WE finally had an almost full round of footy to dissect, and there was so much to talk about that it would make this column run for a week if it was all included!
Plenty of apologies are needed, including the league’s most in-form midfielder Jacob Dawson (41 disposals) and best forward Matt Hammelmann (six goals), who are on this list every week, plus Josh Schache (six goals, 14 marks), Josh Corbett (five goals, 11 marks) and any number of A-grade showings from the heartstopping draw in the Grand Final rematch (Mitch Hibberd would be on this list if his kick had gone one metre further and Patrick Naish is also unlucky).
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Then there was the other Grand Final rematch, in which Southport turned its 2019 flogging into a record-smashing victory in their first meeting since that day to stay a game clear on top of the ladder.
Levi Casboult had 22 disposals, 22 hitouts, 11 marks and two goals after being dropped by Carlton, but misses out after being suspended by the match review panel.
And we can’t forget the Mark Of The Year hauled in by Northern Bullant Jack Boyd or the high-flying efforts from Nick Ebinger and Sydney Stack that would win any other week.
Here are just some of the stars of a memorable Round 10.
ELI TEMPLETON (PORT MELBOURNE)
Even in a losing team, you just can’t look past a record-breaking performance, and that’s exactly what Templeton produced against Carlton on Saturday*.
His ridiculous 49 disposals – 31 kicks, 18 handballs, 13 marks, five tackles, eight clearances, an unbelievable 17 inside-50s and two goals – was the best individual game from a Port Melbourne player since these stats have been recorded, beating premiership captain Toby Pinwill’s 48 in Round 19, 2015.
Templeton could not be in better form ahead of his 100th VFL game against Williamstown this Sunday.
*Credit: @OliverGigacz
TYLER ROOS (NORTH MELBOURNE)
He had 43 in a losing cause against Frankston in Round 2, but this time he was the difference between victory and defeat in a thriller against Coburg.
Roos again showed he loves playing at Arden St, knocking up 23 kicks, 19 handballs, 13 marks, five tackles, five clearances and five inside-50s in a complete performance to lead North Melbourne to a second consecutive win either side of the lockdown.
BILLY GOWERS (SOUTHPORT)
Splitting this one with superstar midfielder Jacob Dawson, who has appeared in this list almost every week, this time racking up 41 disposals, 11 tackles, 10 clearances and six inside-50s.
Gowers was goalless heading towards time-on of the second quarter before exploding to kick eight majors from 20 disposals and eight marks and move into second spot in the Frosty Miller Medal.
The pair were the catalysts for Southport’s third triple-figure win of the season, a record victory over the Brisbane Lions that represented a 183-point turnaround from their last meeting in the 2019 NEAFL Grand Final.
MITCH COX (FRANKSTON)
A brilliant performance from the little showman as he led the Dolphins back onto the winner’s list against the Northern Bullants.
Cox was irrepressible changing between rover and forward pocket with the similarly impressive Josh Begley, particularly in the first half when the game was there to be won, and finished with 16 kicks 12 handballs, five clearances, four inside-50s and five goals that almost exclusively had a touch of magic about them.
PATRICK LIPINSKI (FOOTSCRAY)
In his first game after again being omitted from the AFL team, Lipinski again proved himself too good for VFL level in another best-afield display as the Bulldogs gave Geelong a four-goal headstart at the Cattery and won by five goals running away.
With Josh Schache riding shotgun in a 14-mark, six-goal masterclass, Lipinski did as he pleased to record 16 kicks, 20 handballs, five marks, six tackles and five clearances – he also kicked Footscray’s first goal after the Cats had piled on 4.2 and backed it up with two more including the crucial first of the last quarter.
JACK WATKINS (NORTH MELBOURNE)
While Roos, Will Phillips, Atu Bosenavulagi and four-goal hero Ben Speight gained most of the plaudits for North’s thrilling win over Coburg, the effort of Watkins was at least as important.
Sent to Marcus Lentini in just his seventh VFL game, the young midfielder did what nobody else has been able to do this year and shut the Lions star down – Lentini’s 23 disposals and a goal would be a useful game for most but it represented the first time this season he hasn’t had 30 and only the second time he hasn’t reached 37.
Watkins had 14 disposals and six tackles, mostly on his direct opponent, to help secure the victory.
RYAN BASTINAC (ASPLEY)
Has been in dominant touch for the Hornets all season alongside Matt Hammelmann (who kicked six goals for a fourth time), but went to another level in an unsuccessful effort to avoid yet another heartbreaking defeat.
While Aspley gave up a 41-point lead, it was no fault of Bastinac, who blistered his way to 21 kicks, 22 handballs, five marks, 13 clearances, eight inside-50s and the final goal of the game that gave his team a chance of pinching it back.
MATTHEW LOBBE (WERRIBEE)
The former AFL ruckman turned back the clock with a vintage display – doing what was expected of him in monstering an inexperienced and undersized GWS ruck division.
None of Leyton Chisholm (four games), debutant Airi Wolff or decathlon convert Jake Stein had spent had spent any time in the ruck this year, and while they battled hard they were no match for the ruckman of 100 AFL matches’ experience, who finished with 42 hitouts, 22 disposals, five marks, six tackles and a goal.
TOP 10 PLAYERS AFTER ROUND 10
- Jacob Dawson (Southport) 53
- Darcy Fort (Geelong) 52
- Jai Newcombe (Box Hill Hawks) 42
- Callum Coleman-Jones (Richmond) 36
- Nick Shipley (GWS) 36
- Eli Templeton (Port Melbourne) 36
- Matthew Hammelmann (Aspley) 35
- Tom Wilson (Northern Bullants) 34
- Mitch Hibberd (Williamstown) 33.5
- Lewis Taylor (Sydney) 31
- Corey Wagner (Port Melbourne) 31
Twitter: @BRhodesVFL
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