With five rounds gone, the AFL is starting to take shape in 2015. Among the best performers from this week were some regulars and a few surprise packets.
Back Pocket: Jared Rivers (Geelong)
Rivers, along with Harry Taylor, combined for 27 marks and 46 disposals and were impossible to get past. Either could have been selected but Rivers finished the day with more kicks and a superior disposal efficiency.
Full-back: Alipate Carslile (Port Adelaide)
Once again withstood a barrage of inside 50s to beat his opponent. Despite the Crows having a round high 71 inside 50s, Carslile kept Taylor Walker to just 2 goals and 4 marks.
Back pocket: Tom Bugg (Greater Western Sydney)
Bugg was strong in a Giants defence that spent the entire game under siege. As the Giants go-to lockdown defender Tom Bugg was sent to Mark LeCras and kept the dangerous small forward goalless and to just 9 disposals – until he was subbed out in the last quarter.
Half-back flank: Bachar Houli (Richmond)
Along with Pittard, Oxley and Bob Murphy, Houli was one of a number of half-back flankers to dominate this week. His 33 disposals elevated him above the others as he also had 8 rebound 50s and 5 running bounces.
Centre-half back: Jack Frost (Collingwood)
Frost was exceptional against Lachie Henderson in the Pies win over Carlton. While he did not collect much of the ball, he was able to prevent the Carlton spearhead from collecting a possession after he kicked 5 the week before.
Half-back flank: Adam Saad (Western Bulldogs)
Saad has been just about the only bright light to Gold Coast’s season so far, with the new recruit an inspiration off of half-back. His run and carry has been what the Suns have missed and he was one of their best on Saturday with 26 disposals at 81 per cent efficiency and a season high 9 running bounces.
Wing: Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)
Pendlebury is the AFL’s king of consistency, collecting at least 29 disposals in his last 4 matches. Friday’s performance was his best as he kicked 32 touches at an astonishing disposal efficiency of 91 per cent. He got on the scoreboard too, with 2 goals and a round high 4 goal assists as part of his 10 score involvements for the game.
Centre: Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide)
The Showdown Medalist appeared almost untouchable in traffic as he collected 20 contested possessions and 11 clearances. He was a class above, finishing with a disposal efficiency of 78 per cent despite almost two-thirds of his possessions being contested, kicking a goal and giving off 2 others.
Wing: Harley Bennell (Gold Coast)
As a result of collecting 26 uncontested disposals, Bennell has been picked as the winger in the Team of the Week. With ball-in-hand Bennell seems a class above as he glides through the middle of the ground, pushing the Suns forward. He had 7 marks, 2 running bounces, 6 inside 50s, 2 goals and 3 goal assists to finish second best on ground behind Charlie Dixon.
Half-forward flank: Dan Hannebery (Sydney)
Hannebery has rebounded better than any from the Swans grand final humiliation and collected 30+ disposals again. He finished with round highs in disposals and inside 50s.
Centre-half forward: Josh J. Kennedy (West Coast)
Josh Kennedy continued his form against the lower ranked sides by kicking 6 goals against the Giants. He pulled in an equal round high 6 marks inside 50 despite being opposed to Giants Co-Captain Phil Davis for the game.
Half-forward flank: Dayne Beams (Brisbane)
Beams was one of few Lions to perform well in the Q-Clash with 31 disposals and 2 goals.
Forward pocket: Eddie Betts (Adelaide)
Betts kicked 5 goals, despite some poor kicking in the front half by the Crows, in a solo performance that kept Adelaide in the game. Betts was elusive as ever and proved too much for Jonas to handle.
Full-forward: Charlie Dixon (Gold Coast)
Dixon was the best performing forward of the round after kicking 6 goals from 19 possessions. Of his 19 possessions 15 were contested as he used his large frame at ground level. He finished with 7 marks (2 contested and 4 inside 50).
Forward pocket: Jack Gunston (Hawthorn)
Despite kicking 5 goals and terrorising Kyle Cheeney, Schulz was outperformed by Jack Gunston this round. Gunston was a presence across the field, collecting 23 disposals and taking 13 marks in hard running display. He finished with 4.3 as part of his 14 score involvements.
Ruck: Matthew Lobbe (Port Adelaide)
Lobbe dominated a proven opponent in Jacobs to finish with 38 hitouts. Worked in tandem with Ryder to become a major headache to Walsh.
Ruck rover: Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide)
In the battle of the midfields in Sunday’s showdown, Dangerfield did all he could to win it for his side but lacked support. He finished with 36 touches (21 contested) and a massive 14 clearances (9 from the centre). He tackled strongly as well, finishing with 7 tackles. In the last quarter, when the Crows needed a hero he was there with 12 possessions, more than any other, and as such, is named captain of the side. Also had an equal round high 11 hard-ball gets.
Rover: David Armitage (St Kilda)
Armitage was best on ground as the Bombers were nearly dealt an upset loss. He collected more possessions (35), clearances (11) and tackles (8) than any other on the field as he willed almost willed the Saints over the line. He collected 17 contested possessions, but still hit a target 83 per cent of the time.
Interchange: Nat Fyfe (Fremantle)
Fyfe was best on ground again after collecting 30 disposals (18 contested) and 8 clearances. He was dominant in the air as well, taking 8 marks and a round high 5 contested marks.
If his form continues, he is a certainty to win the Brownlow.
Interchange: Dylan Shiel (Greater Western Sydney)
The young Giant has continued his phenomenal form with another 36 disposals despite the Giants copping a flogging at the hands of West Coast. Whoever has Shiel on their list next year will be a very lucky club.
Interchange: Liam Picken (Western Bulldogs)
A workman like effort from Picken as he collected 33 disposals, 11 clearances and 12 tackles against a strong Swans midfield. Along with Marcus Bontempelli and Robert Murphy, he is one of a few Dogs that could have been selected this week.
Interchange: Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)
Once again there were many strong performances this round that could have warranted selection, but Boak’s effort in the Showdown gets him his spot. He was strong in the contest as well as in space as the Port Adelaide run and carry disassembled Adelaide’s backline. Finished with 33 disposals.
Round 5:
B: Rivers, A Carslile, Bugg
HB: Houli, Frost, A Saad
C: Pendlebury, Gray, Bennell
HF: Hannebery, JJ Kennedy, D Beams
F: Betts, Dixon, Gunston
FOLL: Lobbe, Dangerfield (c), Armitage
INT: Fyfe, Shiel, Picken, Boak
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