HB: Nick Malceski (Sydney Swans), Adam McPhee (Fremantle), Simon Goodwin (Adelaide)
C: Jimmy Bartel (Geelong), Leigh Montagna (St Kilda), David Rodan (Port Adelaide)
HF: Brad Green (Melbourne), Lance Franklin (Hawthorn), Colin Sylvia (Melbourne)
F: Mathew Stokes (Geelong), Barry Hall (Western Bulldogs), Jack Riewoldt (Richmond)
FOLL: Mark Jamar (Melbourne), Adam Goodes (Sydney Swans), Dane Swan (Collingwood)
I/C: Matthew Boyd (Western Bulldogs), Daniel Connors (Richmond), Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn), Scott Thompson (Adelaide)
BACKS
Chris Newman (Richmond) - Newman’s disposal was again a feature as the Tigers captain led his side to another memorable win. The skipper is teaming with Brett Deledio beautifully off half back. Against Fremantle, Newman had 26 disposals, 12 marks and four tackles as his left boot set up numerous Tigers thrusts.
Brian Lake (Western Bulldogs) - For Setanta and his little helpers, Lake proved the Grinch. With his imposing presence, the Bulldogs star continually cut off Carlton attacks with his superb reading of the play. He had 28 possessions, 10 marks, four tackles and a stack of rebound 50s. O’hAilpin, meanwhile, had just three disposals.
Sam Gilbert (St Kilda) - Gilbert returned to his home state and picked up where he once left off - just ask Simon Black, who the Saints defender picked up and barrelled in a rugby league-style tackle. Gilbert was typically fierce in his attack on the footy as he gathered 27 possessions, and regularly stopped the Lions in their tracks heading inside 50.
HALF-BACKS
Nick Malceski (Sydney Swans) - The Swans defender appeared to be roaming free for much of his team’s clash with North Melbourne, but one suspects he reads the play so well he just knows to pick his time of when to zone off and go. Now over his knee problem, Malceski is back to his best, and he carved up the Kangas with 34 touches and a goal.
Adam McPhee (Fremantle) - With regular defenders Chris Tarrant and Antoni Grover out of the side, McPhee was given greater responsibility and played his best game for Freo. The former Bomber spent much of the night in defence and, although roaming unopposed at times, repelled numerous Richmond attacks. He did win plenty of contested footy (12), finishing with 23 touches, 13 marks and a goal.
Simon Goodwin (Adelaide) - While a couple of his fellow veterans have hung up the boots, Goodwin shows no signs of waning. The Adelaide skipper has been a catalyst in his team’s mid-year surge, his dash and poise off the half-back line as crucial as ever for the young Crows. Goodwin found space to rack up 14 marks, while he gathered 28 disposals against West Coast.
CENTRES
Jimmy Bartel (Geelong) - The Brownlow medallist had a bit of everything in his game on Saturday - high marks, trademark tough stuff, and deft tap-ons. Bartel’s hardness was crucial in getting the Cats home, with 16 of his 26 possessions being won the hard way. He also laid eight tackles and booted a goal from a great mark, showing why he’s loved by umpires and arguably the most complete midfielder in the game.
Leigh Montagna (St Kilda) - Will this be the year the umpires notice Montagna’s carving runs? The man known as ‘Joey’ cut a swathe through the middle of the Gabba on Saturday night with 33 possessions and a goal, but also laid seven tackles as he ensured his work rate wasn’t just one way.
David Rodan (Port Adelaide) - At one stage on Friday night, one man stood between Collingwood and the four points - David Rodan. The Power rover was simply superb as he won the ball at ground level, dodged and weaved his way around opponents and inspired his teammates. He had 17 contested possessions (26 all up), nine clearances, eight tackles and three super goals to be one of the best afield.
HALF-FORWARDS
Brad Green (Melbourne) - One wonders how good a player Green might have been in a powerhouse team. Against the Bombers he again stood up for the emerging Demons, using all his class and courage to rip Essendon apart. He finished with 27 touches, took nine marks, had seven inside 50s but most importantly booted 5.2 to be best afield.
Lance Franklin (Hawthorn) - Franklin wasn’t at his brilliant best, but he was still pretty Buddy good. Quite simply, if he hadn’t have been there, the Hawks would not have been so close at the finish. He loomed large and always looked a threat, finishing with 3.3 from 22 touches. He worked hard up and down the ground and laid six tackles.
Colin Sylvia (Melbourne) - The Demons look so much more potent with a forward set up containing Sylvia, the stocky half forward with a vice-like grip. He’s strong over the footy and ferocious at the ball - a trait he used well against the Bombers. Sylvia booted two goals from 29 touches and had 10 contested possessions, seven inside 50s and four clearances.
FORWARDS
Mathew Stokes (Geelong) - Stokes has been in good form since his club-imposed exile, but his return in front of goal against Hawthorn was his most important contribution yet. He’d had 12 touches at half time but hadn’t hit the scoreboard, however three third-term goals kept the Cats in touch. His final-term snap was probably goal of the day. On a day when goals were tough to come by, 4.2 from the small forward was a great effort.
Barry Hall (Western Bulldogs) - A dodgy ankle might see Big Bazza rested this week, but the burly forward was moving as well as ever in his six-goal demolition of Carlton on Sunday - just ask Blue Michael Jamison. The Carlton defender isn’t an easy man to get away from, but Hall found space to mark and kick well on his way to another haul.
Jack Riewoldt (Richmond) - Now not ‘the other Riewoldt’, Jack did get a cheapie courtesy of an interchange infringement, but his five goals against Fremantle were all invaluable. The Coleman medal leader kicks goals at important times, wins contested possessions and takes big marks - inspiring stuff for a young team that draws motivation from such acts.
FOLLOWERS
Mark Jamar (Melbourne) - Jamar had 18 disposals, 25 hit-outs and two goals against the tandem efforts of Paddy Ryder and Tom Bellchambers. The big Demon has been an All-Australian smoky for much of the year, but if he out-performs Aaron Sandilands this weekend, that smoke may well turn to fire.
Adam Goodes (Sydney Swans) - Like a prize colt being set free from the barriers, Goodes relished being released to the midfield after a few weeks anchored to a key forward post. The dual Brownlow medallist unleashed that frustration with 33 disposals and three goals to be clearly best afield against North Melbourne.
Dane Swan (Collingwood) - Was that a disappointed shake of the head from Dane Swan as he left the field on Friday night? After a lazy 48 touches against the Power last year, he only gathered 39 this time around. Still, it was a fair effort from the Pies’ running man, who torched Port - especially in the second term when he had 16 possessions, four clearances and a goal. Is there any stopping him?
INTERCHANGE
Matthew Boyd (Western Bulldogs) - The Dogs’ midfielder is their midfield general with his hard-nosed approach. He had 33 possessions, eight clearances and seven inside 50s, but it was his two goals that gave him the nod over teammate Adam Cooney for a spot on the bench.
Daniel Connors (Richmond) - Connors said after the match he owed his club, and he paid up nicely against Freo. The emerging Tiger had 35 quality touches (nine contested) - including 21 in the second half - three tackles and kicked a goal to help get his team home.
Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn) - Rioli’s spark was again a key the Hawks, despite it not being enough to get them the four points this time. Super Cyril seems to be over the niggling groin complaint that was hindering him early in the year, the livewire spending more time in the midfield the further the season goes on. Against Geelong he picked up 25 touches, had five inside 50s and six clearances to be among the most dangerous players on the ground.
Scott Thompson (Adelaide) - Thompson appears to be back to his best. He’s been pretty consistent in 2010 but the classy ball winner has raised his game over the past month. And it’s no coincidence the Crows are performing better. Against West Coast he accumulated 29 possessions, but it was his 10 clearances that were most important.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
