Team of the Round

Team of the Week: Round 17

Check out who made the cut👇

Published by
Danielle Sorati

Backline

Christian Salem
Salem continued his impressive 2021 form during Melbourne's win over the Power in Adelaide. Collecting 26 disposals at 84.6% efficiency, Salem was one of the best for the Dees, taking two intercept marks and eight rebound 50's.

Tom Stewart

Stewart was once again a rock in Geelong's defence, a crucial part of the backline that kept the Blues to just five goals. Stewart has been averaging 24.3 disposals this season and Round 17 was no different, finishing with 25 disposals and 12 marks.

Jacob Weitering

While Carlton lost by 26 points, Weitering remained one of the best for the Blues. The 23-year-old has continued his best and fairest from from 2020, averaging 8.3 spoils and 2.9 intercept marks in 2021. Against the Cats, Weitering took three intercept marks and 5 rebound 50's.

Zach Tuohy

Tuohy starred in the win over his old club, kicking two goals and collecting 24 disposals.

The Irish Cat took eight marks, two intercept, while his 24 touches were at an impressive efficiency of 87.5%. Up forward, Tuohy took two marks inside 50 and added two goals to his career tally of 77.

Steven May

May continues to show his worth for the Demons, playing an essential role in the back line that kept the Power to just 55 points.

May starred with a game-high nine marks, equal with Ryan Burton, while he finished the game with 6 spoils. May's 21 disposals were at 85.7% efficiency, just under his impressive season average of 86.

Jack Crisp

Against a Tigers forward line featuring Tom Lynch and Jack Riewoldt, Crisp continued his impressive season with a dominant performance. Playing off halfback and in the middle, Crisp picked up 33 disposals to mark the eighth time this season he has had 30+ touches. In addition to his 10 marks, Crisp had seven rebound 50's.

Centre

Jaidyn Stephenson

Stephenson stared for North Melbourne in their upset win over the Eagles.

On a wet night in the West, Stephenson picked up 38 disposals for his new club, kicked a goal and was involved in nine score involvements, a season high. The first year Roo laid four tackles and was instrumental in the win over the Eagles.

Touk Miller

Miller's all-star season continued in the Suns' one point win over the Giants.

The 25-year-old is rated elite in disposals, tackles and kicks this season after a consistent 2020. Miller finished the game with 35 disposals, 15 tackles and two goals, including one at the beginning of the fourth quarter to cut the Giants' lead.

A runner up in Gold Coast's best and fairest last year, Miller is almost a certainty to bring home the medal this year.

Zach Merrett

The Bombers dominated Adelaide on Friday night, keeping the Crows to their lowest score in the club's history, while powerhouse Merrett continued to shine.

Merrett notched up eight score involvements in the match and five clearances, his best since Round 6. Another 35 disposals marks the third week in a row that the 25-year-old has had 35+ disposals.

Forward Line

Christian Petracca

Brownlow Medal fancy Petracca continued his exceptional 2021 form during Melbourne's win over the Power. Salem had a busy night, collecting 33 disposals, 7 clearances and three goals in the best on ground performance.

Tim Membrey

With Membrey alongside Max King in the forward line, things finally started clicking inside 50 for the Saints against Brisbane. The Saint kicked two goals in the 32 point win and had 17 disposals.

Membrey, who has begun to drop back at the end of each quarter, has been instrumental in maintaining the Saints' high pressure game, registering six pressure acts. Of his 14 marks, five were inside 50, while he had eight score involvements.

Jordan Dawson

Dawson was one of 11 goal kickers for the Swans in their upset win over the Dogs, but the only to kick three.

Normally a vital member of Sydney's back six, Dawson relished his opportunity up forward, taking six marks along with his 26 disposals. Dawson had three inside 50's and seven score involvements as he helped his side over the line.

Jamie Elliott

Injury plagued Elliott seemed to be back to his best form in the Pies win over the Tigers, collecting 21 disposals and six marks, three of those inside 50.

Elliott kicked three goals and had seven score involvements, including a goal to bring the margin to just 10 points in the last quarter.

Tom McDonald

It was a good night in the Melbourne forward line for McDonald, slotting 3.2 on a cold Thursday in Adelaide.

McDonald has kicked 27 goals for the season and is averaging 53.7% accuracy in front of goal. Against the Power, McDonald managed three marks inside 50 and 10 score involvements.

Dayne Zorko

Zorko starred in an otherwise dire night for the Lions, keeping his team in it for the first half of his 200th game. The Brisbane veteran was everywhere on Saturday night, kicking three first half goals and picking up 17 disposals.

Followers

Sean Darcy

The perennially underrated Darcy has continued to have a stand out season, attracting comparisons to Freo legend Aaron Sandilands.

Darcy stared in Fremantle's 62 point win over the Hawks, taking six contested marks along with 25 disposals. The 23-year-old also took seven intercept marks, more than any other Freo ruck in the club's history.

Jack Steele

The Saints captain is continuing to put together a solid season, including leading his side to an upset win against the Lions with two last quarter goals.

Steele had 32 disposals at 90.6% efficiency (12 contested), and six clearances. Often a barometer of his side's performance, Steele had seven tackles and 23 pressure acts as the Saints ran over the Lions.

 

Taylor Adams

Adams impressed for the Pies, collecting 31 disposals in a dominant match. Rated elite in his clearance work this season, Adams continued to star in the centre with 10 clearances, including five from the centre.

Adams managed eight score involvements and laid ten tackles to lead the Pies midfield to a strong win over the Tigers.

Interchange

Sam Walsh

Young gun Walsh has become an elite midfielder in just three years in the competition. Against the Cats, Walsh once again starred, picking up 36 disposals, his second best for the year.

Walsh kicked two of Carlton's five goals and was a shining light on an otherwise dim day for the Blues, ending with four clearances and 452 metres gained.

Jacob Hopper

Despite losing to the Suns by a point, Hopper continued to star. Celebrating his 100th game, Hopper collected an incredible 41 disposals, 18 of those contested possessions, 12 inside 50's and seven score involvements.

Ben Cunnington

North veteran Cunnington turned in a vintage performance to get his side over the line against the Eagles.

30-year-old Cunnington finished with 25 disposals, three clearances, eight marks and five tackles, while his final quarter goal from 45m out gave North Melbourne the lead.

David Mundy

Mundy starred against the Hawks, picking up 30 disposals and six clearances. A vital part of Fremantle's engine room, Mundy had six inside 50's, ten score involvements and kicked two goals as his team recorded a 62 point win over Hawthorn and ended the round inside the eight.

Published by
Danielle Sorati