HB: Bryce Gibbs (Carlton), Ben Stratton (Hawthorn), Brendon Goddard (St Kilda)
C: Leigh Montagna (St Kilda), Brent Stanton (Essendon), Dan Hannebery (Sydney Swans)
HF: Kepler Bradley (Fremantle), James Podsiadly (Geelong), Dale Thomas (Collingwood)
F: Jeff Garlett (Carlton), Jack Riewoldt (Richmond), Lindsay Thomas (North Melbourne)
FOLL: Shane Mumford (Sydney Swans), Shane Tuck (Richmond), Luke Power (Brisbane Lions)
I/C: Gary Ablett (Geelong), Trent Cotchin (Richmond), Ben Hudson (Western Bulldogs), Nick Dal Santo (St Kilda)
BACKS
Chris Newman (Richmond) - The Tigers skipper led from the front all day. He put his body on the line time and time again, laying six tackles and going back with the flight of the ball when it mattered most. Also had 23 disposals, using his long left boot to full advantage.
Chris Tarrant (Fremantle) - Tarrant nullified North forward David Hale, who did manage 12 touches but failed to hit the scoreboard. Tarrant, on the other hand, took a speccy and further enhanced his reputation as one of the finest full-backs in the AFL.
Andrew Walker (Carlton) - The Blues look a much more balanced team with Walker streaming from defence. Walker had 29 touches, eight marks, and drove the ball inside 50 on five occasions to cause plenty of headaches for the Eagles.
HALF-BACKS
Bryce Gibbs (Carlton) - One of the best users of the footy in the game almost got leather poisoning as he earned a career-high 45 disposals. Set up numerous attacking raids, took 12 marks and kicked a goal as well.
Ben Stratton (Hawthorn) - Adam Goodes could have really hurt the Hawks early but this rapidly-improving defender’s job - especially in the second half - was a catalyst in Hawthorn’s win. Stratton wasn’t scared to leave his man and help out, showing he’s a player to watch.
Brendon Goddard (St Kilda) - Another night out for the star Saint. Perhaps the most dangerous boot in the game, Goddard had 29 touches at 93 per cent efficiency. He also managed to creep forward and snag a goal.
CENTRES
Leigh Montagna (St Kilda) - The man known as ‘Joey’ had a game to remember. Montagna had a career-best match collecting 38 disposals but, most tellingly, booting five wonderful goals.
Brent Stanton (Essendon) - As some question Essendon’s midfield talent, Stanton is really starting to blossom. He led the Bombers' charge against the Bulldogs with 16 contested possessions from 32 all up. His run was crucial for Matthew Knights’ team.
Dan Hannebery (Sydney Swans) - Watch the money come for this young gun in the NAB AFL Rising Star. Another superb outing as the young Swan rarely wasted a touch. Had 25 disposals and five inside-50s but his three goals put the punctuation mark on his display.
HALF-FORWARDS
Kepler Bradley (Fremantle) - As North Melbourne worried about Matthew Pavlich, Bradley ran amok. The versatile big man backed up his great game last week with another super effort in attack. He booted 4.1 from 21 possessions - 11 of which were contested.
James Podsiadly (Geelong) - Podsiadly again had Skilled Stadium in raptures as he marked and kicked beautifully. The fairytale shows no signs of ending as the mature-age Cat worked hard for his goals -11 of his possessions were contested - to post another five-goal haul at the Cattery.
Dale Thomas (Collingwood) - Thomas’ magnificent season continued as he broke through the 30-possession barrier for the first time in his career. He had 34 touches, booted 1.1 and laid three tackles in a stellar display.
FORWARDS
Jeff Garlett (Carlton) - Garlett won huge praise from coach Brett Ratten after his side’s win over the Eagles. The small forward had 14 disposals and booted two goals, but it was his pressure that set him apart. He had eight inside 50s and, more significantly, laid nine tackles to keep the Eagles on their toes all day.
Jack Riewoldt (Richmond) - Riewoldt’s 4.2 in the slop at AAMI Stadium was probably worth seven or eight goals on a dry day. Riewoldt seems to be getting better by the week. His soccer goal would have made Tim Cahill proud, while he also laid seven tackles to show he’s not simply thinking of the big sticks.
Lindsay Thomas (North Melbourne) - North didn’t have many winners but Thomas was outstanding. The role of small forward is tough but the left-footer managed 5.5 from 11 kicks - a superb return in a 10-goal loss.
FOLLOWERS
Shane Mumford (Sydney Swans) - Dominated against the Hawks and very nearly willed his team across the line. He had 42 hit-outs - several directly down the throat of teammates - but it was also his work ethic when the ball hit the turf that impressed. He had 13 contested possessions and laid six typically-aggressive tackles.
Shane Tuck (Richmond) - The maligned Tiger was magnificent in the slog at AAMI. Eighteen of his 31 disposals were contested, as well as having nine clearances and a staggering 13 tackles. Anyone with those numbers deserves a guernsey in the Team of the Week. And a drink.
Luke Power (Brisbane Lions) - The 250-gamer celebrated in style with a vintage performance in the Lions’ memorable win over Collingwood. Power helped himself to 35 disposals and booted a team-lifting goal in the final term to get his side over the line.
INTERCHANGE
Gary Ablett (Geelong) - His coach again might not have rated his game as highly as some, but he set up the win when the match was at its hottest. Had 13 first-term disposals, finished with 32 and booted two goals.
Trent Cotchin (Richmond) - Cotchin’s kicking was, as ever, a feature for the Tigers despite the atrocious conditions. He had 25 disposals (14 contested), drove the ball inside 50 on four occasions and also had six clearances.
Ben Hudson (Western Bulldogs) - The Bulldog probably broke even in his tap work against Essendon duo David Hille and Paddy Ryder. However Hudson’s 23 disposals, six marks and six tackles made him a more complete package when the ball hit the deck.
Nick Dal Santo (St Kilda) - The smooth-moving Saint gets the nod for the final spot, purely on the back of how well he used the ball against the Crows. Some may have got more of the footy in round 10, but most of Dal Santo’s 31 touches hit the mark. He also kicked two great goals in St Kida’s seventh win of the year.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
