Round 6 of the VFL Premiership season is in the books, with the ladder starting to take shape.
After the first half dozen weekends of football in the reserves grade, only Footscray Bulldogs remain the undefeated side in the competition but have played one less game than some.
Geelong are on a four-game winning streak while the Gold Coast Suns have resurrected from their poor start to put together an impressive month (three wins, one draw) of footy.
However, not everything is sunshine and rainbows as on the other end of the ladder, the Northern Bullants are yet to sing the club song this season.
Carlton, Essendon and Casey Demons have only registered one victory while stand-alone clubs Port Melbourne and Coburg Lions are also struggling in the early parts of the season.
Read up on all of the weekend's key performers from the VFL.
Bye: Essendon
Southport Sharks (101) def. Collingwood (74)
Southport's victory over the Pies was one to savour for the Queensland club which saw a host of players rise to the challenge.
Ruckmanย Brayden Crossley is putting together an impressive season to date and Saturday was no different, recording two goals, 15 touches, 33 hit-outs, six marks and three clearances.
Zac Foot was equally as good and could've got the nod for best on the ground if he'd kicked straighter while Jacob Dawson andย Boyd Woodcockled from the midfield.
As for Collingwood, pre-season pickupย Jack Bytel was exceptional in the black and white, gathering 27 possessions, seven clearances and five tackles.
Best mates Finlay Macrae (25 disposals, nine clearances and four tackles) andย Reef McInnes (two goals, 16 possessions and five marks) proved to be a step above the grade.
Ash Johnson continues to build some form whileย Joe Richards could be considered to debut to replace Beau McCreery on the senior side.
Coburg Lions (63) def. by Richmond (91)
Noah Cumberland had an almost day, kicking 1.6 from his 14 touches and six marks whilst leading Richmond to a victory.
Lachlan Street was arguably best afield for his 29-disposal outing whileย Samson Ryan (two goals, 14 touches, seven clearances and 25 hit-outs) continues to give Adem Yze something to think about.
Jacob Koschitzke also slotted two goals.
As for Coburg,ย Will Bella kicked four goals from his 10 marks while midfield pairย Joel Trudgeon andย Donovan Toohey both collected 29 disposals each.
Cooper Keogh was strong in the ruck whileย Hugo Bromell was a clearance beast, recording an equal game-high of seven.
Werribee Tigers (94) def. Carlton (62)
Dom Brew's incredible form continued over the weekend, leading Werribee to a 32-point win over Carlton.
Brew kicked one goal from his 33 possessions whilst recording nine marks, seven clearances and five tackles.
Jack Riding was equally good, collecting 34 disposals and 10 marks in a dominant performance.
Angus Hicks hit the scoreboard with three whilst Jay Dahlhaus did the same.
After being dropped for the Collingwood game,ย Brodie Kemp responded strongly in defence, amassing 25 possessions, 13 marks and eight tackles to put his hand up for a recall.
Youngsterย Jaxon Binns continues to impress selectors, kicking two goals from his 26 disposals and eight tackle efforts.
Jack Caroll also answered to his axing, collecting 23 touches, seven marks, five clearances and a goal through the midfield.
Northern Bullants (64) def. by Port Melbourne (98)
Mid-season draft prospectย Tom Highmore has once again put himself in the sights of recruiters, producing a best-afield performance against the Bullants.
The key defender gathered 26 disposals, 11 marks, and five tackles, proving to be a cut above the grade.
Ruck duoย Felix Flockhart andย Jimmy Miller were superb for the Borough, combing for four goals, 36 touches, 69 hit-outs and seven clearances in a dominant display.
Josh Green andย Harvey Hooper benefitted from the supremacy in the midfield.
Despite the loss, the Bullants had some strong performers led byย Patrick Fairlieย andย Jean-Luc Velissaris.
The duo accumulated 69 possessions to go with a combined 10 clearances, 15 tackles, 13 marks and two goals.
Caleb Franks wasn't far behind with a tackling masterclass, recording 10 whileย Bailey Tome outdid his teammates with a dozen.
Sydney (85) def. GWS (75)
Veteranย Luke Parker is all but set to return to the senior side after another dominant performance in the VFL.
Returning from injury, Parker has spent the past fortnight in the reserves and most recently gathered 37 possessions, nine clearances, four tackles and a goal.
Braeden Campbell responded to his dropping with 22 disposals, seven tackles and six clearances whileย Angus Sheldrick continues to toil away with a string of impressive outings in the twos.
VFL-listed playerย James Lugsdin slotted four majors in the close victory.
As for the Giants,ย Nick Haynes is doing everything he can to be recalled, amassing a game-high 38 possessions and 14 marks.
Conor Stone continues to hit the scoreboard with another three majors as doesย Max Gruzewski while Xavier O'Halloran andย Harry Rowston found plenty of the ball.
Nicholas Madden isn't far away from an AFL debut following a strong outing in the ruck, recording 13 touches, 31 hit-outs, eight clearances and six tackles.
Footscray Bulldogs (73) def. Box Hill Hawks (60)
Out-of-favour duoย Ryley Sanders andย Caleb Daniel have answered to being pushed aside from the senior team.
Sanders (28 touches, nine tackles, eight marks and seven clearances) and Daniel (28 possessions, eight marks, four tackles and four clearances) were impressive in the victory while former Pieย Trent Bianco was equally as good.
Youngster Jedd Busslinger could come into consideration for his debut following an 11-mark performance down back whileย Rory Lobb was kept goalless.
Ex-Collingwood midfielderย Callum Brown was Box Hill's best, amassing 35 disposals and two goals from the midfield to put his name into contention for the mid-season draft.
Ethan Phillips did his debut chances no harm as he was a brick wall in defence.
Jai Serong is looking to return to the senior side after his 22 disposal outing whileย Ned Reeves is starting to regain some much-needed form in the reserves.
Brisbane (71) def. by Gold Coast (157)
Unlike their senior team, the Suns' twos smashed rivals Brisbane in the VFL.
Alex Sexton led from the front across the halfback line, amassing 32 disposals and 11 marks.
Forward Jy Farrar kicked five goals while veteranย Sam Day slotted four of his own.
Ruckman Ned Moyle was excellent, once again, slotting two majors from his 17 possessions, nine clearances and 34 hit-out performances.
As for the Lions,ย Jarryd Lyons is set for a senior recall following multiple injuries to players.
Lyons gathered 35 touches, 15 tackles, eight clearances and a goal in an impressive outing.
Jaxon Prior andย James Tunstill will also come into consideration following their efforts whileย Logan Morris, who featured in the AFL side on Sunday night as the sub, played as well.
Geelong (113) def. Frankston Dolphins (49)
Following their first defeat of the season, coach Chris Scott could be looking to make some changes to the lineup.
Shaun Mannagh has shot right into calculations following his four-goal outing while rebounding defenderย Oisin Mullin isn't far away.
Ted Clohesy was arguably the Cats' best as he recorded 25 touches, eight clearances, eight marks and a goal.
Clohesy's efforts were matched byย Mitch Hardie while youngsterย Connor O'Sullivan is showing rapid improvement.
The Dolphins ruckmanย Angus Grant was arguably their best, registering 31 hit-outs to go with his seven clearances, seven tackles and 16 disposals.
Lachie Sharp kicked four goals while ex-Saintย Jack Newnes was relatively quiet.
Sandringham Zebras (99) def. North Melbourne (96)
Saints ruckmanย Tom Campbell has sustained impressive form in the VFL and is likely to be rewarded with some time in the senior side.
Campbell led from the front in the narrow victory, recording 38 hit-outs, eight clearances, 17 touches and four tackles.
Arie Schoenmaker has also been in impressive form as he looks to debut for the Saints while experienced midfielderย Zak Jones proved to be above the grade.
Paddy Dow was kept in the VFL over the weekend and was strong once again while luckless defenderย Hunter Clark suffered another injury.
Huge Greenwood put together a special day for the Kangaroos but unfortunately to no avail.
The tackling machine recorded 18 to go with his one major, 16 touches and five clearances.
Charlie Lazarro andย Will Phillips combined for two goals, 57 possessions, 13 clearances and 13 tackles.
Eddie Ford also kicked a pair of goals while VFL-listed players Jack Watkins and Robert Hansen Jr slotted three each.
Dylan Stephens was quiet by his lofty standards.
Casey Demons (68) def. by Williamstown Seagulls (100)
Travelling to Casey to face the Demons is never an easy task by the Seagulls managed to pull off an impressive coup.
Led byย Corey Ellison, who registered four goals, 21 disposals, six marks and four tackles, Williamstown were always in with a shot.
Ruckmanย Tom Downie was excellent, amassing 26 possessions, 10 clearances, four marks and a whopping 54 hit-outs to assistย Riley Collier-Dawkins (eight clearances) andย Toby Triffet (seven clearances) get first hands on the ball.
Mid-season draftee prospect Brodie McLaughlin continued to push his case forward with three majors from 11 marks and 17 disposals whileย Jovan Petric also nailed three.
The Demons would be disappointed with their efforts as a whole but some individuals can hold their heads up high.
Andy Moniz-Wakefield was arguably the best, collecting 30 touches and seven marks.
Adam Tomlinson proves to be a player rival clubs should look at given his long run in the VFL whileย youngsterย Matthew Jefferson slotted three goals.
Shane McAdam failed to get through the whole game as he went down with illness as didย Lachie Hunterย who was on limited minutes.
