Defenders
Back Pocket: Allir Allir (Sydney)
Allir keeps getting better and better with every game and was brilliant down back for the Swans in their narrow two-point victory over the Pies on Saturday night. Allir finished with 24 disposals and took 12 marks as well.
Full Back: Alex Rance (Richmond)
One of the competition’s best defenders, Rance went up against the in-form forward Tom Hawkins from the Cats. Rance took the honours, keeping Hawkins to only one goal and racking up 13 disposals himself. It was a huge effort as Hawkins had previously kicked 14 goals in the past two games.
Back Pocket: Mark Blicavs
Blicavs was terrific down back for the Cats and his influence was proven by the way that Richmond dominated the inside 50’s, winning the count 68 to 46. Blicavs finished with 14 possessions and five tackles.
Half Back: Ben Stratton (Hawthorn)
The man with the golden mullet was fantastic for the Hawks in defence in their morale boosting four point victory over the Bombers on Saturday. Stratton finished with 19 disposals and 11 marks.
Centre Half Back: Cale Hooker (Essendon)
Hooker was fantastic for the Bombers in their shattering four-point loss to the Hawks at the MCG on Saturday. The versatile defender finished with 21 disposals and 13 marks and repeatedly cut off Hawthorn attacks with his brilliant athleticism down back.
Half Back: Jason Johannisen (Western Bulldogs)
The 2016 Norm Smith Medallist was back to his very best and helped the Dogs to a morale boosting 35-point victory over the Saints on Saturday night. Johannisen finished with 42 disposals at a very respectable 83% disposal efficiency and also had five inside 50’s.
Centre
Wing: Bryce Gibbs (Adelaide)
Playing in his 250th AFL game, Gibbs showed his class and played one of his best games as an Adelaide Crow in their Showdown 45 victory over the Power. Gibbs finished with 29 disposals and nine inside 50’s and provided plenty of run all night for Adelaide.
Centre: Tim Kelly (Geelong)
The Western Australian showed why West Coast and Fremantle are so keen to get him back home with a brilliant performance in the Cats narrow loss to the Tigers on Friday night. Kelly finished with 36 disposals, 16 of those being contested and his run and carry was important for the Cats all night.
Wing: Josh Kelly (GWS)
Kelly had another superb game for the Giants in their 105-point thrashing of the Blues. The star midfielder finished with 41 possessions at 81% efficiency, took seven marks, and had ten clearances and an amazing 16 inside 50’s.
Followers
Ruck: Brodie Grundy (Collingwood)
Grundy played another blinder for the Pies on Saturday night in their narrow two-point loss to the Swans at the SCG. The ruckman who plays like a midfielder, finished with 24 disposals, 57 hit outs and nine clearances. Could we see two ruckman being named in this year’s All Australian team, with Max Gawn right in the mix as well?
Rover: Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn)
Another game with huge possession numbers for this year’s hot Brownlow Medal favourite. Mitchell finished with 43 disposals, six marks, seven inside 50’s and 13 clearances in the Hawks thrilling four-point victory over the Bombers on Saturday.
Ruck Rover: Matt Crouch (Adelaide)
Crouch was huge for the Crows in their thrilling three-point Showdown victory over the Power on Saturday. The ball magnet finished with 35 disposals, eight tackles, seven clearances and seven inside 50’s and kept the Crows in the game, when they looked like they were down and out in the last quarter.
Forwards
Half Forward: Jack Ziebell (North Melbourne)
The Roos skipper lead from the front in helping his team to a thrilling three-point victory over the Lions at the Gabba on Sunday. Ziebell finished with 26 disposals, seven marks and three goals.
Centre Half Forward: Jack Gunston (Hawthorn)
Gunston was terrific in the Hawks four-point victory over the Bombers on Saturday finishing with 5.2, 24 disposals and taking eight marks.
Half Forward: Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
The gun midfield/forward was instrumental in helping the Dogs to a 35-point victory over the Saints on Saturday night. Splitting his time between the centre square and the forward line, Bontempelli finished with 22 disposals and four goals.
Forward Pocket: Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide)
With 20 disposals and four goals, Gray was the best player on the ground in the Power’s shattering three-point loss to the Crows on Saturday. Gray was awarded with his second Showdown Medal in a row and a record fourth overall.
Full Forward: Lance Franklin (Sydney)
Sydney’s superstar forward was back to his brilliant best in the Swans two-point victory over the Magpies on Saturday night booting six goals. ‘Buddy’ also had 17 disposals, six tackles and took nine marks.
Forward Pocket: Jesse Hogan (Melbourne)
Hogan will play an important role in the Demon’s premiership chances this year and he was terrific up forward in their 96-point demolition of the Gold Coast Suns. Hogan finished with 22 disposals, ten marks and kicked 4.1.
Interchange
Elliott Yeo (West Coast)
The versatile Eagle won the Glendinning/Allan Medal for the best afield in the derby between the Eagles and Dockers on Sunday. Yeo finished with 26 disposals, eight inside 50’s, six marks and two goals in the Eagles 58-point win.
Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
Danger was sensational in a losing side with 39 disposals, 21 of those were contested for the Cats in their narrow three-point loss to the Tigers on Friday night. Dangerfield also had eight clearances and helped keep the Cats in the game all night.
Zac Merrett (Essendon)
Merrett played one of his best games of the year for the Bombers in their shattering four-point loss to the Hawks on Saturday. The gun midfielder finished with 41 disposals, nine clearances and five inside 50’s.
Dayne Zorko (Brisbane)
Zorko finished the three-point loss to the Roos with the most possessions on the ground of any player with 35 disposals and also had ten tackles and nine clearances.
