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!
Adelaide Crows: Brodie Smith
Brisbane Lions: Dayne Zorko (co-captain)
Carlton Blues: Ed Curnow (co-captain)
Collingwood Magpies: Jamie Elliott
Essendon Bombers: Mason Redman
Fremantle Dockers: Caleb Serong
Geelong Cats: Isaac Smith
Gold Coast Suns: Touk Miller
Greater Western Sydney Giants: Sam Taylor
Hawthorn Hawks: Chad Wingard
Melbourne Demons: Jake Lever
North Melbourne Kangaroos: Aaron Hall
Port Adelaide Power: Scott Lycett
Richmond Tigers: Jayden Short
St Kilda Saints: Rowan Marshall
Sydney Swans: Lance Franklin (co-captain)
West Coast Eagles: Luke Shuey
Western Bulldogs: Lachie Hunter
B: Brodie Smith (Adelaide), Sam Taylor (GWS), Mason Redman (Essendon)
HB: Jayden Short (Richmond), Jake Lever (Melbourne), Aaron Hall (North Melbourne)
C: Isaac Smith (Geelong), Touk Miller (Gold Coast), Lachie Hunter (Western Bulldogs)
HF: Ed Curnow (Carlton, co-captain), Rowan Marshall (St Kilda), Dayne Zorko (Brisbane, co-captain)
FF: Jamie Elliott (Collingwood), Lance Franklin (Sydney, co-captain), Chad Wingard (Hawthorn)
Foll: Scott Lycett (Port Adelaide), Caleb Serong (Fremantle), Luke Shuey (West Coast)
Backs
Brodie Smith had 25 disposals and the third most metres gained of any player on the ground in the Adelaide game against the Kangaroos, with 612 metres gained.
Sam Taylor played an integral role in the Giants curtailing the influence of the Blues tall forwards, with the likes of Charlie Curnow, Mitch McGovern and Levi Casboult kicking only three goals combined. The fact Taylor is in such good form is a testament to the decision to keep Phil Davis out of the team.
Mason Redman was arguably one of the best players on ground in the Bombers’ morale-boosting win over the Magpies. He had the most metres gained of any player on the ground, with 521 metres gained, to go with 21 disposals and two goals.
Brodie Smith (Photo by Matt Turner/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Halfbacks
Jayden Short was in good form for the Tigers against the Hawks. The impact Short had on the contest was clear, with the most meters gained of any player on the ground – 520 metres gained – to go with his 26 disposals.
Jake Lever was an important part of a Demons team that pulled off a remarkable comeback win. He finished with 22 disposals to go with 388 metres gained. He helped limit the influence of Jeremy Cameron, who kicked just two goals.
Aaron Hall was undisputedly North Melbourne’s best player in Round 23 against the Crows, with 37 disposals to go with an incredible 967 metres gained. He has shown tenacity this season with substance. He hasn’t stopped trying, and he’s endeavoured to play to his optimum level, which was vindicated by his performance in Round 23.
Jake Lever. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Centres
Isaac Smith was prolific on the wing for the Cats against the Demons. He finished the game with the second most metres gained of any player on the field, with 584, to go with his 24 disposals and 11 marks.
Touk Miller played an extraordinary game, especially given the Suns suffered an 85-point shellacking at the hands of the Swans. He finished with a game-high 37 disposals to go with nine tackles and four clearances.
Lachie Hunter was one of the Bulldogs who nearly got them over the line in their two-point loss to the Power. He finished the game with 22 disposals, but he continued to create something for the Bulldogs. The majority of the time he had possession of the ball he did something with it.
Isaac Smith (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Half-forwards
Ed Curnow (co-captain) kicked four goals to go with his 25 disposals. His performance warranted the co-captaincy as he played his role extremely well and showed great leadership, hitting the scoreboard and keeping the Blues in the game against a hungry Giants team who will feature in the finals.
Rowan Marshall of the Saints was impressive with 21 disposals to go with seven tackles, 13 hitouts, three clearances and two goals. He was pivotal for them in an obliteration of a lacklustre Dockers outfit.
Dayne Zorko (co-captain) finished the game with 27 disposals to go with eight tackles, six clearances and the equal fourth most metres gained of any player on the ground, with the Lions captain amassing 574 metres.
Forwards
Jamie Elliott finished the game with four goals and four tackles. He played his role extremely well for the Magpies, hitting the scoreboard on several occasions.
Lance Franklin (co-captain) was in sensational form for the Swans with six goals while coming up against one of the best key defenders in the competition in Sam Collins of the Suns. It was a good test for Buddy, and he passed with flying colours in what was good preparation for a prospective match-up against Sam Taylor of the Giants in the first week of the finals.
Chad Wingard clearly played with the added motivation of Shaun Burgoyne’s last AFL game and Alastair Clarkson’s last match as coach of Hawks. It appeared as if Wingard was desperate for the Hawks to register a win, as he had 30 disposals to go with two quality goals, five tackles and an equal second game-high six clearances.
Lance Franklin (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Followers
Scott Lycett was outstanding for the Power in the ruck in Round 23 against the Bulldogs. He finished the game with 22 disposals and 40 hitouts to go with five clearances.
Caleb Serong was the Dockers’ best player in Round 23. He had 35 disposals to go with nine clearances and the third most metres gained of any player on the ground, at 427 metres.
Luke Shuey was back to his best with 35 disposals to go with a game high 12 clearances. The Eagles captain also had the equal fourth most metres gained of any player on the ground, with 574.
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