Last weekend’s games produced a raft of high-scoring performances, with six of the top 10 scores recorded in week three of first-round matches.
Carlton spearhead Brendan Fevola has been into the weights over the pre-season and his new, bulkier frame paid dividends with six goals and 117 Dream Team points in the Blues’ big win against North Melbourne.
Teammate Bryce Gibbs (28 possessions) showed he could be in for a big 2009 by matching Fevola’s lofty points total, while fellow Blues onballer Kade Simpson (116) wasn’t far behind.
Geelong’s Joel Corey is a proven Dream Team performer, having averaged 109 points last year, and he turned it on with a 127-point effort as the Cats belted Adelaide. Corey’s total of 29 touches, nine marks and six tackles produced easily the second-highest score of the round.
Small forward Mathew Stokes also looked to be back to his dazzling best, racking up 114 points with a 30-possession, three-goal game.
And down in Launceston, Melbourne’s Brad Green played a fine all-round game to finish with 117 points in his side’s heartbreaking loss to Hawthorn at York Park.
But no one could top Collingwood utility Tarkyn Lockyer’s effort in the first match of the competition on February 7, when he notched 149 points against West Coast at Subiaco.
Fellow Magpie Dane Swan also showed why he’s rated among the most valuable Dream Team midfielders with a 118-point performance.
And Richmond veterans Matthew Richardson and Nathan Brown loom as valuable selections for another year, with 115 and 118 points respectively in the Tigers’ win against Fremantle.
Another Tigers forward, Jack Riewoldt, looks set to reap the benefits of a strong pre-season after producing a 109-point effort to round out the top 10 for round one.
Toyota AFL Dream Team top scorers
NAB Cup Round 1
1. Tarkyn Lockyer (Coll) 149
2. Joel Corey (Geel) 127
3. Dane Swan (Coll) 120
4. Nathan Brown (Rich) 118
=5. Brendan Fevola (Carl) 117
=5. Bryce Gibbs (Carl) 117
7. Kade Simpson (Carl) 116
8. Matthew Richardson (Rich) 115
9. Mathew Stokes (Geel) 114
10. Brad Green (Melb) 112
