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Another weekend of great footy has come and gone, so who makes our Team of the Round?
Back Pocket: Robbie Tarrant (North Melbourne)
It was a big weekend for the full-backs with a number of exceptional performances. Tarrant was as impressive as any, restricting the hulking Tom Hawkins to a lone goal.
He was no one-trick pony, running off the Geelong spearhead to collect 23 disposals and nine marks (two contested). Michael Talia and Cale Hooker were both strong in defence and could have easily made the team. Josh Gibson was good again with 29 touches and 11 one-percenters.
Full-back: Alipate Carlile (Port Adelaide)
Carlile pulled out the performance of the round, keeping reigning All-Australian Jarryd Roughead goalless in the Saturday night clash. This effort is even more impressive considering the Hawks had a massive 79 inside 50s.
Back Pocket: Nick Smith (Sydney)
Nick Smith has continued on from his 2014 form, in which he was selected as an All-Australian, with a strong start to 2015. On Saturday, he kept dangerous Dockers small forward Michael Walters goalless in a strong defensive effort. He also collected 19 disposals and a team-high five rebound 50s.
Half-Back Flank: Paul Seedsman (Collingwood)
He was outstanding for the Magpies throughout the Anzac Day clash. His class and precise kicking shone in the wet conditions. It was this kicking that separated the two sides with the Bombers struggling to deliver the ball inside 50 and Seedsman precise in each of the 14 times he delivered the ball inside 50. He finished the day with 31 touches and more metres gained than any other competitor.
Centre-Half Back: Luke McPharlin (Fremantle)
McPharlin, stiff to miss in each of the previous three weeks, took the points against Buddy on the weekend, restricting him to just two goals. He allowed Buddy to travel up the field, giving the Swan seven marks, but was tight inside 50, allowing him just two inside the arc. Took nine marks himself for the game.
Half-Back Flank: Robert Murphy (Western Bulldogs)
Murphy was phenomenal for the Dogs with his run and carry off half-back slicing through the Crows’ press. He gave run from behind all afternoon, turning the Crows turnovers into Dogs scores. He finished with 25 disposals (17 kicks) and four bounces in a strong outing.
Wing: Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)
Boak was prolific throughout the game and an important part of the midfield that dominated Hawthorn to set up an 8-1 goal lead in the first term. His agility is unrivalled and it allows him to move through tight gaps and get clean disposal from the stoppages. This was evident with his eight clearances and 15 contested possessions at a disposal efficiency of 90 per cent. There is no doubt that he is one of the best captains in the competition.
Centre: Dylan Shiel (Greater Western Sydney)
Sheil is setting himself up for a big pay rise at the end of the year when he falls out of contract after another stand-out performance. His ability to break free from the contest and deliver the ball with precision was almost Judd-like as he finished with a round-high 39 disposals (16 contested) at a disposal efficiency of 74 per cent.
Wing: Isaac Smith (Hawthorn)
Smith was vital to the Hawks’ comeback against the Power where they came within eight points after trailing by 58 points in the second quarter. His precise kicking and delivery inside 50 (10 inside 50s for the game) were what the Hawks needed after poor kicking from the entire team in the first half. Two third-quarter goals kept the Hawks in the game.
Half-Forward Flank: Nat Fyfe (Fremantle)
Fyfe will again feature in the Brownlow voting after collecting 27 disposals and having three shots on goal. He continued his push to be the number one player in the AFL as he was unstoppable in the stoppages again. He collected 16 contested possessions and eight clearances.
Centre-Half Forward: Jeremy Cameron (Greater Western Sydney)
Wayward kicking prevented this from being Cameron’s best performance of his career as he kicked an inaccurate 4.6. It was also the first time he collected more than 20 disposals as he worked hard up the ground, working over his talented Suns opponents.
Half-Forward Flank: Luke Dahlhaus (Western Bulldogs)
Dahlhaus had a very good game for the Dogs as a half-forward who moved into the midfield. His pressure was phenomenal, his run and quick ball movement superb and presence forward of centre handy. He collected 27 disposals, had three shots on goal and an equal round-high three goal assists. Nudges out Shane Edwards because of a more rounded display.
Forward Pocket: Jake Stringer (Western Bulldogs)
There were very few small forwards who stood out with three of Eddie Betts’ four goals coming in the last quarter. As such, Stringer has been selected as a fourth tall due to his mobility and ability to play on the forward flank or as a small forward. It was this that caused headaches for the Crows as he kicked six goals in just 58 per cent of the game.
Full-Forward: Cam McCarthy (Greater Western Sydney)
McCarthy had the best game of his short career, kicking five goals against the Suns. He led up the ground strongly, finishing with 18 touches, but was also dangerous near goals as he had 12 score involvements. He had as many marks inside 50 as Jay Schulz and Lachie Henderson combined and as a result, gets named at full-forward.
Forward Pocket: Lachie Henderson (Carlton)
Toss of the coin between Henderson and Schulz as both kicked five but had limited influence in the air with six marks between them. Henderson gets the nod simply because Schulz had just eight touches.
Ruck: Sam Jacobs (Adelaide)
One of two Adelaide players to actually rock up on Sunday, Jacobs was a colossus in the ruck. He dominated Ayce Cordy to finish with 43 whitest. His 15 to advantage were more than any other for the round. Jacobs finished with 18 touches and six marks in an all-round display.
Ruck Rover: Scott Thompson (Adelaide)
The only Adelaide midfielder to capitalise on Jacobs’ ruck work, Thompson too was unstoppable against the Dogs. None could match him one-on-one as he finished with nine centre clearances, the highest total for any player this year, and 21 contested possessions (38 in total). Also chipped in for a goal.
Rover: Marc Murphy (Carlton)
Murphy was given best on ground for his 34-disposal, 10-clearance game which was lorded as a ‘captain’s game’ by the coach. Threw off the Newnes tag and was dominant at every contest he attended. His contested game was perfect for the ‘cake tin’ ground and he willed his side over the line after being behind for two and a half quarters.
Interchange: Dan Hannebery (Sydney)
Hannebery was again impressive with 31 disposals against the Dockers. Was incredibly classy again was he finished with a disposal efficiency of 74 per cent despite collecting 16 contested possessions. Was a key factor in the Swans’ comeback against the Dockers.
Interchange: Patrick Cripps (Carlton)
Cripps was on par with his skipper, using his big frame (193cm) to dominate the stoppages. He collected 23 contested possessions and had eight clearances as the Saints were left without an answer to the Blues duo. He defended well at the stoppages too, finishing with an equal game high 11 tackles.
Interchange: Joel Selwood (Geelong)
Selwood again played a lone hand in the midfield for the Cats, finishing with 29 disposals and 10 clearances despite Goldstein’s dominance in the ruck. It would be a very sorry Geelong without their skipper.
Interchange: Nathan Jones (Melbourne)
Another captain to stand up this round. Roos described it as the best game of his career with Jones’ selfless attitude and class shining in the wet conditions. He collected 24 disposals, 14 contested, but it was his captaincy that elevates him above others.
B: Tarrant, A Carslile, N Smith
HB: Seedsman, L McPharlin, R Murphy
C: Boak (c), D Shiel, I Smith
HF: Fyfe, J Cameron, Dahlhaus
F: Stringer, McCarthy, L Henderson
FOLL: Jacobs, S Thompson, M Murphy
INT: D Hannebery, P Cripps, J Selwood, N Jones
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