HB: Brendon Goddard (St Kilda), Josh Gibson (Hawthorn), Corey Enright (Geelong)
C: Travis Boak (Port Adelaide), Michael Rischitelli (Brisbane Lions), Paul Chapman (Geelong)
HF: Trent Dennis-Lane (Sydney Swans), Jonathan Brown (Brisbane Lions), Gary Ablett (Geelong)
F: Jay Schulz (Port Adelaide), Jack Riewoldt (Richmond), Justin Koschitzke (St Kilda)
FOLL: Matthew Leuenberger (Brisbane Lions), Shaun Burgoyne (Hawthorn), Leigh Montagna (St Kilda),
I/C: Kieren Jack (Sydney Swans), Nick Dal Santo (St Kilda), Alan Didak (Collingwood), Andrew Swallow (North Melbourne)
BACKS
Ash McGrath (Brisbane Lions) - McGrath was terrific again on Sunday, nullifying the Dons’ smaller forwards and providing drive across half back. Against the Bombers he had 23 touches, four tackles and a couple of inside 50s, but it was his run and penetrative kicking that set up the Lions.
Scott Thompson (North Melbourne) - Thompson is getting better and better at running off his man. This season he has been able to not only negate but also win the ball and provide attack from the back half. On Sunday he limited Eagle Josh Kennedy’s impact, and had 21 possessions - including a nice goal.
Graham Johncock (Adelaide) - The Crows’ backline, minus Nathan Bock, performed well against Collingwood and it was their rebounding maestro who set the tone early in the piece. Johncock finished the night with 27 disposals at more than 80 per cent efficiency, but it was his ability to cut off Magpie thrusts across the middle of the ground and at half forward that made him so valuable.
HALF-BACKS
Brendon Goddard (St Kilda) - Rebounded from defence, tackled ferociously, great clearance work around the stoppages, a couple of goals ... and a contender for mark of the year. He finished with 29 touches and 10 marks, but it was his second-term hanger on teammate Sam Fisher most will remember.
Josh Gibson (Hawthorn) - Gibson played his best match for Hawthorn. The Hawks didn’t face a lot of resistance, but the former Kanga’s form was a highlight as they prepare for September. He racked up a heap of the footy across half back, gathering 34 touches and nine marks to show why his new club was so keen to acquire him late last year.
Corey Enright (Geelong) - Enright started well on Friday night against the Blues but showed his real class when the Cats were up against it in the third term, when he gathered nine of his 25 possessions.
CENTRES
Travis Boak (Port Adelaide) - Boak showed all his talent against Melbourne at AAMI Stadium on Sunday, collecting 22 touches, seven inside 50s and kicking 3.1.
Michael Rischitelli (Brisbane Lions) - Rumour has dogged Rischitelli this year as speculation persists about where he may be in 2011, but the midfielder didn’t let that bother him against the Bombers, racking up 28 touches, six inside 50s, six clearances, four tackles and two goals.
Paul Chapman (Geelong) - Chappy spent a bit more time in the middle against the Blues and relished it. There are few better kicks in the game, and he used the majority of his 33 possessions well. He also laid six tackles, had four inside 50s and seven clearances to be the most-effective ball winner on the ground.
HALF-FORWARDS
Trent Dennis-Lane (Sydney Swans) - Dennis-Lane has good hands, moves well and kicks it just as well. On Saturday night he proved a difficult match-up for a Bulldogs backline comprising some of the best and more versatile customers in the game. Dennis-Lane booted 4.0 and had a hand in a couple of others to provide some spark in attack.
Jonathan Brown (Brisbane Lions) - The burly forward said after his 200th AFL match that he “certainly didn’t want to play like a busted arse” in his milestone match. Well, we don’t think 25 touches, 16 marks and 4.6 in a convincing win qualifies as playing that way. The Lions skipper did what he does best against the Dons - tore them a new one.
Gary Ablett (Geelong) - It was evident from early on it wasn’t going to be Gaz’s night in the middle. With Andrew Carrazzo wearing him tight and doing a super job, Ablett pushed forward and had a huge influence in the second half. He kicked four, assisted in another couple and turned what looked like being a pretty sour night into a memorable one.
FORWARDS
Jay Schulz (Port Adelaide) - The rejuvenated Power forward may have only had seven kicks for the match, but when five of them go through the big sticks you’ve had a fair day out. Port Adelaide got home by 29 points, so Schulz’s contribution played a huge part in his team winning. The former Tiger managed his haul with what appeared a dodgy hammy, as well, making his output all the more meritorious.
Jack Riewoldt (Richmond)) - All but sealed his first Coleman Medal on the back of his super seven-goal effort against the Saints on Saturday. His side may not have got the four points, but he did at least win the Ian Stewart Medal for his game. One-on-one and isolated, he was simply too good for Sam Fisher or Jason Blake and deserved his haul.
Justin Koschitzke (St Kilda) - St Kilda coach Ross Lyon played down Kosi’s performance after the match, saying he had been happy with his big man’s effort all year. That may be the case, but a bag of goals does wonders for the confidence. Koschitzke looked better than he has in weeks as he led and marked with purpose and kicked majors at important times for his team, finishing with 5.1 from 13 touches and seven grabs.
FOLLOWERS
Matthew Leuenberger (Brisbane Lions) - Leuenberger gets the nod for the ruck spot after helping set up his team in the first-half demolition of Essendon. He rucked well against Bomber David Hille, but it was at ground level and around the ground where he was really able to exert an influence. He had 15 touches in the first half, finished the match with 19 and laid eight tackles to have a big say on the outcome.
Shaun Burgoyne (Hawthorn) - Alastair Clarkson said earlier this year that Burgoyne would get better as the season went on. In round 21 against Freo, the former Port star showed he was hotting up by gathering 37 touches and booting four goals in his most impressive display yet for Hawthorn. He also had three inside 50s and four clearances, and looks to be hitting his straps at just the right time.
Leigh Montagna (St Kilda) - Montagna proved a massive headache for Richmond. Coach Damien Hardwick admitted his midfielders may have become confused as to who was supposed to be running with the hard-running Saints, which may account for his 42 touches. ‘Joey’ had 16 in the first term. He ended up with 11 clearances, four inside 50s and a goal.
INTERCHANGE
Kieren Jack (Sydney Swans) - Jack is making the transition from pretty good tagger to very good ball winner, in his own right. With Adam Cooney out of the game early, Jack went about hurting the Dogs on his own. He finished the night with 25 touches, nine clearances, five inside 50s and two goals to be arguably the best afield in his side’s memorable win.
Nick Dal Santo (St Kilda) - Dal Santo seemed to spend a bit more time forward of the centre but still finished with 36 touches - including 12 contested - as well as six inside 50s and four clearances. Two goals capped a solid afternoon’s work.
Alan Didak (Collingwood) - Didak provided some sparkle on a night that was a real struggle for the Pies. Collingwood finally got home against Adelaide and ‘Dids’ played a big part in that, his 24 touches and eight inside 50s a significant factor in Mick Malthouse’s side being able to sweep home at the finish. Didak booted a crucial goal in the final term and assisted in a couple of others earlier to prove how dangerous he can be.
Andrew Swallow (North Melbourne) - All the attention may have been on ‘Boomer’ Harvey but Swallow showed just what a valuable asset he’s become to the Kangas, accumulating another 27 possessions - mostly on the bottom of packs - and booting three goals to drive the engine room for North. Fourteen of his touches were won the hard way, while he laid nine tackles in a typically dour display.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
