HB: Graham Johncock (Adelaide), Nathan Grima (North Melbourne), Brendon Goddard (St Kilda)
C: Kieren Jack (Sydney Swans), Chris Judd (Carlton), Brady Rawlings (North Melbourne)
HF: Alan Didak (Collingwood), Jonathan Brown (Brisbane Lions), Adam Schneider (St Kilda)
F: Daniel Giansiracusa (Western Bulldogs), Jeff Garlett (Carlton), Lynden Dunn (Melbourne)
FOLL: Robbie Warnock (Carlton), Lenny Hayes (St Kilda), Brent Harvey (North Melbourne)
I/C: Nathan Eagleton (Western Bulldogs), Adam Goodes (Sydney Swans), Shane Mumford (Sydney Swans), Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda)
BACKS
Ben Rutten (Adelaide) - The Truck has been in pretty good touch the last couple of weeks. Following on from his job on Jack Riewoldt, he kept Barry Hall goalless and thus gave his team a real chance against the Bulldogs. Conditions helped defenders at a wet and wild AAMI Stadium, but Rutten was terrific as he nullified Barry and gave his team drive.
James Frawley (Melbourne) - Faced Jack Riewoldt on Sunday and conceded just one goal, winning the one-on-ones and ensuring the Dees’ back six won the day despite his side losing the inside 50 count.
Ash McGrath (Brisbane Lions) - Rounding out our full back line is McGrath, another man who at the weekend was entrusted with stopping a Coleman Medal contender. On Saturday night he nullified Mark LeCras, who managed two goals from just eight disposals. McGrath, who has become a vital piece of the Lions’ defensive puzzle, gathered 24 possessions (eight contested) and had three tackles.
HALF-BACKS
Graham Johncock (Adelaide) - Crows coach Neil Craig tries to free up Johncock as much as he can, given how well his running defender uses the footy. In the slippery conditions against the Dogs, Johncock gathered 28 disposals (10 contested), used it at 89 per cent efficiency, had three inside 50s and laid five tackles.
Nathan Grima (North Melbourne) - Like Demon Frawley, Grima is one of the competition’s emerging young defenders. His importance to North Melbourne can’t be underestimated - the Kangas are 9-5 when he has played this year - which is rare for a 27-gamer. Against Freo he kept Matthew Pavlich to just 0.1 yet gathered 27 disposals himself in an outstanding defensive display.
Brendon Goddard (St Kilda) - Like his team, Goddard returned to his best against Port Adelaide. The star Saint had 13 possessions to the main break but powered home with 21 second-half disposals to finish with 34 - mostly across half back - although he did boot a goal. He hit his targets with precision and along with teammate Sam Fisher was a quarterback of the Saints’ back half.
CENTRES
Kieren Jack (Sydney Swans) - Jack was an unlikely destroyer in his team’s demolition of Hawthorn on Saturday. Although he faded as the game wore on, his ability to win the footy early was hugely influential as the Swans won the midfield battle. He finished with 27 touches, including 15 contested disposals, seven inside 50s and nine clearances.
Chris Judd (Carlton) - No doubt some more votes for the 2004 Brownlow Medallist, who shrugged off a sore chest to play his best match in several weeks. Judd won 27 touches -12 contested - had six clearances, seven inside 50s and booted a goal to provide the inspiration for his men.
Brady Rawlings (North Melbourne) - Freo youngster Stephen Hill is likely to be having nightmares this week, and Rawlings will be front and centre in all of them. One of the more unfashionable players at North was arguably the most effective on Saturday as he destroyed the young gun from the west. The veteran racked up 39 touches and kept Hill to just seven.
HALF-FORWARDS
Alan Didak (Collingwood) - In front of more than 84,000 fans Didak showed he was up for the big occasion by maintaining his superb form against the Cats. He was best afield in Saturday night’s big one as he roamed around half forward and through the middle, collecting 35 touches - 12 of which were contested. He had five inside 50s, booted one goal and assisted in four others.
Jonathan Brown (Brisbane Lions) - With Fev gone for the remainder of 2010 Brown loomed as the great hope for the Lions against the Eagles, and the skipper didn’t let his team down. He kicked four first-half goals, but most importantly out-muscled Mitch Brown in the final 10 seconds to snaffle the match-winning grab and boot truly. The four points is also likely to ensure the wooden spoon heads west this season.
Adam Schneider (St Kilda) - Did Schneider forget to take a shower in the days leading up to Sunday? We’ll give the Saint the benefit of the doubt and assume he used all his craftiness to find as much space as he did early against Port Adelaide as he wrought havoc. The half forward was a catalyst in the first-term blitz but worked hard throughout to finish with 30 touches, 13 marks, five tackles and 3.3 - outstanding numbers for one of the hardest roles in footy.
FORWARDS
Daniel Giansiracusa (Western Bulldogs) - Gia’s great year continued when he played a big part in the Doggies’ crucial win over Adelaide. One of his side’s most skilful players, the half forward relished the slippery conditions to collect 30 touches and nine marks. He also had four clearances, six tackles and booted a goal to show just how important he will be in the final weeks of the year.
Jeff Garlett (Carlton) -With Mark McVeigh doing a pretty good job on Eddie Betts, Garlett became the go-to man and finished with six goals. While his tackling and pressure has been a feature for much of the year, he was rewarded on the scoreboard on Friday night with 6.2 from 16 possessions, his goals coming from a mixture of great roving and clever leading.
Lynden Dunn (Melbourne) - Dunn has become a surprise pinch-hitter in recent weeks for the Demons. He had just 13 touches against Richmond but his 5.1 were all important. He could have had six had the final siren been delayed a second or two. He plays the role of a defensive forward but has great goal nous and is a thumping kick - as illustrated by a couple of great snaps and the 55m bomb he landed on three-quarter time against the Tigers.
FOLLOWERS
Robbie Warnock (Carlton) -The Blues are still missing Matthew Kreuzer, but Warnock’s performance against Bombers duo David Hille and Paddy Ryder was as huge as the man himself. The former Freo giant is showing great signs. He had 10 touches but 29 hit-outs - including some crucial clearances at the start of the final term - to get the momentum rolling for Carlton.
Lenny Hayes (St Kilda) - Saint Lenny underlined his importance with a game-high nine clearances in St Kilda’s thrashing of Port Adelaide. The playmaker racked up 34 touches, used it at 88 per cent efficiency and booted two gems as the heartbeat of Ross Lyon’s team enjoyed a day out.
Brent Harvey (North Melbourne) - Boomer was in everything at Etihad Stadium as the skipper led his team to a memorable win over the fifth-placed team in the competition. While his 34 touches and 3.1 hurt Fremantle, he worked just as hard the other way and set the example for his youngsters by laying eight tackles.
INTERCHANGE
Nathan Eagleton (Western Bulldogs) - Eagleton won a call-up for the ill Shaun Higgins, and didn’t he make the most of it? The old Dog might not have any new tricks but the ones he does have - that thumping left foot and an ability to find space - served him well against the Crows. He isn’t best-known for his hardness, but 11 of his 26 touches were contested. He drove the ball inside 50 eight times, had three tackles and booted a goal.
Adam Goodes (Sydney Swans) - Naughty Adam emerged a couple of times on Saturday - giving away free kicks and even a 50m penalty - but match-winning Goodes was the man mostly on display throughout the Swans’ 44-point win. The in-form star had 26 disposals, 10 marks (five of those contested) and booted 3.2 to provide a target in attack as well as win his own ball around the ground.
Shane Mumford (Sydney Swans) - Mumford carved up the Hawks at the MCG earlier in the year and played a big part in his team taking command of the midfield again on Saturday. He had 17 disposals, three tackles, three inside 50s but 30 hit-outs - many directly into the path of his midfielders who were eagerly awaiting his slick delivery.
Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda) - Another week down, another match through unscathed. And big Roo looks to be nearing full fitness. Riewoldt was the Saints’ star big man, contributing four goals from his 19 touches as he moved well and provided the tall target inside 50. He finished with 14 marks, and while some of those came in junk time towards the end, he showed he’ll be near his best come September.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
