HB: Heath Scotland (Carlton), Brendon Goddard (St Kilda), Cameron Bruce (Melbourne)
C: Joel Selwood (Geelong), Brad Sewell (Hawthorn), Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)
HF: Steve Johnson (Geelong), Travis Cloke (Collingwood), Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda)
F: Jeff Garlett (Carlton), Kurt Tippett (Adelaide), Jason Porplyzia (Adelaide)
FOLL: Shane Mumford (Sydney Swans), Chris Judd (Carlton), Gary Ablett (Geelong)
I/C: Mitch Clark (Brisbane Lions), Kane Cornes (Port Adelaide), Richard Douglas (Adelaide), Dan Hannebery (Sydney Swans)
BACKS
Sam Gilbert (St Kilda) - Gilbert warmed into his work beautifully against the Kangas. The defender, like his fellow back pocket this week, has been down on numbers in recent weeks but rebounded in a big way by gathering 26 touches and 11 marks in the final match of the round. He not only found space, but also barged out of the backline with authority on a couple of occasions to set up the Saints.
James Frawley (Melbourne) - Frawley’s job on Buddy - especially in the pair’s one-on-ones - deserves praise. Buddy finished with 3.2 and had a fair say in his team’s win, but the Hawk forward got lucky with at least one of those. With his speed, size and strength, Frawley showed yet again why the Demons’ back six will be in great shape while he’s around.
Corey Enright (Geelong) - This was Enright’s best match in a couple of months. He was in everything in the first half, gathering 22 possessions by half time as he repelled attacks early and set up from forward of half back. He finished with 34 (10 contested) and had six tackles in an ominous return to form.
HALF-BACKS
Heath Scotland (Carlton) - The underrated Blue has been very good for Carlton since he crossed from Collingwood at the end of 2003. As Brett Ratten has assembled his midfield, Scotland has been left to flourish in a running half back/midfield role and against the Tigers he did that job with great effect. He had 29 touches, seven inside 50s and booted two goals to be among the best afield.
Brendon Goddard (St Kilda) - The Saints’ Mr Fix-It was again terrific down back. St Kilda has a few players whose hands they like to get the footy into, and Goddard won or received it more than any other player against North Melbourne. Playing his quarterback-style role in defence, he picked up 37 touches and had seven inside 50s to be among the most dominant players on the ground.
Cameron Bruce (Melbourne) - Bruce’s second half of the season has been superb. In such good form was the veteran that coach Dean Bailey threw him the challenge of minding Hawk star Luke Hodge. Bruce not only kept Hodge’s influence relatively low key, but exerted a large one himself with 26 possessions, nine tackles, six inside 50s and a goal.
CENTRES
Joel Selwood (Geelong) - The manner in which Selwood won free kicks was questioned by some last week. It seemed he had heard that talk and took offence; such was his ferocity against the Bulldogs. He had 35 touches (12 contested), eight clearances and booted two goals to silence the sceptics. His second term got his team rolling and, despite the game being iced, he didn’t take his foot off the gas.
Brad Sewell (Hawthorn) - Sewell was down earlier in the season but has hit back over the past month, culminating in his best afield display against the Demons. The rugged midfielder came into his own in the heavy conditions, gathering 27 touches (12 contested), having six inside 50s and four tackles to not only provide drive but negate Melbourne danger man Colin Sylvia.
Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood) - Swan and Blair were terrific, but Pendlebury’s deft touches and decision-making made him a standout in his side’s mauling of Essendon. The Magpie cruised around the MCG for 32 touches and 10 marks, and used the ball beautifully. He sent the ball inside 50 seven times, and when you’re at over 80 per cent efficiency, the likes of Cloke, Dawes and Leigh Brown must lick their chops.
HALF-FORWARDS
Steve Johnson (Geelong) - Johnson was quiet in the first term but, like his side, once he got going there was no stopping him. The mercurial Cat finished with 21 touches and seven marks but, more importantly, 5.1 as well as a couple of score assists.
Travis Cloke (Collingwood) - Cloke matched his career-best haul of five goals but could easily have notched another one or two had it not been for a couple of characteristic sprays, as well as teammate Heath Shaw grabbing one close to the line and booting it through. Cloke had a night out against the Bombers, hauling in 16 marks from his 22 touches as he finished with 5.5 in a supreme performance deep forward.
Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda) - He’s baaaack. The Saints skipper might have been expecting Nathan Grima early but had poor old Scott Thompson instead, who he burned off for a couple of first-half goals before flying home to finish with 7.5 from 19 disposals and 10 marks. Riewoldt moved with ease across the Etihad Stadium turf to show he may be the key player in September.
FORWARDS
Jeff Garlett (Carlton) - Garlett won a NAB Rising Star nomination last week and backed up that display with another standout performance. The lively Blue, fresh from six goals against the Bombers, booted 4.2 against Richmond to cause havoc at ground level as he set his team alight in the swirly conditions at the MCG. Can little Jeffy do it again this week against the Cats?
Kurt Tippett (Adelaide) - The big K-Tip may not have touched the footy in the final term - when the game was decided - but the Crows would not have been in the contest had it not been for his efforts earlier. Tippett, who has struggled for much of 2010, looked like the power forward he was last season as he outclassed Daniel Merrett to boot 5.4. He should’ve kicked at least seven, had it not been for some duffers in front of the sticks.
Jason Porplyzia (Adelaide) - With his team struggling and down on manpower in the opening half, Porplyzia turned it on to lift his team. A classy left-foot finish - one of his 3.2 for the day - typified how much talent he possesses. He finished with five inside 50s and five clearances, but his foot skills on the day - including a crucial kick coming out of defence in the final two minutes - were the biggest highlight.
FOLLOWERS
Shane Mumford (Sydney Swans) - Geelong’s loss continues to be the Sydney Swans’ gain. Mumford and Kepler Bradley had a great duel for much of the match, but the big Swan got right on top when the game was in the balance. He finished with 22 disposals (13 contested) including nine in the final term, and five clearances to will his men across the line - just ask coach Paul Roos.
Chris Judd (Carlton) - Juddy had a flat spot a few weeks ago but has popped out of that with no troubles. The Blues skipper was in everything as he racked up some huge numbers against a Richmond outfit powerless to stop his influence. The Brownlow medallist showed his class with 30 touches, 11 clearances, nine inside 50s, nine tackles, five score assists and a goal.
Gary Ablett (Geelong) - Gazza was back to his brilliant best against the Bulldogs. After a couple of months where the little champ was spending almost as much time forward as he was in the middle, he was released to the centre square more permanently with devastating effect - 39 possessions (13 contested), nine inside 50s, seven clearances, five tackles and 3.1 including a couple of gems on the run.
INTERCHANGE
Mitch Clark (Brisbane Lions) - With skipper Jonathan Brown and Fev missing, the Lions had to find a goalkicker in attack against Adelaide. Mitch Clark hasn’t recaptured his 2009 form in the ruck this year, but briefly looked an unlikely match-winner. The big man used his agility and good hands to kick five goals on Ben Rutten, as well as assist in a couple of others, although it wasn’t quite enough for his team.
Kane Cornes (Port Adelaide) - It wasn’t a pretty affair at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night; although one suspects Kane Cornes might not have minded that. The Power veteran likes the nitty-gritty and he was in the thick of the tough slog, running hard to collect a game-high 38 possessions (13 contested). He also had three inside 50s and six clearances.
Richard Douglas (Adelaide) - Douglas has been one of the few good stories for Adelaide this year. For the third time this year the emerging midfielder gathered 31 possessions - his career high - as he helped a tiring Crows midfield outlast the Lions in the heat. He used the ball well, had 10 inside 50s and kicked two long goals to show he’ll be another key player in coach Neil Craig’s developing team.
Dan Hannebery (Sydney Swans) - With Hannebery poised to put pen to paper on a new three-year deal with the Swans on Saturday, the youngster celebrated by carving up Mark Harvey’s side in the west. He roamed the open spaces of Subiaco to gather 38 possessions - 11 more than any other player on the ground - and laid five tackles to show his club just what an asset they’ve locked in.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
