JASMINE Garner's stunning performance against former side Collingwood means she is an automatic selection for womens.afl's Team of the Week for round seven.
The star Roo produced one of the most well-rounded individual games of the year, kicking three goals to go with her 26 disposals, 388m gained, seven intercepts and six marks.
This week, the team encompasses Gold Coast v Brisbane on Thursday night through to Gold Coast v Western Bulldogs on Tuesday night.
Players who featured in multiple games are selected for particular performances, rather than their average output over their two matches.
The team is selected to mirror the All-Australian side: five defenders, six midfielders (including a ruck), five forwards and five interchange players.
Like the All-Australian team, it has players selected in general categories, rather than in traditional positions. The 16-a-side set-up often means teams play with varying configurations, making set selections (e.g wings and flanks) difficult.
DEFENDERS
Bianca Jakobsson (St Kilda), Emma Kearney (North Melbourne), Mua Laloifi (Carlton), Daisy Pearce (Melbourne), Ruby Schleicher (Collingwood)
Laloifi (14 touches, nine intercepts) was named best afield by the coaches, while Schleicher (20, 10 intercepts) stood up well under enormous pressure.
Kearney (24, 12 intercepts) controlled play off half-back, Pearce's mid-game move to defence (15, 11 intercepts) was a game-changer, and Jakobsson (17, seven intercepts) battled hard in a tough outing for the Saints.
MIDFIELDERS
Lauren Pearce (ruck, Melbourne) Jasmine Garner (North Melbourne), Eloise Jones (Adelaide), Kirsty Lamb (Western Bulldogs), Ebony Marinoff (Adelaide), Ash Riddell (North Melbourne)
A tough decision in the ruck this week, and even though Pearce lost the hitouts, her match-winning, game-high six clearances got her over the line in Melbourne's thriller over Brisbane.
Garner (26 disposals, three goals) was simply superb against former side Collingwood, Jones (20, seven marks) was impassable on the wing while Lamb (26 and seven tackles) dominated against the Cats.
Marinoff (24, 16 tackles) broke the 1000-touch mark while Riddell added 30 and eight clearances to her own – rapidly growing – career tally.
FORWARDS
Courtney Hodder (Brisbane), Georgia Gee (Carlton), Taylor Smith (Brisbane), Tayla Harris (Melbourne), Emma King (North Melbourne)
Hodder (17 disposals, two goals) was named best on ground for her performance in the QClash, while teammate Smith (three goals) also shone.
Harris equalled the record for contested marks in a game (seven), Gee (20 disposals, six marks) was back to her very best, while King had a career-high 20 touches and took five marks.
INTERCHANGE
Emily Bates (Brisbane), Monique Conti (Richmond), Charlie Rowbottom (Gold Coast v Western Bulldogs), Emma Swanson (West Coast), Bonnie Toogood (Western Bulldogs)
Bates (23 disposals, 14 tackles, six clearances) may have counted herself unlucky to miss out on the QClash medal, Conti (24, nine tackles, five clearances) dictated play against West Coast, while opponent Swanson (22, seven tackles, two goals) was outstanding in a losing side.
Toogood (15, seven marks, two goals) takes the final forward spot for her efforts against the Cats, while Rowbottom (25, seven tackles, five clearances) very nearly dragged the Suns over the line in their thrilling draw.
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