B: Brett Jones (West Coast), Colin Garland (Melbourne), Harry O'Brien (Collingwood)

HB: Martin Clarke (Collingwood), Beau Wilkes (West Coast), Josh Drummond (Brisbane Lions)

C: Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood), Brett Kirk (Sydney), Chance Bateman (Hawthorn)

HF: Andrew Embley (West Coast), Jonathan Brown (Brisbane Lions), Jason Akermanis (Western Bulldogs)

F: Brett Ebert (Port Adelaide), Daniel Bradshaw (Brisbane Lions), Nathan Brown (Richmond)

FOLL: Hamish McIntosh (North Melbourne), Nick Stevens (Carlton), Nathan Foley (Richmond)

I/C: Matt Priddis (West Coast), Dane Swan (Collingwood), Adam Simpson (North Melbourne), Alan Didak (Collingwood)

BACKS
Brett Jones (West Coast) - The underrated defender continued his good season, stymieing the influence of brilliant Crow Brett Burton. Not only did Jones claim 24 touches, he held Burton to five.

Colin Garland (Melbourne) - In just his eighth match, Garland reduced the impact of the hottest player in the League, Lance Franklin. 'Buddy' entered the match averaging 5.25 goals and nine scoring shots per game in 2008, yet Garland kept him to three goals and six scoring shots.

Harry O'Brien (Collingwood) - Played a massive role down back as his side inflicted an 86-point drubbing over Geelong. O'Brien held reigning Norm Smith Medallist Steve Johnson to a single behind.

HALF-BACKS
Martin Clarke (Collingwood) - The second year Magpie was brilliant to watch. Not only did the dashing Irishman play his best game for 2008, it was the finest of his 19-game career so far, accumulating a career-high 28 disposals.

Beau Wilkes (West Coast) - The story of the round! After entered 2008 on the club's rookie list for a fourth season after battling injuries, Wilkes' debut saw him hold round eight Rising Star nominee Kurt Tippett goalless and to just four touches.

Josh Drummond (Brisbane Lions) - This guy is an absolute beauty and remains one of the most underrated players in the game. Quad injuries have interrupted his season, but his 28 disposals - including 12 in the opening term - were instrumental in the Lions' win.

CENTRES
Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood) - Lit up the MCG on Friday night with eight disposals in the first term  (he finished with 26 touches) to be integral early as the Pies jumped out to a 26-point lead. Pendlebury continues to impress on the big stage.  

Brett Kirk (Sydney) - How's the form of this fella? After being best on ground against Essendon in round eight, the inspirational co-captain produced another gem against Port Adelaide, winning 12 of his 31 disposals in the final term to guide his side to victory.

Chance Bateman (Hawthorn) - Continued his super consistent year and was his side's best against Melbourne. The dashing wingman's ball use was efficient and damaging, and regularly sent his team into attack, providing six scoring assists and seven inside 50s.

HALF-FORWARDS
Andrew Embley (West Coast) - The 2006 Norm Smith Medallist was best on ground as his side produced its finest performance of the season. Embley set the tone with 10 of his 29 touches in the first term, and also chipped in with two majors.

Jonathan Brown (Brisbane Lions) – The powerful Lion has been in cracking form over the past three weeks, shining as skipper of Victoria, before returning to club duties where he has booted 12 goals in the past two rounds, including six against St Kilda this round.

Jason Akermanis (Western Bulldogs) - The triple premiership player has been in dynamic form this season, particularly his past two outings. 'Aka' booted four goals and claimed 20 touches for the Dogs in their heartbreaking loss to North Melbourne. 

FORWARDS
Brett Ebert (Port Adelaide) - The powerful small forward was the Power's best in its 11-point loss to Sydney, kicking an equal career-best six goals. It was the third time in Ebert's career that he has jagged a haul of half-a-dozen.

Daniel Bradshaw (Brisbane Lions) - Twelve goals from Brown and Bradshaw is their best effort for the season, with both players booting six goals each. Bradshaw is now equal second (with Carlton's Brendan Fevola) on the goalkicking table with 37.

Nathan Brown (Richmond) - Arguably rivaled his efforts against St Kilda in round seven as his best performance since returning from a terrible broken leg in 2005. Brown booted three goals from seven scoring shots and collected 23 disposals.  

FOLLOWERS
Hamish McIntosh (North Melbourne) - Played a key role in his team's stunning three-point win, accumulating 22 disposals and 18 hit-outs. For a big man his ball use, clearance work and ability to send it inside 50 was a highlight of the match.  

Nick Stevens (Carlton) - The Carlton vice-captain was best-on-ground against Fremantle, racking up 28 disposals - including 12 in the second term - and seven inside 50s, as well as shutting down in form veteran Peter Bell, who was held to 15 touches.

Nathan Foley (Richmond) - Like his recent performance for Victoria, the now not-so-underrated Tiger shone again on the big stage, winning best-on-ground honours in the 'Dreamtime at the 'G' clash. Foley collected 32 touches and laid eight tackles.

INTERCHANGE
Matt Priddis (West Coast) - After missing rounds four to seven with a knee injury, the midfielder bounced back to his outstanding early season form with a game-high 34 disposals. He also laid seven tackles and was instrumental in West Coast's win.

Dane Swan (Collingwood) - One of his team's best against St Kilda in round eight with 28 disposals, Swan backed up with yet another superb display, with 29 classy touches against Geelong. His contested work and tackling was a feature of his play.

Adam Simpson (North Melbourne) - The dual premiership player showed why he such a revered captain at Arden St, with an outstanding display from the front against the Dogs. The midfielder finished with 27 disposals, six clearances and seven inside 50s. 

Alan Didak (Collingwood) - The classy Pie was pivotal in his team's brilliant win over Geelong. The competition's leading kick-getter (he has 169 for the season) made his mark in the first term with 10 of his 26 touches before finishing with two goals.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.