Opinion
Eighteen players in the side, one player per team: that’s the challenge of the AFL team of the week.
Sometimes it’s challenging to find one good player from a team; other times it’s the opposite. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle – one change can throw the whole side out of order as I try and select the players in their rightful position. I’m up for the challenge!
There were two co-captains for the purpose of this exercise. Guess who they are.
Adelaide Crows: Paul Seedsman
Brisbane Lions: Daniel McStay
Carlton Blues: Nic Newman
Collingwood Magpies: Jack Crisp
Essendon Bombers: Peter Wright
Fremantle Dockers: Travis Colyer
Geelong Cats: Jed Bews
Gold Coast Suns: Will Powell
Greater Western Sydney Giants: Tim Taranto
Hawthorn Hawks: Tom Mitchell (co-captain)
Melbourne Demons: Christian Petracca
North Melbourne Kangaroos: Cameron Zuhaar
Port Adelaide Power: Aliir Aliir (co-captain)
Richmond Tigers: Liam Baker
St Kilda Saints: Rowan Marshall
Sydney Swans: Jordan Dawson
West Coast Eagles: Jamie Cripps
Western Bulldogs: Marcus Bontempelli
B: Will Powell (Gold Coast), Aliir Aliir (Port Adelaide, co-captain), Nic Newman (Carlton)
HB: Jordan Dawson (Sydney), Jed Bews (Geelong), Jack Crisp (Collingwood)
C: Liam Baker (Richmond), Christian Petracca (Melbourne), Paul Seedsman (Adelaide)
HF: Travis Colyer (Fremantle), Daniel McStay (Brisbane), Jamie Cripps (West Coast)
FF: Cameron Zurhaar (North Melbourne), Peter Wright (Essendon), Tim Taranto (GWS)
Foll: Rowan Marshall (St Kilda), Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn, co-captain), Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
Backs
Will Powell had an exceptional game with 28 disposals, a goal, seven tackles, two clearances and 598 metres gained, the most of any player on the ground.
Aliir Aliir controlled the Power backline. As a neutral (Collingwood supporter) it was a pleasure to watch him cut off the supply of the Crows for the majority of the game. He was selected ahead of Sam Taylor from the Giants, who was outstanding.
Nic Newman never stopped trying for the Blues.
Aliir Aliir (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Halfbacks
Jordan Dawson played well for the Swans. The halfback flanker had a good game, kicking two goals despite playing in the back six.
Jed Bews was arguably Geelong’s best player. He had 23 disposals and the third most metres gained of any Cats player at 493.
Jack Crisp played a typical no-fuss game. He won just under 30 disposals and used the ball well, helping keep the Magpies in the game.
Centres
Liam Baker was instrumental in the Tigers beating the Kangaroos in Round 21. He finished the game with 26 disposals and two goals.
Christian Petracca had a good game for the Demons in a tight win over the Eagles. He had 26 disposals, six tackles and seven clearances.
Paul Seedsman of the Crows had the most metres gained of anyone on the ground in the Showdown at 658.
Paul Seedsman (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Half-forwards
Travis Colyer played a reasonable game for the Dockers, kicking their first two goals of the game and finishing the game with three goals in a game during which it was difficult to find a player who played well. He tried hard to keep them in the game but to no avail.
Daniel McStay kicked two goals and was a pivotal part of the Lions structure.
Jamie Cripps was one of West Coast’s better players, kicking two goals.
Forwards
Cameron Zuhaar kicked four goals for the Kangaroos.
Peter Wright kicked a career-best seven goals. He helped the Bombers to what could prove to be a season-defining win for them.
Tim Taranto had an exceptional game for the Giants to help them claim an upset win against the Cats. He accumulated over 30 disposals and kicked two goals.
Tim Taranto (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Followers
Rowan Marshall was exceptional for the Saints with 25 disposals in the ruck. He was instrumental in their upset win against the Swans.
Tom Mitchell kicked a goal and had 44 disposals in Hawthorn’s win against the Magpies.
Marcus Bontempelli had a good game with 34 disposals and a goal. He was the second-highest player on the ground for metres gained, with 551 metres, in the Bulldogs’ narrow loss to the Bombers.
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