Team of the week

ROUND three was the unofficial captains' round, with skippers Luke Hodge (Hawthorn), Trent Cotchin (Richmond), Jobe Watson (Essendon) and Joel Selwood (Geelong) leading their teams to victory with brilliant individual performances.

The quartet tallied 155 possessions between them to earn selection in the round three Team of the Week, brought to you by Accor Hotels.

The surprise performer this week was Sydney Swans draftee Isaac Heeney, who booted four goals in his third game. The 18-year-old is the only first-year player to be selected in the Team of the Week so far this season.

Backs

JASPER PITTARD (Port Adelaide)- Just edges teammate Matthew Broadbent for this position, given his superior efficiency (82.6 per cent) and more accountable role. Hit targets when the Power were under siege and took risks at the right time.

MICHAEL HURLEY (Essendon) - Returns for the second straight week after a shutdown job on Carlton's Lachie Henderson. Was attacking in the first half, and finished with a team-high eight rebound 50s.

JACK HOMBSCH (Port Adelaide) - Kept Jarrad Waite goalless after the North Melbourne recruit bagged seven in round two. Didn't allow his opponent to get involved close to goal, with all of Waite's five marks coming up the ground.

Half-backs

BACHAR HOULI (Richmond) - Earns his first selection this year after a terrific performance off half-back, helping launch a number of scoring chains with nine rebound 50s. Used the ball well with his 32 possessions.

CALE HOOKER (Essendon) - With a team-high 12 marks, Hooker was a constant obstacle for the Blues, who found him repeatedly cutting off their forays forward. Using the ball smartly out of defence and selected for second straight week.

GRANT BIRCHALL (Hawthorn) - The triple premiership Hawk was at his best off half-back, winning 30 possessions and barely wasting one. Pushed forward to have six inside 50s and one goal.

Centres

DANE SWAN (Collingwood) - The Brownlow medallist had his highest disposal tally since round 18, 2013, winning 39 touches in the wet against St Kilda. The Saints tried to tag him but with little effect. Had a massive 15 inside 50s.

LUKE HODGE (Hawthorn)- A near faultless game from the Hawks skipper, who had 25 possessions at half-time against the Bulldogs and kicked on to finish with 44. Back marshalling the midfield, he also kicked two goals.

RORY SLOANE (Adelaide) - Earns selection for the second straight week as one of the competition's in-form midfielders. The hardnosed Crow was best on ground against Melbourne with 30 possessions (18 contested) and 10 tackles.

Half-forwards

TRENT COTCHIN (Richmond) - A more attacking display from the skipper saw him rack up seven inside 50s and a goal among his 37 disposals. Kicked more often and was damaging, earning him a spot across half-forward.

LANCE FRANKLIN (Sydney Swans)- Got on top of opponent Joel Patfull to kick 5.5 and take five marks inside 50s. Has now kicked 11 goals in three games but is having a great impact when up the ground.

STEPHEN HILL (Fremantle) - The Dockers' second best midfielder in the Western Derby, Hill is pushed onto a half-forward flank for the second straight week because of his three goals and impact going into attack. Had 30 possessions and eight marks.

Forwards

JAMIE ELLIOTT (Collingwood) - A livewire in attack for the Magpies, Elliott was excellent above his head, taking seven marks, including six inside 50. The Pies' most dangerous forward before Travis Cloke found his radar.

JARRYD ROUGHEAD (Hawthorn) - Kicking the biggest bag of the round, Roughead hauled in 7.3 against the Western Bulldogs in a dominant display. Sits two goals behind West Coast's Josh Kennedy with 11 for the season.

ISAAC HEENEY (Sydney Swans) - The gun youngster and NAB AFL Rising Star nominee did some of his best work in the forward pocket and finished with four goals in a polished performance. Was cleaned up by a goalpost for his efforts.

Followers

AARON SANDILANDS (Fremantle) - Had the better of Nic Naitanui and Scott Lycett, winning 33 hit-outs and playing a key role in the Dockers' 44-26 clearance advantage. Also set up goals with his deft tap work.

LACHIE NEALE (Fremantle) - The biggest beneficiary of Sandilands' towering advantage, Neale won a massive 42 possessions and seven clearances, using the ball at 92.5 per cent efficiency. Won the Ross Glendinning Medal as best afield.

JOEL SELWOOD (Geelong) - The Geelong captain dragged his team over the line against a fast finishing Gold Coast. Threw himself into the contest to win 23 contested possessions among his 38 touches, and a game-high 12 clearances.

Interchange

JOBE WATSON (Essendon)- The Essendon skipper benefited from a lax Carlton midfield, winning 36 possessions (27 uncontested). Because of the lack of attention he was able to drift into dangerous areas, finishing with nine inside 50s and a goal.

DAN HANNEBERY (Sydney Swans) - Covers enormous amounts of territory and is a threat on the outside. However, has built his contested game and is now a dual threat. Finished with 15 contested possessions among his 35 disposals and was best afield for the Swans.

BRAD EBERT (Port Adelaide) - The Port Adelaide midfielder was excellent against North Melbourne, with three goals and 22 possessions. Stood up for the Power at big moments.

JORDAN LEWIS (Hawthorn) - It's a tough 18 to break into when Lewis needs to start on the pine after his 41 disposals against the Western Bulldogs. Finished with nine marks and 10 inside 50s.

Check out how fans voted on previous teams of the week
Nine things we learned from round three
Fantasy form watch: This week's pig and Presti