Opinion
We had to wait a few months, but Round 2 of the 2020 AFL season is finally over.
Let’s take a look back at the best performances from the weekend in my team of the week.
Back pocket – Jeremy Howe
The Collingwood interceptor was in fine form during the season restart on Thursday night. Howe gained 364 valuable metres from his 20 disposals, taking seven grabs, three of them from Richmond kicks, while he also got his fist to the ball seven times.
Full back – Jacob Weitering
Carlton’s key tall defender stood tall among an early Melbourne avalanche on Saturday at Marvel Stadium. Weitering had 12 possessions, seven spoils and took five marks, two of them intercepts and two of them contested.
Back pocket – Tom Stewart
The All Australian defender was superb for the Cats in a big win over Hawthorn, collecting 20 touches and gaining a monster 549 metres, using it at an effective 85 per cent. He also hauled in nine grabs.
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Half back – Dane Rampe
The Swans’ co-captain was excellent for his side in their narrow loss to Essendon on Sunday. Rampe led the back line well with 20 touches, ten of them rebounds from defensive 50, totalling 579 metres gained. He used the ball at an incredible 100 per cent efficiency, while he also took eight marks, four of them intercepts and two of them contested.
Centre half back – Robbie Tarrant
Playing game 150, the North vice-captain was at his usual best against the GWS Giants on Sunday. Facing last year’s Coleman Medal winner Jeremy Cameron, Tarrant restricted him to just one major, collecting 18 possessions of his own at 83 per cent efficiency and gaining 492 metres. With his six rebounds from defensive 50, Tarrant also took five grabs in an impressive display.
Half back – Brayden Maynard
The popular Magpie put a blanket over dangerous Richmond forward Daniel Rioli, keeping him out of the game on Thursday night. Maynard had a big impact, winning 524 metres from his 23 touches at 87 per cent efficiency, while he took four grabs and rebounded from the back half four times.
Wing – Jared Polec
The North winger put together another fine performance after a strong showing in Round 1 back in March. He patrolled the wings at Giants Stadium, winning 23 disposals with a total of 466 metres gained. The former Port midfielder kicked a vital goal in the last quarter. It was one of his ten score involvements for the afternoon, while he also had seven inside 50s.
Centre – Lachie Neale
The Brisbane star put in a strong display against his former side at the Gabba on Saturday, collecting 29 possessions, 17 of them contested, and winning nine clearances. Used the ball at a sensational 96 per cent efficiency, while he had six score involvements, two of them being goals from his own boot.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Wing – Connor Rozee
In just his 24th match, Rozee showed how bright his future is with a superb showing against the Adelaide Crows in Showdown 48. The 20-year-old amassed 17 touches, 12 of them contested, while he showed his nous around the contest by winning eight clearances at 88 per cent disposal efficiency. He had five inside 50s, gaining a total of 338 metres, while his goal was one of eight score involvements on the night.
Half forward – Michael Walters
The Fremantle star almost single-handedly dragged his side over the line against Brisbane on Saturday. Walters finished the match with 28 disposals, 12 of them contested, 357 metres gained, five tackles, two goals and a further eight score involvements.
Centre half forward – Sam Day
The experienced Sun led the way up forward in a monumental victory for his club against West Coast on Saturday night. The top-three draft selection from 2010 had 18 possessions at 77 per cent efficiency, took five grabs and booted two goals.
Half forward – Christian Petracca
The Melbourne bull continued his upward trend with a dominant performance against Carlton on Saturday. Petracca won 24 disposals at 79 per cent efficiency, taking five marks, laying six tackles and winning five clearances. From his seven score involvements, Petracca kicked two majors in a one-point win.
Forward pocket – Charlie Cameron
He looked set to tear apart the Fremantle defence early in Saturday’s match at the Gabba, kicking four goals in the first half alone. He didn’t add to his tally after halftime, but it proved to be a match-winning performance given the Lions only got home by 12 points.
Full forward – Nat Fyfe
He spent more time resting up forward to great effect on Saturday at the Gabba. The Fremantle captain won 24 touches at 79 per cent efficiency alongside five clearances. He gained 368 metres as well as taking four marks, laying three tackles and booting three goals.
Forward pocket – Gary Ablett
The little master didn’t lose any touch during footy’s shutdown period, having a huge impact on Friday night against Hawthorn. The two-time Brownlow Medallist had 21 possessions at 76 per cent efficiency, gaining 409 metres helped by six inside 50s. Impressively, Ablett had seven score involvements, with two of them being goals of his own.
(Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)
Ruck – Todd Goldstein
He was matched up on experienced big man Sam Jacobs and absolutely dominated, collecting 19 disposals around the ground, 14 of them contested at an impressive 84 per cent efficiency, and he won nine clearances. He took control of the ruck battle with 51 hit-outs, while he took two contested marks, laid three tackles and got forward to snap an important goal. He didn’t go to the bench once during the match.
Ruck rover – Joel Selwood
The Geelong skipper returned to his inside midfield role and excelled on Friday night against old rivals Hawthorn. He collected 28 possessions, 17 of those contested, won eight clearances and gained 364 metres. He took four grabs around the ground, laid three tackles and managed to kick a goal in a performance that would excite coach Chris Scott to no end.
Rover – Matt Rowell
The AFL world took notice on Saturday night as last year’s number one draft pick Rowell showed what kind of incredible player he is going to become. The Gold Coast youngster bullied the West Coast midfield, gathering 26 disposals, 14 of them contested at 80 per cent efficiency, while he won five clearances, laid seven strong tackles and gained 321 metres. His two-way running was evident with his six rebounds from defensive 50 paired with the first two goals of his AFL career. He will win the Rising Star and win it well.
(Photo by Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
Interchange – Jack Billings
The damaging Saint was best on ground in Sunday night’s match against the Western Bulldogs. He gained 470 metres from his 24 possessions, taking four grabs, laying five tackles and booting three goals.
Interchange – Scott Pendlebury
He lost none of his immense class during isolation, with the Collingwood skipper winning 31 touches and gaining 417 metres alongside five marks against Richmond.
Interchange – Travis Boak
The former Power skipper won his second Showdown Medal on Saturday night after gathering 24 disposals and gaining 439 metres in a dominant display against the Crows. He had ten score involvements, including a goal, while he had seven inside 50s, five marks and three tackles.
Interchange – Zach Merrett
He led the Essendon midfield to their first win at the SCG since 2009 on Sunday, with Merrett amassing 29 possessions at 79 per cent efficiency. Gained 410 metres, took four marks, laid four tackles and booted a goal.
Emergency – Max Gawn
He enjoyed his first win as Melbourne skipper on Saturday against Carlton, even if he didn’t get to sing the song after the game. Gawn went head to head with inexperienced Blues ruck Marc Pittonet, winning 34 hit-outs, ten of those to advantage, while he had 21 touches around the ground at 85 per cent efficiency to go with four marks and five tackles.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Emergency – Luke McDonald
The often maligned North defender had a monster job of taking on GWS star Toby Greene on Sunday and he performed admirably. McDonald won 12 disposals and took three grabs, keeping Greene to just 13 touches and two behinds.
Emergency – Josh Daicos
Collingwood fans got a glimpse into the future while also getting a view of the past at the same time on Thursday night, with Daicos collecting 24 disposals at 87 per cent against Richmond, taking five grabs and gaining 326 metres.
Emergency – Xavier Duursma
Another one of Port’s impressive crop of youngsters, Duursma had seven score involvements in the 75-point win over the Crows on Saturday night, with three of those being goals from his own boot. Also had 17 possessions, took five grabs, laid three tackles and gained 327 metres.
On paper
FB: Jeremy Howe (Collingwood), Jacob Weitering (Carlton), Tom Stewart (Geelong)
HB: Dane Rampe (Sydney), Robbie Tarrant (North Melbourne), Brayden Maynard (Collingwood)
C: Jared Polec (North Melbourne), Lachie Neale (Brisbane), Connor Rozee (Port Adelaide)
HF: Michael Walters (Fremantle), Sam Day (Gold Coast), Christian Petracca (Melbourne)
FF: Charlie Cameron (Brisbane), Nat Fyfe (Fremantle), Gary Ablett (Geelong)
R: Todd Goldstein (North Melbourne), Joel Selwood (Geelong), Matt Rowell (Gold Coast)
I/C: Jack Billings (St Kilda), Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood), Travis Boak (Port Adelaide), Zach Merrett (Essendon)
EMG: Max Gawn (Melbourne), Luke McDonald (North Melbourne), Josh Daicos (Collingwood), Xavier Duursma (Port Adelaide)
By team
Adelaide: Nil (0)
Brisbane: Neale, Cameron (2)
Carlton: Weitering (1)
Collingwood: Howe, Maynard, Pendlebury (3)
Essendon: Merrett (1)
Fremantle: Walters, Fyfe (2)
Geelong: Stewart, Ablett, Selwood (3)
Gold Coast: Day, Rowell (2)
Greater Western Sydney: Nil (0)
Hawthorn: Nil (0)
Melbourne: Petracca (1)
North Melbourne: Tarrant, Polec, Goldstein (3)
Port Adelaide: Rozee, Boak (2)
Richmond: Nil (0)
St Kilda: Billings (1)
Sydney: Rampe (1)
West Coast: Nil (0)
Western Bulldogs: Nil (0)
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