Another week of football has gone by and as usual there were some very impressive performances.
In the rolling Team of the Year, Chad Wingard replaces Marc LeCras on the half-forward flank as one of the two small forwards and Easton Wood regains his position on the bench at the expense of Marley Williams.
Back Pocket: Sean Dempster (St Kilda)
Playing as a third tall defender Dempster was able to blanket Jay Schulz, having just one goal kicked on him, while also provide an option out of defence with 21 disposals and 10 marks. Most impressively he was able to take five intercept marks, the equal second most for the round, for a total of 9 intercept possessions.
Full-Back: Steven May (Gold Coast)
May was vital in his team’s draw with West Coast, restricting Coleman Medal leader Josh Kennedy to just 2 goals. May had a round high 12 one percenters and conceded just 6 possessions and 3 marks to Kennedy.
Back Pocket: Nick Smith (Sydney)
Nick Smith did a terrific job on Eddie Betts, restricting the small forward to a single goal and 6 kicks. He also had 18 possessions and 6 marks.
Half-Back Flank: Dane Rampe (Sydney)
Rampe was one of many Swans to dominate the Crows with 32 possessions off of the half-back flank. Rampe cleaned up in the back half with 9 rebound 50s and 625m gained. His ball use was clean, at a disposal efficiency of 84 per cent and he also had 6 one-percenters in a balanced performance.
Centre-Half Back: Alex Rance (Richmond)
Rance was superb on Jarryd Roughead in the Tigers important win over the ‘unbeatable’ Hawks. Roughead went scoreless against Rance and most of his 15 possessions were found in the midfield.
Half-Back Flank: Jake Johannisen (Western Bulldogs)
Johannisen’s run and carry was elite on the weekend with a massive 814m gained from 26 possessions. He sent the ball inside 50 8 times and also kicked a goal.
Wing: Dan Hannebery (Sydney)
The best on ground in a big win over the Crows, Hannebery collected 40 possessions and 3 goals. The Crows could not match his hard running as he took 10 marks and collected 30 uncontested possessions.
Centre: Bernie Vince (Melbourne)
Vince was extraordinary in the Demons drought-breaking win over Collingwood with 30 possessions and 3 goals. Vince was the class that the Melbourne midfield needed, rarely wasting a disposal, and he also assisted in a goal.
Wing: Stephen Hill (Fremantle)
Stephen Hill was the dominant winger for the third time in 4 weeks with another strong performance for the Dockers. He collected 32 possessions, gained 531m for his team and also had 7 clearances.
Half-Forward Flank: Jack Ziebell (North Melbourne)
Ziebell was the best on ground in his side’s win over Carlton with 26 possessions. Ziebell was as damaging in the midfield (13 contested possessions, 6 clearances and 503m gained) as he was forward (6 inside 50s and 2.2) in a strong performance.
Centre-Half Forward: Tom Lynch (Gold Coast)
He will be remembered for the match-saving goal with 4 seconds to go in the game, but Lynch was terrific throughout the entire game. He threw himself at every contest and finished with 4 goals and 3 contested marks.
Half-Forward Flank: Brett Deledio (Richmond)
Deledio was the difference between the two teams with his class in the forward line. He kicked 3 important first quarter goals as he steered the Tigers to an early lead. He finished with 4 for the game to go 18 possessions.
Forward Pocket: Chad Wingard (Port Adelaide)
Wingard continued his stunning form with another 4 goals against St Kilda. He also had 15 possessions and must be considered the number one small forward in the competition right now.
Full-Forward: Josh Walker (Geelong)
Walker kicked a career high 5 goals from 15 possessions in a strong marking display.
Forward Pocket: Stewart Crameri (Western Bulldogs)
Crameri kicked a career high 7 goals against his former team. Crameri also collected 19 possessions as the Bombers could not find a match for his unique combination of size and mobility.
Ruck: Ivan Maric (Richmond)
Big Ivan dominated the two Hawthorn ruckman in the ruck and in the air. Marc had 31 hit-outs but more importantly 5 contested marks (a round high) and 14 possessions.
Ruck Rover: Matt Priddis (West Coast)
Priddis once again capitalised on Naitanui’s superb ruck work to collect 34 possessions and 12 clearances. He collected half of his possessions in a contested situation and when he didn’t have the ball, he tackles with vigour, finishing with 7 tackles.
Rover: Josh P Kennedy (Sydney)
Josh Kennedy dominated the Crows midfield with 32 possessions and 2 goals. He collected 13 contested possessions, the most of any midfielder on the ground, and still used the ball at 78per cent.
Interchange: Joel Selwood (Geelong)
Selwood was back to his best for the Cats with 27 possessions, 2 goals and 11 tackles. Selwood was classy in space with a disposal efficiency of 85 per cent, 579m gained and 6 score assists (second for the round).
Interchange: Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide)
Gray put an average start to the game behind him to dominate the St Kilda midfield with his agility and awareness. He collected 37 possessions and 12 clearances (a massive 8 from the centre) as the Saints couldn’t get a hand on him.
Interchange: Shaun Higgins (North Melbourne)
Higgins was just shaded for best on ground honours by Ziebell with 31 possessions and 2 goals. He was again the class forward of centre that the Roos were looking at the end of last year.
Interchange: Easton Wood (Western Bulldogs)
Easton Wood was again dominant across half-back for the Western Bulldogs with 20 possessions and 10 marks. He took 5 intercept marks, equal second for the round, including a mark of the year contender.
Team of the Round
B: S Dempster, S May, N Smith
HB: D Rampe, A Rance, J Johannisen
C: D Hannebery, B Vince, S Hill
HF: J Ziebell, T Lynch, B Deledio
F: C Wingard, J Walker, S Crameri
FOLL: I Maric, M Priddis, JP Kennedy
INT: J Selwood, T Boak, S Higgins, E WoodTeam of the Season
B: M Hurley (4), L McPharlin (4), H Shaw (4)
HB: R Murphy (5), A Rance (6), S Mitchell (6)
C: D Hannebery (7), P Dangerfield (7), A Gaff (4)
HF: T Boak (5), L Franklin (4), C Wingard (4)
F: E Betts (4), JJ Kennedy (4), J Roughead (4)
FOLL: A Sandilands (4), N Fyfe (10), D Sheil (6)
INT: JP Kennedy (6), D Armitage (5), D Beams (5), E Wood (4)
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