Saturday featured a whopping seven games of VFL action, with several performances having the potential to influence AFL selection in the coming weeks.
For Casey, Melbourne duo Jake Melksham and Mitch Brown put forward impressive performances.
Melksham, playing his first VFL game since the infamous punch-on with Steven May, kicked two goals among his 18 possessions after returning from hand surgery.
Brown was dropped for the Demons’ top-of-the-table clash with Brisbane after no scoreboard impact the week before. However, he responded by putting himself right back in calculations with six goals and 20 touches in a best-on-ground performance as Casey cruised to a 76-point win over Gold Coast.
End-to-end ball movement for @CaseyDemonsFC gives Mitch Brown his sixth goal 👊
— #VFL / #VFLW (@VFL) June 25, 2022
Watch the #VFL: https://t.co/dBCbjKhgzz pic.twitter.com/7ZvJqVCq18
For Collingwood’s VFL side, mid-season draftee Josh Carmichael put his best foot forward with a strong performance.
Earlier this week Craig McRae told SEN’s The Run Home that Carmichael could make his debut in the back half of the season, and the 22-year-old did those chances no harm.
He gathered 24 disposals and five clearances, while in the same clash Brisbane’s Rhys Mathieson put forward another huge performance.
Mathieson hasn’t been able to force his way into the AFL side in 2022 but has consistently stepped up in the reserves, adding another 43 disposals and 10 inside 50s to his season tally as Brisbane triumphed by 25 points.
In Footscray’s 48-point win over Box Hill, Lachie Hunter played his second game back after taking a break from football.
The hard-running midfielder was pivotal in the clash, gathering 26 disposals and six clearances in the victory.
In another feel-good story, Toby McLean played his first game in 365 days after returning from ACL reconstructions.
He finished with 18 possessions and two goals.
Welcome back, Toby!
— #VFL / #VFLW (@VFL) June 25, 2022
356 days out, McLean slots a goal 🐶
Watch the #VFL: https://t.co/dBCbjKhgzz pic.twitter.com/OjNyk8PvPZ
Young pup Sam Darcy also impressed, the No.2 pick from last year’s draft kicking two goals from his 17 possessions.
Sydney’s Joel Amartey booted five goals in the Swans’ 21-point win over Sandringham, while Jack Higgins wasn't in the best in the defeat.
After being omitted heading into Round 15 of the AFL, Higgins responded with 17 touches and a goal.
Essendon forwards Alec Waterman and Kaine Baldwin booted three each in their side’s 38-point win.