MELBOURNE is flying and a big key forward who has become a top-10 player in the competition headlines my round 11 Team of the Week, brought to you by AccorHotels.
At the start of the season, it seemed Jesse Hogan could have become that player and while he has been fantastic, Tom McDonald has been even better.
Right now, he's the best contested mark in the competition and rarely wastes his chances in front of goal. Jake Lever might be injured but McDonald is going so well that Demons coach Simon Goodwin needs to resist the urge to throw the 25-year-old into defence.
A couple of forwards were unlucky to miss out. Will Hoskin-Elliott booted six goals for Collingwood but a couple were late and Zac Langdon was too good in a high-pressure game to ignore.
Port Adelaide superstar Robbie Gray was stiff as well, along with Geelong pair Joel Selwood and Tim Kelly.
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It's been a really good year for Demons defender Neville Jetta. Richmond dominated Essendon and Alex Rance was back to his best. West Coast captain Shannon Hurn racked up a lot of football and used it well, while Hawthorn's backline, led by James Siciliy, was the difference in its tight win against Port Adelaide. Tom Stewart continued an excellent season for Geelong while the improvement of Tom Phillips has been amazing.
The tap and then the finish!
— AFL (@AFL) June 3, 2018
Tom Phillips is on fire #AFLPiesFreo pic.twitter.com/m81JuUp9zZ
In the first half of Geelong's win over Gold Coast, Mitch Duncan was easily best on ground and helped set up the win. Clayton Oliver started slowly for Melbourne but worked into the game. After winning last year's best and fairest, he's gone to another level. North Melbourne's Shaun Higgins is in contention for a spot in the Virgin Australia All Australian team. It was a good all-round game for West Coast big man Nic Naitanui. In the second half of a tight game, Dylan Shiel was the difference for Greater Western Sydney. I copped grief for not picking Dayne Beams last week but his 32-disposal and five-goal game against the Roos was hard to ignore.
Returning against his former side, Geelong gun Gary Ablett was all class on the outside. McDonald is a jet while the player of the round was Shaun Edwards, who was outstanding for Richmond. It was hard to ignore Tim Membrey, who finally started kicking straight and booted six goals, while Josh Kennedy did the same for West Coast. The pressure and tackling of Langdon was exceptional.
LANGDON!
— AFL (@AFL) June 3, 2018
You'll be seeing that one all over #Torched this week #AFLCrowsGiants pic.twitter.com/tuwWYiv9C0
At 35, Shaun Burgoyne was the best in Hawthorn's win. Jesse Hogan was doing it all for Melbourne, Luke McDonald impressed me for North Melbourne and Bryce Gibbs nearly won the match for Adelaide. With the Crows' midfield decimated by injury, he's been crucial for them.