Round 23 Team of the Week

Defenders

Back Pocket - Jacob Weitering (Carlton)

Despite having front row seats to the Buddy show, Weitering stood tall in defence for the Blues, taking 14 marks while using his 24 disposals at 75% efficiency.

Full Back - Kyle Hartigan (Adelaide)

Did a sensational job on Eagles spearhead Josh Kennedy keeping him to just one goal and four marks, well down on his usual influence.

Back Pocket - Matthew Boyd (Western Bulldogs)

They might not have gotten the result they were after, but in his final game, Boyd came to play.

33 touches, 12 marks and a goal was a more than admirable way to say goodbye to the only football club he's ever known.

Half Back - Brendan Goddard (Essendon)

Controlled Essendon's defensive half with Michael Hurley out to great effect. Was poised and full of class with his disposal, with his 32 touches going at 84% efficiency. He also took a round-high 15 marks as the Dons secured a finals place.

Centre Half Back - Heath Grundy (Sydney)

The centrepiece of Sydney defence ensured his teammates would hit September in strong form. Grundy himself chalked up 22 touches to go along with eight marks and five rebounds.

Half Back - Jeremy McGovern (West Coast)

Picked up a round-high 14 intercept possessions and became a big reason why West Coast will play finals football in 2017. Patrolled the back half all day to give the Eagles a September sniff.

Centre

Wing - Mitch Duncan (Geelong)

Continues to grow in 2017 with his work on the inside and outside of the contest a feature. His decision-making was just another highlight from his 27-disposal performance against the Giants.

A big September awaits...

Centre - Crouch Brothers (Adelaide)

When both brothers have over 40 touches, it becomes very hard to split.

Combined, Matt and Brad had 87 touches, 14 clearances, 13 tackles, 11 inside 50s, 17 score involvements and a goal as they look to head deep into September.

Wing - Sam Menegola (Geelong)

Menegola has broken out in a big way in 2017 and even more so since his captain went down four weeks ago. Against a fellow top-four side, he collected 34 touches while kicking three goals in a all-round performance.

Forwards

Half Forward - Jamie Elliott (Collingwood)

The Pies livewire was all over the MCG on Saturday afternoon, playing a big hand in ending the Demons' season. 20 touches, 10 marks and three goals helped lift the Pies to a final-round victory.

Centre Half Forward - Ben Brown (North Melbourne)

The story of North Melbourne's season, Brown has announced himself as a bona-fide star of the future. He booted seven goals against the Lions to finish third in the Coleman Medal race.

Half Forward -  Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn)

Arguably the football story of the year, Roughead bagged five goals to send Luke Hodge off in style. He also picked up 19 touches, took 10 marks (seven inside 50) and laid six tackles.

Forward Pocket - Sam Gray (Port Adelaide)

It was against a disgustingly bad Gold Coast side who managed just five shots as a collective but anytime you have nine scoring shots, you'll get in this side more often than not.

Gray kicked 6.3 from 24 touches and eight marks in a solid pre-finals tune up.

Full Forward - Lance Franklin (Sydney)

There's nothing to say here. He is Buddy Franklin and he is majestic.

25 touches. 10 marks. 10 goals. Greatest forward of all time?

Forward Pocket - Jacob Townsend (Richmond)

11 goals in two weeks from a kid who's playing just his second game for the season?

Townsend has made it almost impossible for Damien Hardwick to drop him for Richmond's qualifying final, doing an exception job of making Jake Carlisle accountable while punishing him on the other end.

Followers

Ruck - Tom Bellchambers (Essendon) 

In a welcome sight with September around the corner, Bellchambers found a good vein of form as he had 16 touches, took 10 marks and kicked a goal in a crucial game for the Dons. Also had a big hand in the Bombers winning the clearance battle by nine.

Ruck Rover - Dustin Martin (Richmond)

It was a performance that saw him become the shortest-priced favourite in Brownlow medal history.

36 touches, seven inside 50s, six tackle breaks and two goals for the superstar.

Rover - Zach Merrett (Essendon)

Kicked four goals - a career-high - to go along with his usual 31 touches in a dominant midfield performance.

Interchange

Nat Fyfe (Fremantle)

Began to show signs that he was getting back to his best, using the ball at an elite level, kicking two crafty goals while picking up 24 touches and winning six clearances.

Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)

While he has been getting help around him, Geelong's season still very much rests on his shoulders. His 33 disposal, 10 clearance performance on the weekend showed very much that he is ready to drive this team deep into September.

Jobe Watson (Essendon)

It was #CheerTheChamps day for the Bombers and Watson was at the top of the champion list. He also managed to wind back the clock, winning eight clearances and had 26 disposals to ensure his career to extend by at least another fortnight.

Will Hoskin-Elliott (Collingwood) 

The former Giant has revelled in his first season in black and white, with it all coming together against Melbourne to the tune of 20 touches, 12 marks and two goals.