Team of the Round

Team of the Week: Round 13

Check out who made the cut 👇

Published by
Ben Lawless

BACKLINE

Changkuoth Jiath

Jiath continues to impress this season with another standup match for the backmen. He was a dominant force down back, making it difficult for all the Swans forwards.

He finished with 28 disposals (85.7% efficiency) 10 intercepts, 5 inside 50s and 553 metres gained. Jiath was elite with the ball in hand giving his teammates plenty of opportunities as he helped the Hawks upset the Swans.

Tom Stewart

Stewart was an excellent down back preventing many of the Power forwards from impacting the game. With a game-high 723 metres gained, he showed his ability to rebound the ball from 50 and generate offense for the rest of his team.

He also gathered 23 touches, 8 intercepts, 6 score involvements, and 5 marks.

Brayden Maynard

Maynard put together an impressive showing, helping his side keep Melbourne forwards at bay all match. He was also one of the key architects down back, helping the Magpies move the ball effectively out of defense.

Getting 32 touches, 13 marks, 661 metres gained, 9 intercepts and 90.6% disposal efficiency. He was one of the challengers for the Neale Daniher medal, just getting eclipsed by his skipper Pendlebury.

Luke Ryan

Ryan was impactful down back, making the most of wasteful entries and high-level pressure. He made it difficult for the Suns forwards all match, helping to keep them to under 50 points.

With 29 touches, 96.6% disposal efficiency,  508 metres gained, 10 marks and 5 intercepts it was a strong showing for Ryan.

Nick Haynes

Haynes was a defensive wall, stopping many forward entries before they could damage the Giants. He worked his way into form this match and hopefully can build off that for the remainder of the season.

He gathered 26 touches, 14 marks, 14 intercepts, and 80.8% disposal efficiency which shows his ability to stop Kangaroo offence and then rebound the ball in the other direction.

Aaron Hall

Hall displayed his ability to turn defense into offense with as many intercepts (6) as inside 50s (7) and score involvements (6). This two-way ability was one of the main reasons that North found themselves up by 28 at 3 quarter time.

He also had 35 disposals and a game-high 791 metres gained, but unfortunately just wasn't enough to avoid the draw and get the Kangaroos their second win of the season.

CENTRE

Josh Kelly

Kelly nearly single-handedly helped the Giants across the line with an impressive performance. His heroics helped the Giants stay in the game whenever the kangaroos were looking to blow the match open.

He finished with 39 touches (17 contested), 8 inside 50s, 12 score involvements, 6 tackles, 6 clearances, and 2 majors. It's no wonder why many Victorian clubs are interested in Kelly, who can become a free agent at the end of the season.

Tom Mitchell

Mitchell was back to his ball-winning best, with another excellent showing. He helped the Hawks control the middle and give his forwards first use of the ball.

He ended with 34 touches (16 contested), 7 tackles, 6 intercepts, and 4 inside 50s. Mitchell was one of the best-on-ground against his old side as the Hawks upset the Swans.

Rory Laird

While tagged early in the match, Laird managed to shake off Luke Dustan's tag to help his side to an unlikely comeback victory against the Saints. He gathered 21 of his 33 possessions in the 2nd half.

He also completed 8 tackles, 10 clearances, 6 score involvements, and 5 inside 50s. Laird's second half was one of the main reasons the Crows were able to win the close contest.

FORWARD LINE

Jordan De Goey

While not being able to hit the scoreboard, De Goey found other ways to impact the match and help his side to victory. He was a ball magnet all game, giving great use to his teammates.

By the end he had 32 disposals, 10 score involvements, 6 clearances, 447 metres gained, and 5 inside 50s.

Jeremy Cameron

With the game in the balance and the momentum in Port Adelaide's favour early in the last quarter, it looked like the Power would ease home to victory. Jeremy Cameron had other ideas. In a crazy 46 second burst, Cameron kicked 2 goals and assisted the 3rd to swing the match and help Geelong to victory.

He finished with 5 goals, 19 disposals, 12 score involvements, and 6 inside 50s. This all-around performance is exactly what Geelong wanted when they lured the forward over from the Giants in the off-season.

Connor Rozee

While Cameron was putting on a show at the other end, Rozee was doing everything in his power to keep Port Adelaide in the match. Rozee booted 5 majors as he provided the spark that the Power needed which nearly helped his team over the line.

He also managed 16 touches, 8 score involvements and 410 metres gained.

Josh J. Kennedy

JJK turned back the clock putting together an electrifying performance that was too much for the Tigers defenders. Booting 4 majors (including the below match-winner) Kennedy ended up the difference between the two sides.

He also gathered 15 touches, 7 marks, 448 metres gained, 6 inside 50s and 8 score involvements damaging the opposition in and out of the forward 50.

Darcy Cameron

With the Magpies struggling to score for most of the season, Cameron provided a forward presence that has been missing.

Kicking 4 majors was a great result for the forward, who also gathered 6 marks, 5 tackles, and 6 score involvements.

Jonathon Ceglar

Ceglar was a late inclusion but made an impact early kicking the first goal of the match. He continued on with that form all match, taking the honours against Tom Hickey who has been having a career year.

Ceglar finished with 35 hitouts, 20 disposals, 19 contested possessions and 11 clearances. The Hawks will be thankful that Ceglar ended up playing after his efforts on the weekend.

FOLLOWERS

Sean Darcy

Darcy was dominant in the ruck over the weekend finishing with 40 hitouts, over double the best performing Suns ruckman. He is quickly becoming one of the leagues best young ruckman.

He also got 17 disposals, 7 score involvements, 5 inside 50s, 6 tackles and 7 clearances. Being one of the Dockers best players, his efforts more than made up for the absence of captain Nat Fyfe.

Jack Steele

Jack Steele was instrumental in the Saint's first-half domination and nearly helped his side across the line against the Crows.

By the end of the match, he had 34 touches (19 contested) 12 inside 50s, 12 tackles, 9 clearances, 605 metres gained, and 6 intercepts. While unable to will his team to victory, Steele tried hard all match and was St Kilda's best all match.

Scott Pendlebury

Pendles put on a show for Buckley's final match, as the Magpies upset top team Melbourne. His efforts were recognised by receiving the Neale Daniher trophy for being the best-on-ground.

By the end, he had 31 touches, 12 intercepts, 7 score involvements, 5 clearances, and a goal. It was the perfect send-off for Buckley, who has given so much to the Collingwood Football Club.

 

INTERCHANGE:

Nic Naitanui

Nic Nat's athletic ability coupled with his high football IQ makes him a tough matchup for any ruckman. This was especially true for the young Tigers rucks, who were outclassed all match by Naitanui.

With 31 hitouts, 20 disposals, 5 clearances, 7 score involvements and a goal, Nic Nat produced one of the best rucking performances of the round. He was just beat out by Darcy for the starting spot.

Touk Miller

Miller has been stringing together a series of strong showings for weeks, and this weekend was no exception. While his team didn't get the result they were after, Miller cannot be blamed.

He gathered 31 touches, 560 metres gained, 7 marks, 7 inside 50s, 6 score involvements and 6 tackles. There was also this long bomb goal that flew over all players to sneak through the big sticks.

 

Ben Keays

Keays was instrumental in his team's comeback win, helping his side win the midfield battle in the second half.

With 31 disposals, 10 tackles, 613 metres gained, 5 clearances, and 5 inside 50s Keays played well but just missed out on a starting spot.

Jack Redden

Redden won the midfield matchup, being the most impactful mid on the ground. His ball use and composure helped the Eagles upset the Tigers on Sunday night.

He ended with 32 touches, 12 marks, 7 clearances, 6 intercepts and 81.3% efficiency. Redden was close to making the starting squad but was just beat out by others who made more of an impact on the scoreboard.

Published by
Ben Lawless