• Nine things we learned from round two
• After the siren: When the fortress falls, where to for the Cats?
• AFL Fantasy form watch: round two
VFL
ALL AUSTRALIAN defender Ben Reid made a successful return in Collingwood's VFL team at Victoria Park on Saturday but it was the standout performance of father-son recruit Darcy Moore that caught the eye.
After showing he had lost none of his trademark ability to turn defence into attack with his raking left foot kick, Reid sat out the last 15 minutes of the practice match against North Ballarat after playing the equivalent of three quarters of game time.
Meanwhile, Moore had the small but passionate crowd roaring at times as he bounded out of defence and regularly took intercept marks. He dominated the game in the third quarter and looked a class above his opposition.
Magpies VFL coach Dale Tapping was impressed with Moore and said he was a hard worker who had an exciting future.
"He's certainly a developing player for the future and is pretty exciting," Tapping told AFL.com.au.
Tapping said he expected Reid would need to build his minutes before moving up to the AFL but was uncertain exactly how much time was required.
Reid has suffered a horror run with soft tissue injuries and the Magpies are taking a cautious approach with him.
"He just got tight a few weeks ago and there was nothing too serious but we pulled him back a bit and relaunched him again," Tapping said.
"Today I thought he started really well, marked the ball well and you saw what he is pretty good at."
Tapping said as soon as Reid regained his confidence he would be a good performer again in the AFL.
The performance of Nathan Freeman was also heartening for the Magpies. The No.10 selection in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft showed his ability throughout the game as he looks to build continuity after hamstring injuries ruined last season.
"He's just starting to express himself more," Tapping said.
"He's got some really strong athletic attributes. Let's hope he turns the corner."
Jarrod Witts improved in the ruck as the game progressed and his tap to Jordan De Goey that started the third quarter was exciting for Collingwood fans.
The Magpies defeated North Ballarat by 26 points in the final practice match for the year.
In other VFL practice matches played on Saturday Essendon defeated Geelong at TrueValue Solar Centre.
Jayden Laverde and Will Hams were the standout performers for Essendon with Laverde kicking three goals in the 35-point win.
Josh Walker and Shane Kersten kicked four goals each for the Cats as they held over Rhys Stanley and Dean Gore for the game against Fremantle.
Ruckman Dawson Simpson was facing a fitness test ahead of the Dockers game.
Box Hill defeated Williamstown by five points, with David Hale and Matt Spangher both appearing for the Hawks.
St Kilda's No.1 draft pick Paddy McCartin starred in Sandringham's 80-point victory over Frankston, registering four goals.
Fellow Saints-listed players Darren Minchington (four goals), Eli Templeton (29 possessions, three goals) and Josh Saunders (26 touches) were also prominent.
But the Zebras' win was soured by a suspected ankle injury to St Kilda forward Spencer White in the first term.
Casey defeated Werribee by 91 points at Casey Fields, dominating the game in the second half.
Former Melbourne skipper Jack Grimes was the Scorpions' leading ball winner, amassing 30 disposals (15 kicks, 15 handballs) and kicking one goal.
Forward Jimmy Toumpas found plenty of the ball, finishing with 29 disposals (18 kicks, 11 handballs) and two goals.
Demons-listed players Matt Jones (30 touches), Jordie McKenzie (25 touches), Viv Michie (25 touches, three goals) and Cameron Pederson (23 touches, two goals) also featured heavily.
For Werribee, forward-turned-defender Robbie Tarrant continued to stake his claim for selection in North Melbourne's back six, collecting 23 possessions and nine marks playing on Pederson.
Fellow Roo Majak Daw had a tough day matching up on big men Jake Spencer and Max Gawn in the ruck, finishing with eight touches and 20 hit-outs.
Footscray defeated Richmond by six points, with utility Chris Knights among the Tigers' best with 29 disposals and eight clearances.
Midfielder Corey Ellis, the Tigers' first-round pick in last year's draft, featured across the half-back line and added 20 touches and four clearances.
SANFL
Adelaide veteran James Podsiadly sustained a lower back injury playing for the Crows' SANFL side as his side lost its opening game of the year to North Adelaide by three points.
The 33-year-old, who was overlooked in Adelaide's first two AFL games, was assisted from the field early in the third term and didn’t take any further part in the game.
Young forward Harry Dear (shoulder) also suffered an injury during the clash.
Veteran Scott Thompson (29 disposals, nine clearances) and younger teammate Matt Crouch (23 disposals, 12 clearances) were Adelaide’s leading midfielders.
Meanwhile, out-of-favour Power forward John Butcher booted four goals during Port Adelaide’s dominant win against South Adelaide.
Brendon Ah Chee, Nathan Krakouer and livewire forward Johann Wagner – winner of reality TV series The Recruit – were also impressive for Port with two goals each.
WAFL
Fifteen Fremantle-listed players featured in Peel Thunder's five-point win over Perth.
Dockers recruit Connor Blakely was the most influential with 29 disposals (13 kicks, 16 handballs) and booted one goal playing through the midfield.
Fellow draftee Ed Langdon, who is the younger brother of Collingwood player Tom, collected 25 possessions (13 kicks, 12 handballs) and one goal.
Forward Max Duffy and midfielder Jacob Ballard finished with 22 touches apiece, while ruckman Jonathon Griffin accumulated 27 hit-outs.
West Coast’s WAFL aligned-team, East Perth, had a bye.
NEAFL
Sydney Swans forward Ben McGlynn made an encouraging return from a hamstring injury he sustained in the Swans' first NAB Challenge match last month.
The 29-year-old moved freely and collected 20 disposals (seven contested) in the Swans' 57-point victory over Ainslie.
Midfielder Tom Mitchell was also named among the Swans' best.
