'ACCOR"

GEELONG secured up the minor premiership, Richmond a double chance and the Western Bulldogs a finals spot in round 23, and all have been rewarded with three players each in the Team of the Week, brought to you by AccorHotels.

The Cats made light work of Carlton at GMHBA Stadium, with Patrick Dangerfield rounding out a superb finish to his season with 34 disposals and four goals.

Gary Ablett (28 touches and three goals) and Tom Stewart (27 and seven marks) were also influential.

Finals Pathway

The Bulldogs ran the legs off Adelaide and it was the usual midfield suspects that did the damage, led by Marcus Bontempelli (31 disposals, 10 tackles and one goal) and Jack Macrae (36 and nine clearances), while Bailey Dale was also selected for his five-goal haul.

And while Dustin Martin grabbed many of the plaudits for Richmond's win over Brisbane, backline duo Nick Vlastuin and Dylan Grimes deserve much of the credit.

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Despite Carlton's heavy defeat at Geelong, Blue Jacob Weitering could hold his head high, locking down the fullback spot by keeping Tom Hawkins to just seven disposals and no goals. Grimes was magnificent in nullifying dangerous Lion Charlie Cameron, while Vlastuin racked up seven intercept marks to control the air. Connor McKenna (35 disposals and 710m) was at his electric best off half-back in Essendon's loss, while Darcy Byrne-Jones continued a strong season for Port and Stewart enhanced his strong reputation against the Blues.

 

The ruck was possibly the hardest spot in the team to select, with Max Gawn edging Brodie Grundy. Gawn was sublime against in-form Todd Goldstein, racking up 26 disposals (20 contested) and kicking three goals in Melbourne's narrow loss. In the same game Jared Polec gained in excess of 700m from his 29 disposals and two goals, while Scott Pendlebury (33) was exquisite in the Magpies' win. Lion Lachie Neale racked up video-game numbers against Richmond, finishing with 51 touches (25 contested) and 14 clearances, while Sydney's Josh Kennedy (32 and two goals) ensured his great mates Jarrad McVeigh and Kieren Jack went out winners. Dangerfield might have clinched the Brownlow Medal with a certain three votes against Carlton.

 

Not surprisingly Jeremy Cameron was the first forward picked for his 9.5 against Gold Coast that wrapped up the Coleman Medal. Hawk Tim O'Brien's stunning four-goal haul at Optus Stadium earned him a deserved spot, while Dale and Jamie Elliott (18 touches, nine marks and 3.4) were clever both in the air and on the ground. Ablett was back to his early-season best, while Bontempelli ensured the Dogs would play finals.

 

A couple of superstars headline the bench this week, with Martin (21 and two goals) explosive against the Lions and Patrick Cripps (35 and 13 clearances) at his bulldozing best against the Cats. Macrae made the team for the fourth time in five weeks and Chad Wingard (28 disposals and seven clearances) played one of his best games in Hawthorn colours.