HB: Paul Duffield (Fremantle), Sam Gilbert (St Kilda), Greg Broughton (Fremantle)
C: Luke Hodge (Hawthorn), Andrew Carrazzo (Carlton), Jared Brennan (Brisbane Lions)
HF: Shannon Byrnes (Geelong), Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda), Alan Didak (Collingwood)
F: Eddie Betts (Carlton), Jonathan Brown (Brisbane Lions), Paul Medhurst (Collingwood)
FOLL: Aaron Sandilands (Fremantle), Michael Barlow (Fremantle), Kane Cornes (Port Adelaide)
I/C: Dane Swan (Collingwood), Jimmy Bartel (Geelong), Joel Selwood (Geelong), Matthew Kreuzer (Carlton),
BACKS
Heath Shaw (Collingwood) - Reinforced why he is one of the best swooping defenders in the game, notching up a round-high 11 rebounds against the Western Bulldogs. Also had 36 disposals.
Luke McPharlin (Fremantle) - Displayed great poise and leadership with a career-best 29 disposals and 14 marks against Adelaide. The 28-year-old also had a game-high 13 effective kicks.
Harry O'Brien (Collingwood) - Staked his claim for best-on-ground honours with a brilliant mix of offence and defence. Claimed 25 touches, yet it was his selfless play - his spoiling, dash out of defence and ability to put his body on the line - that caught the eye.
HALF BACKS
Paul Duffield (Fremantle) - Looks set to build on his break-out 2009 season claiming 32 disposals, two shy of his personal best. Duffield managed to quell Crow Richard Douglas and produce a fine blend of contested and uncontested possessions.
Sam Gilbert (St Kilda) - Continued on from where he left off last year, notching up 21 disposals and taking a match-high 10 marks against the Sydney Swans. He also took on extra responsibility in the absence of injured defender teammate Sam Fisher.
CENTRES
Luke Hodge (Hawthorn) - The Hawk leader was best-on-ground against a disappointing Melbourne, accumulating 34 disposals. Hodge had the most contested possessions (11), uncontested possessions (22) and effective kicks (17) for the match.
Andrew Carrazzo (Carlton) - In the absence of skipper Chris Judd, the stand-in captain celebrated his 100th AFL match with a beauty, amassing a round-high 40 disposals in the season-opener against Richmond.
Jared Brennan (Brisbane Lions) - The talent-laden utility was best-on-ground against the West Coast Eagles, collecting a career-best 31 disposals. His game-high 14 contested possessions and a raking goal early in the final term were among the highlights.
HALF-FORWARDS
Shannon Byrnes (Geelong Cats) - Played a pivotal role in Geelong's come-from-behind win over Essendon, booting two of his three goals in the final term, after the Cats were down by 24 points in the third. Had 26 touches and a match-high 10 marks.
Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda) - The superstar started the season with a bang, booting four goals in a best-on-ground display. His fourth major mid-way during the final quarter ended a three-goal run from the Swans and was enough to help the Saints hang on.
Alan Didak (Collingwood) - Kicked four goals in a fine display, including two in the opening term when the Pies jumped the Dogs by 30 points. Didak also claimed 22 disposals and five inside 50s.
FORWARDS
Eddie Betts (Carlton) - In a new-look Fevola-less Carlton forward line, the diminutive Betts stood tall, booting three goals. But it was his contested work - he had an equal game-high 11 - and his defensive efforts inside-50 that were noticeable.
Jonathan Brown (Brisbane Lions) - The powerhouse skipper started life with Fev in brilliant fashion, eclipsing the boom recruit with five goals. Commanding as always, Brown finished with 14 marks and 22 touches.
Paul Medhurst (Collingwood) - After a frustrating 2009 due to an injury-interrupted pre-season, the exciting small forward bounced back to the type of form that saw him a 2008 All-Australian with four goals and some fine aerial marking.
FOLLOWERS
Aaron Sandilands (Fremantle) - The 2008/09 All-Australian showed no shows of letting up, dominating with 33 hit outs - 23 more than rival Jon Griffin. He also had 21 disposals.
Michael Barlow (Fremantle) - Produced a great first game, notching up 33 disposals - the best on debut according to Champion Data statistics since 1992. Barlow also booted two goals, including the match-sealer in a day to remember.
Kane Cornes (Port Adelaide) - Despite being dropped from the leadership group, the 2004 premiership player showed he is still one of the Power's most integral players with a best-on-ground 39-disposal performance against North Melbourne.
INTERCHANGE
Dane Swan (Collingwood) - Coming off a record 769 disposals in 2009, Swan started the season with claiming 31 touches and kicking three goals in a first-class performance. He also took 10 marks and had five clearances.
Jimmy Bartel (Geelong Cats) - The 2007 Brownlow Medallist racked up 29 disposals and finished with 12 contested possessions - the most for the Cats. He also chipped in with two majors.
Joel Selwood (Geelong Cats) - The 21-year-old lived up to his hard-at-the-ball reputation with nine tackles and nine contested possessions from 23 touches.
Matthew Kreuzer (Carlton) - Achieved equal career-best hit outs (25) and showed further progression in his game. Kreuzer finished with 16 touches, 10 of which were contested.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
