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
Tommo Willo
Roar Pro
frustrated all right
Katfish
Roar Guru
Boy-Oh-Boy Wow-Wee. I'm not like BT am I? In each of their four wins the dogs have had good performances from every player on the list, with no reliance on any player to pull out a dominant performance. As such no player (with the exception of probably Stringer against the Crows) has really dominated a game. I agree that the Bont was very good against the Swans, but I don't think that he was the player of the round. Surely that would be Pendles. Beams (as you mentioned) was probably the only player who's spot in the side would be threatened by Bontempelli. If you want a real stats based analysis, have a look at AFL.com's team of the week
Katfish
Roar Guru
Sorry about the Saad issue, i forgot to change it from last week when I had bob murphy there. For me the top performers had an even team effort (especially the Dogs), while the bottom teams had a lot of players 'carrying' their teams. The Suns might be a bottom side but they flogged the lions. From the top sides, Smith, Bob Murphy, Mayne, Pittard, Schulz, Birchall, Watson, Goddard could've all made it.
johno
Guest
I get that, but there are 3 Gold Coast players (Adam Saad is Gold Coast not Doggies as noted) from a match that featured the bottom 2 teams. 2 GWS players also make it from a team that was handed an absolute shellacking. In fact the game between the bottom 2 teams (Gold Coast and Brisbane) produced 4 players where as the game between the Hawks and Norths received 1 and the game between Sydney and the Doggies had 3.
Franko
Guest
"He finished with 36 touches (21 contested) and a massive 14 clearances (9 from the centre)" Dangerfield was great at getting his hands on the footy, but too many clearances from the middle went wide to a flank and inevitably out of play. It must be very frustrating for Crows supporters as he and Jacobs form a great combo, he gets the pill and instead of going up the middle to Walker, he sends it wide. Saw him do it twice in a row in the 3rd quarter, then the next clearance was won by Gray who went straight down the ground to a leading Ryder. Walsh is probably working on this aspect of his game this very day.
Paul W
Guest
Apart from Little Liam, how good was Easton Wood. Surely he's got a spot in that backline.
Brendan the 1st
Guest
Dangerfield??? Seriously, he was the reason Port won, kicking at under 50% efficiency for an "elite" player is not good enough, consistently gave the ba'll back to Port and is easily the moat over rated player in the game.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
johno when you're the team on top of the ladder playing a developing team expected to finish in the lower reaches of the ladder I don't think you can expect too many kudos for polishing them off.
typical
Guest
This is the kind of article and attitude that hopefully will disappear once the Dogs become a lock in for the top 8 (and I'm not saying at all that's happened...yet). An improving team of youngsters travels to Sydney and defeats last years' grand finalist in atrocious conditions, including leading for most of the day, reclaiming the lead late in the game then holding that lead with some of the toughest football seen this year, getting a win the captain described as the best win he'd been involved with at the club, and the best this article offers up is a spot on the bench. Anyone who describes Liam Picken's efforts as 'workman like' clearly either hasn't seen one second of the game or doesn't understand too much about football. Perhaps more appropriate adjectives could have been 'ferocious', 'gutsy', 'determined'. Bontempelli gets voted player of the round by the general public on The Age's football website, but can't get more than a passing mention while Dayne Beams 'played well' in a losing side. But hey, he got 31 disposals, right? A typically stats-driven analysis. Like listening to BT talk.
Daws
Guest
Yeah interesting no one from the top team is in there. Picken on the field for mine, had probably his best game ever. Good read though!
Daws
Guest
Is Jack Frost eligible for rising star? If it's true that he held Henderson that well then he almost deserves it now.
johno
Guest
No much love for Freo. Mayne 4 goals 1, 12 tackles, 9 marks and running the forward line with Pav and Walters on the bench. Not even a nod as someone who came close Mundy - equal BOG with Fyfe, 9 inside 50's, 2 goals, 28 possessions. Would rank his movement of the ball ahead of Bennell. As for Fyfe on the bench - out of the top 20 contested ball winners only he and Charlie Dixon took contested marks. Fyfe 5 and Dixon 2. He monstered the Demons. Not sure this was a flat week for him. But still - I enjoy reading these articles each week.