State league affiliate: Adelaide (SANFL)

This weekend: Glenelg v Adelaide - Saturday, July 27, 1.50pm, ACH Group Stadium

It was a stacked Adelaide line-up that lost by two points to Glenelg in the SANFL.

Bryce Gibbs had a field day, finishing with 40 disposals, 10 clearances, 10 tackles and eight marks in the close loss.

All eyes were on veteran Eddie Betts after his big omission; the Crows champion responded with four goals from his 14 disposals.

Out-of-favour Crow Richard Douglas, who has played just five AFL games this year, was extremely busy all over the ground (34 disposals, 11 marks and three goals).

Hugh Greenwood dominated the middle of the ground with 23 disposals, 11 clearances and a major.

State league affiliate: Brisbane (NEAFL)

This weekend: Sydney v Brisbane - Sunday, July 28, 10.30am, Blacktown International Sportspark

Ryan Bastinac continues to remind selectors of his natural ball-winning ability, with the veteran midfielder collecting 41 disposals during the Lions' 32-point victory over the Swans.

Untried youngster Corey Lyons (35 touches) also won plenty of the ball, while livewire Lewis Taylor put in a contender for goal of the year with this classy effort on the run.

Taylor finished with 28 touches for the Lions, while Rhys Mathieson (23 disposals) also won plenty of the ball as the Lions won their 14th match in succession.

NINE THINGS WE LEARNED The 45-goal Tiger who's made for finals

State league affiliate: Northern Blues (VFL)

This weekend: North Melbourne v Northern Blues - Saturday, July 27, 2pm, Arden St

Rookie Matthew Cottrell found plenty of the ball (22 disposals, 13 marks) in the Northern Blues' whopping 75-point win over North Melbourne.

Alex Fasolo hit the scoreboard, kicking three goals from 14 touches and eight marks, while draftee Liam Stocker was also busy with 20, four tackles and a goal.

Former basketballer Matthew Owies kicked a bag of four.

State league affiliate: Collingwood (VFL)

This weekend: Collingwood v Richmond - Friday, July 26, 4.30pm, Olympic Park Oval

Rookie Tim Broomhead, on the long comeback trail from a badly broken leg, was the best performed of the 11 AFL-listed Magpies (including three Category B rookies).

Broomhead finished with 25 disposals and three marks in very wet conditions on Friday afternoon in the Pies' 55-point loss to Richmond.

Rupert Wills was another to feature heavily, recording 25 touches and seven tackles, while Flynn Appleby also worked hard around the packs with 16 and 10.

Key defender Jack Magden was also named in the best after a 19-disposal, 4-mark effort.

THE RUN HOME Can free-falling Crows save their season?

State league affiliate: Essendon (VFL)

This weekend: Williamstown v Essendon - Saturday, July 27, 2pm, Downer Oval

Youngster Josh Begley was ferocious, finishing with nine tackles, 10 touches and a goal in the Bombers' 18-point loss to Williamstown.

Big man Michael Hartley impressed up forward with two goals, eight tackles and 21 touches, while draftee Noah Gown kicked 1.2 from eight disposals.

Veteran Mark Baguley kicked 2.1 and laid seven tackles.

FULL TIME: We fought as hard as we could, but Williamstown was just too strong for us in the end.



ESS 12.12 84

WIL 15.12 102 pic.twitter.com/IsnGsHB08t — Essendon VFL (@essendonvfl) July 27, 2019

State league affiliate: Peel Thunder (WAFL)

This weekend: Bye

State league affiliate: Geelong (VFL)

This weekend: Bye

State league affiliate: Gold Coast (NEAFL)

This weekend: Gold Coast v GWS Giants - Sunday, July 28, 12pm, Metricon Stadium

Jordan Murdoch (quad), Jack Bowes (quad) and Ben Ainsworth (foot) all returned from injury to inspire the Suns to an impressive 85-point victory over the Giants.

Our NEAFL boys singing the song pic.twitter.com/ktraoURoc8 — Gold Coast Suns (@GoldCoastSUNS) July 28, 2019

The trio combined for 73 disposals and two goals, while former Cat George Horlin-Smith also got in on the act to contribute 24 touches in the rout.

Suns Academy member Josh Gore was lively inside 50 and finished with four goals, while key forward Josh Corbett contributed 19 disposals and three goals.

FANTASY FORM WATCH A blast from the past

State league affiliate: GWS Giants (NEAFL)

This weekend: Gold Coast v GWS Giants - Sunday, July 28, 12pm, Metricon Stadium

There weren't too many highlights on a dirty day for the Giants' NEAFL side, although Irish rookie Callum Brown booted this beauty during the opening quarter of their 85-point loss to the Suns.

Callum Brown take a bow!



The Irish Rookie provides the NEAFL GIANTS with a sensational highlight in the opening term against the Gold Coast Suns.



GIANTS trail by 41 points at quarter time.#NeverSurrender pic.twitter.com/KoHIKglY0K — GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) July 28, 2019

Brown finished with 15 disposals for the match, as classy midfielder Nick Shipley led the way with a team-high 36 touches and 12 marks.

Giants Academy graduate Zach Sproule (13 disposals and two goals) and young midfielder Jye Caldwell (19 touches) were the other GWS listed players to stand out during the Metricon Stadium contest.

BARRETT The lesson Rance must learn from Dog's disaster

State league affiliate: Box Hill Hawks (VFL)

This weekend: Bye

State league affiliate: Casey Demons (VFL)

This weekend: Sandringham v Casey Demons - Sunday, July 28, 11.40am, Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval

Experienced forward Jake Melksham made a successful return from injury as the Casey Demons registered a gritty 12-point victory over Sandringham.

Melksham booted two goals and collected 16 disposals in the victory, with mid-season recruit Kyle Dunkley (two goals) and out of favour midfielder Jay Kennedy Harris (24 touches) also impressing.

The standout performer for the Demons was Braydon Preuss, with the former North Melbourne big man collecting 27 disposals, eight marks, one goal and a whopping 59 hitouts.

A big size difference in the ruck #VFL pic.twitter.com/wJdC8pAOzZ — 7VFL (@7VFL) July 28, 2019

State league affiliate: North Melbourne (VFL)

This weekend: North Melbourne v Northern Blues - Saturday, July 27, 2pm, Arden St

North Melbourne suffered a 75-point loss in the VFL on Saturday, but rookie forward Lachlan Hosie showed some promising signs, kicking 2.6 from 15 disposals.

Ruckman Tom Campbell continued his strong VFL form, finishing with 21 hitouts, 15 disposals and a goal.

Draftee Curtis Taylor also was able to hit the scoreboard, finishing with 1.1 from 10 disposals.

North Melbourne will be sweating on the fitness of defender Majak Daw, who went down clutching his hamstring in the second quarter and took no further part in the game.

The club said Daw – who is on the comeback trail following serious injuries suffered in December – experienced "hamstring awareness".

Q2 - We’ve elected to take a cautious approach with Majak Daw who had some hamstring awareness after a spoiling attempt. He won’t take any further part in the game.



NORTH 34 - 76 BLUES#BeAShinboner — North Melbourne VFL (@NorthVFL) July 27, 2019

State league affiliate: Port Adelaide (SANFL)

This weekend: South Adelaide v Port Adelaide - Sunday, July 28, 2.40pm, Flinders University Stadium

Experienced duo Charlie Dixon and Steven Motlop did their chances of earning a recall to the senior side no harm as they combined for seven goals during Port Adelaide's 28-point victory over South Adelaide.

Great sounds coming out of Noarlunga!! Well done boys ???????? #sanfl pic.twitter.com/MooP42yYy8 — Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) July 28, 2019

Motlop added 15 disposals to his four-goal haul, while Dixon pulled down three contested marks and booted three majors of his own.

Joe Atley (27 disposals), Willem Drew (26), Trent McKenzie (26) and Jack Trengove (25) all won plenty of the ball, while highly rated big man Sam Hayes showed his class with 20 touches, 19 hitouts and a goal.

State league affiliate: Richmond (VFL)

This weekend: Collingwood v Richmond - Friday, July 26, 4.30pm, Olympic Park Oval

Runner Connor Menadue was named the Tigers' best for a second successive week, finishing with 25 disposals (20 of which were kicks), six marks and a goal in soggy conditions.

Hard nut Jacob Townsend relished the conditions in the 55-point win over Collingwood with 23 touches and 10 tackles.

Toby Nankervis played his second half of VFL in his comeback from an adductor injury; the premiership ruckman recording 16 hitouts, 11 disposals and a goal.

After a week off footy at both levels, winger Kamdyn McIntosh had 16 touches and three marks.

We led from start to finish, to record a 55-point win in the wet over Collingwood.



Full Time - Richmond 11.14 (80) defeat Collingwood 4.1 (25)#gotiges #VFL pic.twitter.com/UumTCTuwvD — Richmond VFL (@RichmondVFL) July 26, 2019

State league affiliate: Sandringham (VFL)

This weekend: Sandringham v Casey Demons - Sunday, July 28, 11.40am, Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval

Jack Steven continued his comeback from a mental health break by picking up 19 disposals in Sandringham's narrow 12-point loss to the Demons.

It was Steven's second VFL game in succession and the veteran midfielder also booted two handy goals in his customary long sleeve jersey.

Key forward Josh Battle (19 disposals) and rebounding defender Jimmy Webster (13 touches) were others to stand out in their respective returns from injury, while small forward Matt Parker responded to his omission from the senior side to kick a goal and lay an impressive 11 tackles.

State league affiliate: Sydney (NEAFL)

This weekend: Sydney v Brisbane - Sunday, July 28, 10.30am, Blacktown International Sportspark

Injury-plagued ruckman Sam Naismith made a successful return to football by collecting 26 hitouts, seven disposals, five tackles and booting two goals while seeing limited game time in his first competitive contest since 2017.

His efforts couldn't inspire the Swans to victory as the Lions registered a 32-point victory at Blacktown International Sportspark, but the fact he got through the match unscathed will be seen as a positive.

Former Cat Daniel Menzel booted four goals for the Swans, while James Rose continued his excellent season by collecting a team-high 36 disposals.

State league affiliate: West Coast (WAFL)

This weekend: Subiaco v West Coast - Saturday, July 27, 11.40am, Leederville Oval

Youngster Hamish Brayshaw was a standout during West Coast's disappointing 68-point loss to Subiaco in the WAFL, finishing with 25 disposals, eight tackles and 0.2.

Midfielder Kurt Mutimer (22 disposals) and Matthew Allen (20 disposals) found plenty of the ball, while Bailey Williams won 30 hitouts.

In a dirty day for the forwards, Jarrod Brander worked hard and finished with 16 disposals, five marks and a goal.

State league affiliate: Footscray (VFL)

This weekend: Bye