Opinion
A weekend absolutely nobody could have predicted has thrown up some interesting selections in the Round 3 team of the week.
Back pocket – Caleb Daniel (Western Bulldogs)
The little Bulldog gave his side plenty of driving force on Friday night, gaining 369 metres from 23 possessions, which included six rebounds from defensive 50. Used the ball at a deadly 91 per cent efficiency, while he also had six marks and five score involvements in a busy night.
Full back – Jacob Weitering (Carlton)
Continued his strong 2020 campaign with a sterling job on Geelong’s Tom Hawkins on Saturday night. Weitering had 12 possessions, all by foot, while he took four grabs and had five spoils. Hawkins caught fire late, booting two goals.
Back pocket – Brayden Maynard (Collingwood)
Celebrated game 100 in style with another superb performance against St Kilda. Helped himself to 23 touches at 87 per cent efficiency, gaining 432 metres. Also took seven marks and laid six tough tackles.
Half back – Jordan Dawson (Sydney)
The impressive young Swan had a terrific match against North Melbourne on Saturday, gaining a monster 459 metres from 16 disposals. Used the ball at a superb 87 per cent, while he pushed forward to kick a goal.
Centre half back – Alex Keath (Western Bulldogs)
Had the tough job on Jeremy Cameron on Friday night and kept him to just one goal for the night, getting his fist to the ball four times to go along with his 14 touches and five marks. Got on the end of a goal, which was just the second of his short career thus far.
Half back – Sam Docherty (Carlton)
The Carlton co-captain was enormous in an upset victory over Geelong, leading the way from the back line with a monster 14 rebounds from defensive 50 and 578 metres gained from his 23 possessions. Also hauled in nine grabs.
Wing – Jaeger O’Meara (Hawthorn)
Returned for his first match since Round 1 on Thursday night against the Tigers and played perhaps his best match in the brown and gold. Racked up 23 disposals at 91 per cent efficiency, gaining 406 valuable metres. Also kicked a goal along with his five marks and three tackles.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Centre – Patrick Cripps (Carlton)
The other co-captain at the Blues was a raging bull in the midfield, taking on the likes of Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood. Cripps came out on top, amassing collecting 24 possessions, 17 of them contested, winning 12 clearances, laying five tackles and having seven score involvements, which included two goals of his own.
Wing – Steele Sidebottom (Collingwood)
Another great game from the Magpies veteran, racking up 31 disposals, 11 of them contested, taking five marks, laying six tackles and booting a goal among his six score involvements.
Half forward – Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane)
The Rolls-Royce at the Lions was brilliant in a big win over West Coast, gaining a whopping 616 metres from 26 disposals, 12 of them contested. Had a huge impact forward of centre, delivering the ball inside 50 on eight occasions and getting involved in ten score involvements. To top it off, he had four marks and five tackles.
Centre half forward – Justin Westhoff (Port Adelaide)
The Port veteran seemed to relish the tough conditions at Metricon Stadium, amassing 15 touches for the night at 80 per cent efficiency. Hauled in five grabs and booted two goals in an impressive display as Port continued their unbeaten run.
Half forward – Chad Wingard (Hawthorn)
Helped power Hawthorn to a strong upset victory over Richmond back on Thursday night, collecting 15 possessions at 86 per cent efficiency, gaining 304 metres, taking five grabs and laying three tackles. Had six score involvements, but most importantly, he booted three goals.
Forward pocket – Tom Papley (Sydney)
Seemed to be everywhere against North Melbourne at Marvel, picking up 13 touches. Kicked two goals for the afternoon, with seven score involvements in total, while he had four tackles, with all of them coming inside 50.
Full Forward – Ben King (Gold Coast)
The talented youngster was the most dominant forward on the ground in Gold Coast’s impressive dismantling of the Adelaide Crows. King pulled in six grabs, five of them inside 50, while he booted three goals and two behinds.
Forward pocket – Dan Butler (St Kilda)
Continued his good form with the Saints, with the ex-Tiger winning 16 possessions and gaining 364 metres against Collingwood. Laid four tackles and booted two goals among his six score involvements.
Ruckman – Jarrod Witts (Gold Coast)
The Suns’ big man gave his side a distinct advantage around the ground in their thumping win over the Crows on Sunday, winning 22 hitouts, eight of them to advantage and eight clearances for the afternoon. Got plenty of the ball too, collecting 17 disposals, 15 of them contested, taking six grabs and having a hand in seven score involvements.
(Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
Ruck rover – Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)
The ex-Port skipper is having a superb 2020 season and it continued on Sunday night against Fremantle, winning 26 disposals, 12 of them contested, gaining six clearances, laying seven tackles and booting a goal. Gained plenty of territory with his touches, falling just shy of 500 metres gained.
Rover – Lachie Neale (Brisbane)
The form player of the competition had an absolute night out against West Coast on Saturday, picking up 32 disposals, 15 of them contested, winning seven clearances, laying seven tackles and slotting two goals. Probably a two-horse race between him and Boak for the Brownlow Medal at this point of the season.
Interchange – Isaac Smith (Hawthorn)
The wily old veteran was at his vintage best on Thursday night against the Tigers, running amok along the wings with a monster 531 metres gained from his 29 possessions. Had four score involvements on the night, including a sensational goal in the second quarter.
Interchange – Harry Perryman (Greater Western Sydney)
Continued his rise to prominence in season 2020 on Friday night against the Western Bulldogs. Perryman was the everywhere man, collecting 23 touches, ten of them contested, and gaining 481 metres. Had four rebounds from defensive 50, but he also had a big impact up forward with two goals among six score involvements.
Interchange – Jy Simpkin (North Melbourne)
Didn’t let the increased media attention get to his head on Saturday, easily among the best players on the field despite North going down to the Swans. Simpkin collected 26 disposals, 14 of them contested, won eight clearances, laid four tackles and booted a goal. Offered plenty of drive for the Kangaroos, gaining 375 metres and delivering the ball inside 50 on five occasions.
Interchange – Nat Fyfe (Fremantle)
The Fremantle skipper put an indifferent first half behind him and tried to put the entire team on his back after halftime. His efforts saw him finish with 23 disposals, a whopping 17 of them contested, three marks, four tackles and a goal.
(Photo by Carson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Emergency – Brodie Grundy (Collingwood)
The Magpies’ big man had St Kilda’s tandem ruck duo Paddy Ryder and Rowan Marshall to deal with, and deal with them he did. Grundy collected 20 possessions, 12 of them contested, took five grabs, laid four tackles and had 31 hitouts, seven of them to advantage.
Emergency – Isaac Heeney (Sydney)
With the Swans on the back foot after a first-quarter surge from North Melbourne, Heeney stood up to wrestle back the momentum. He continued to assert his control over the match as the Swans skipped clear, finishing with 18 disposals, nine of them contested, eight marks and one goal from seven score involvements.
Emergency – Touk Miller (Gold Coast)
The hard-working Miller was just that on Sunday against Adelaide, helping win the midfield battle with 26 touches, ten of them contested, four clearances, six grabs and three tackles. Was involved in six scores for the day, including a goal from his own boot.
Emergency – Jarrod Berry (Brisbane)
The young leader of the Lions stood tall in the absence of Dayne Zorko on Saturday night against West Coast, winning 13 touches with 311 metres gained, taking three marks and laying five tackles. Had seven score involvements for the night, kicking 3.2, which proved incredibly vital towards breaking the back of the Eagles.
On paper
FB: Caleb Daniel (Western Bulldogs), Jacob Weitering (Carlton), Brayden Maynard (Collingwood)
HB: Jordan Dawson (Sydney), Alex Keath (Western Bulldogs), Sam Docherty (Carlton)
C: Jaeger O’Meara (Hawthorn), Patrick Cripps (Carlton), Steele Sidebottom (Collingwood)
HF: Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane), Justin Westhoff (Port Adelaide), Chad Wingard (Hawthorn)
FF: Tom Papley (Sydney), Ben King (Gold Coast), Dan Butler (St Kilda)
R: Jarrod Witts (Gold Coast), Travis Boak (Port Adelaide), Lachie Neale (Brisbane)
I/C: Isaac Smith (Hawthorn), Harry Perryman (Greater Western Sydney), Jy Simpkin (North Melbourne), Nat Fyfe (Fremantle)
EMG: Brodie Grundy (Collingwood), Isaac Heeney (Sydney), Touk Miller (Gold Coast), Jarrod Berry (Brisbane)
By team
Adelaide: Nil (0)
Brisbane: McCluggage, Neale (2)
Carlton: Weitering, Docherty, Cripps (3)
Collingwood: Maynard, Sidebottom (2)
Fremantle: Fyfe (1)
Geelong: Nil (0)
Gold Coast: King, Witts (2)
Greater Western Sydney: Perryman (1)
Hawthorn: O’Meara, Wingard, Smith (3)
North Melbourne: Simpkin (1)
Port Adelaide: Westhoff, Boak (2)
Richmond: Nil (0)
St Kilda: Butler (1)
Sydney: Dawson, Papley (2)
West Coast: Nil (0)
Western Bulldogs: Daniel, Keath (2)
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