TEAM OF THE ROUND – ROUND 18, 2008
B: Brent Guerra (Hawthorn), Dustin Fletcher (Essendon), Tom Harley (Geelong)
HB: Andrew McLeod (Adelaide), Trent Croad (Hawthorn), Luke Hodge (Hawthorn)
C: Jimmy Bartel (Geelong), Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn), Joel Selwood (Geelong)
HF: Brad Johnson (Western Bulldogs), Lance Franklin (Hawthorn), Jarrad McVeigh (Sydney Swans)
F: Scott Welsh (Western Bulldogs), Matthew Lloyd (Essendon), Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle)
Foll: Drew Petrie (North Melbourne), Nathan van Berlo (Adelaide), Jordan Lewis (Hawthorn)
I/C: Luke McPharlin (Fremantle), Damien Peverill (Essendon), Jason Gram (St Kilda), Brad Moran (Adelaide)
Brent Guerra (Hawthorn) – Pivotal in his side's comprehensive win over Collingwood, Guerra provided great drive and purpose out of defence. He continually found space, hit targets by foot and finished with 28 disposals.
Dustin Fletcher (Essendon) – The champion Bomber played one of his best matches for the season, leading the way down back against the Demons. Fletcher finished with 21 disposals and took an equal game-high 11 marks.
Tom Harley (Geelong) – The Geelong skipper has been in fine, but underrated, form in recent weeks and he was again among his team's best against Richmond. His contested marking was a feature of his play, as was his excellent disposal efficiency.
HALF BACKS
Andrew McLeod (Adelaide) – Bounced back from a difficult period, compounded by a knee injury, to play one of his best matches of the season in Adelaide's win over Carlton. McLeod won 22 disposals and a game-high 10 rebound 50s.
Trent Croad (Hawthorn) – Hawthorn's defensive general continued his fine season with another crucial job, this time on key Collingwood forward Travis Cloke. Croad managed to keep the young Pie goalless.
Luke Hodge (Hawthorn) – Superb against Collingwood, Hodge displayed his slick skills from half-back and was a key component in the win. His pin-point accuracy, either by foot or hand, was on show as he amassed 32 disposals, 10 marks and five inside 50s.
Jimmy Bartel (Geelong) – Did his back-to-back Brownlow Medal chances no harm with a best-on-ground display against Richmond. Bartel won an equal game-high 32 disposals, laid eight tackles, sent the ball inside 50 on five occasions and kicked two goals.
Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn) – The captain played one of his best matches for the season, collecting 35 disposals against the Magpies. His clearance work and drive into attack was outstanding, resulting in game-high clearances (eight) and inside 50s (nine).
Joel Selwood (Geelong) – The young-gun has taken his game to another level in the second half of the season, averaging almost 31 disposals per match since round 12. Against the Tigers on Saturday night, he starred with 32 touches and seven inside 50s.
Brad Johnson (Western Bulldogs) – Had a fine duel with opposition skipper Craig Bolton, but ultimately took the points with four goals, giving him eight majors for the season against the Swans. He also won 19 disposals and 10 marks.
Lance Franklin (Hawthorn) – The competition's most exciting player turned it on against the Pies with a stunning best-on-ground eight-goal performance from 14 scoring shots. He now has 85 goals for the season, five ahead of Carlton's Brendan Fevola.
Jarrad McVeigh (Sydney Swans) – Produced one of the more remarkable performances of the round, with a career-best six goals and 26 disposals from the midfield. Although he was part of a losing side, he was clearly best-on-ground against the Bulldogs.
FORWARDS
Scott Welsh (Western Bulldogs) – The veteran forward and first-year Bulldog kicked five majors against the Swans in the nation's capital, playing a crucial role in his team's win. It was the 12th time in his career he has booted five or more goals in an AFL match.
Matthew Lloyd (Essendon) – Best-on-ground against Melbourne with a stunning eight-goal haul. It was his best effort since his eight goals in round one, 2006. Lloyd also took a classic hanger – potentially mark of the year – over Demon Matthew Warnock.
Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle) – The Freo skipper led from the front, enabling retiring teammate Shaun McManus to have a fitting farewell against West Coast. Pavlich booted four goals and collected 22 disposals to win the Ross Glendinning Medal as best-on-ground.
FOLLOWERS
Drew Petrie (North Melbourne) – Although North Melbourne's contribution was even across the board, the influence of the in-form big man during the final term was critical in the win over the Lions. He finished with 15 touches (10 contested) and 19 hit outs.
Nathan van Berlo (Adelaide) – The hard-working midfielder played statistically his finest match for the club, amassing a career-best 40 disposals against Carlton. He also won nine clearances, eight inside 50s and laid five tackles.
Jordan Lewis (Hawthorn) – One of several Hawthorn standouts against the Pies, Lewis was dominant in the midfield, winning the ball 38 times – a personal best. This included double-figure touches in three terms. He also gained eight inside 50s.
INTERCHANGE
Luke McPharlin (Fremantle) – The defender-turned-forward was instrumental in setting up Fremantle's derby win over West Coast with three goals and seven marks in the first term before finishing the day with five majors, nine grabs and 21 disposals.
Damien Peverill (Essendon) – Outstanding in the final quarter against Melbourne, racking up 14 of his 30 disposals, the midfielder showed he could still cut it at this level after his career came under the microscope earlier in the year.
Jason Gram (St Kilda) – Achieved career-best numbers against Port Adelaide, winning 34 disposals – the most for the game – in a top midfield display. Gram also kicked two goals, including the match-winner in St Kilda's come-from-behind win.
Brad Moran (Adelaide) – In just his sixth AFL match – and third appearance for the Crows – the former Roo played a beauty against Carlton. He booted four goals, including three in the third term, topping Adelaide's goalkicking for the day.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the clubs or the AFL.
