruck with 25 hit-outs and nine touches while the Roos' No.36 pick in last year's draft, athletic defender Ed Vickers-Willis, looked comfortable down back.
After spending much of the pre-season in the midfield, Vickers-Willis played across the half-back line – a position he filled during much of his junior football – and finished with 10 touches.
Richmond forward Tyrone Vickery kicked three goals in the Tigers' loss to Coburg on Saturday.
NEAFL
Dual Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes kicked three goals and had 20 disposals for the Swans' reserves on Saturday at Tramway Oval.
Tom Mitchell was a standout in the midfield for the Swans despite the side being comprehensively beaten by the Giants.
Curtly Hampton was the best player for the Giants in the 63-point win, while Will Hoskin-Elliott kicked five goals.
SANFL
Adelaide midfielders Matt Crouch and Jarryd Lyons have put their hands up for senior selection after impressive displays in the Crows' reserves on Friday night.
Crouch had 28 disposals and four inside 50s, while Lyons gathered 27 possessions and kicked two goals in the 29-point loss to West Adelaide.
The Crows' first round draft pick Jake Lever was solid in defence with 15 touches and three rebound 50s.
Meanwhile versatile Port Adelaide forward Paul Stewart has had 32 disposals, six inside 50s and kicked a goal in the Magpies' win over North Adelaide on Saturday.
Veteran rookie Tom Logan had 28 touches, while midfielder Andrew Moore kicked two goals and gathered 26 disposals.
Forward Jake Neade was the leading goal scorer with three goals.
WAFL
West Coast midfielder Brant Colledge put in a best-on-ground performance in East Perth's 23-point loss to Fremantle’s affiliated side, Peel Thunder.
In the battle of the League's two AFL-aligned clubs, Colledge amassed 38 possessions, 13 marks, seven inside-50s and booted two goals for East Perth.
For Peel, experienced Docker Tendai Mzungu made a statement with 27 touches and nine tackles. Mzungu has been unable to break into Fremantle's senior side this season after injuring his hamstring during the NAB Challenge.
Docker youngsters Brady Grey (15 touches) and Alex Pearce (11 touches) were solid in defence, but Pearce was reported in the third quarter for front-on contact.
Fremantle rookie Jacob Ballard (29 disposals) showed promising signs, while out-of-favour Docker Colin Sylvia sustained an apparent calf injury in the early stages of the game and didn't take part in any further action.
West Coast ruckman-forward Callum Sinclair and forward Fraser McInnes performed roles in defensive 50, with the Eagles desperate to develop tall defenders following season-ending knee injuries to Eric Mackenzie and Mitch Brown.
It was Sinclair's first game back since undergoing finger surgery in the pre-season.
Eagles youngster Tom Barrass was named among the Royals' best, finishing with 16 possessions in the backline.
The Dockers had a total of 13 players take part in the game, while the Eagles fielded eight players.
In the reserves, West Coast midfielder Mark Hutchings finished with 23 touches (13 kicks, 10 handballs) and one goal for East Perth in his comeback from a groin injury.
