Team of the Round

Team of the Week: Round 12

Published by
Johaan Forbes-Anthony

Defenders

Back Pocket - Jeremy Howe (Collingwood)

Aside from winning himself a year's supply Weet-Bix, Howe did his All-Australian chances no harm with another strong performance for the Pies on Queens Birthday.

Howe had 22 disposals (eight contested) along with 10 marks and four inside 50s as his consistency across the board in 2017 is becoming a feature of his game.

Full Back - Michael Hartley (Essendon)

Another one of the games unsung key defenders that doesn't draw enough praise among media circles, Harley's performance on Charlie Dixon definitely didn't go by the wayside this week.

Hartley nabbed eight marks on his way to 14 disposals and five tackles, but more importantly kept Power key forward Charlie Dixon to just seven touches and one shot on goal, which he missed.

12 one-percenters highlighted his performance along side Essendon's defensive leader, Michael Hurley.

Back Pocket - Rory Laird (Adelaide)

You can't keep the Rory's down for long in Adelaide.

Laird was fantastic on Friday night as the Crows accounted for the Saints with ease, patrolling their defensive half to great effect.

He finished with 34 touches (85% efficiency) with five tackles, five score involvements and 500m gained.

Half Back - Sam Docherty (Carlton)

Outstanding once again for the Blues as he racked up 35 touches, 12 marks, five tackles and four inside 50s in Carlton's upset win.

He also gained a massive 816m (round-high) for the Blues and was a focal point of Brendon Bolton's defensive plans.

Centre Half Back - Harris Andrews (Brisbane)

The 20-year-old has been thrust deep into defence for the 2017 season and has delivered in spades for Chris Fagan's side.

On Saturday, he lined up on Cam McCarthy and kept him to a measly five touches, shutting him down at every exchange.

He managed to take 11 grabs and collect 19 disposals for his efforts as well, and was rewarded with a contract extension today.

Half Back - Jayden Hunt (Melbourne)

Melbourne fans absolutely love this guy and it's easy to see why.

He runs hard, breaks the lines and links defence to attack with serious intensity.

He gained 36m per touch against the Pies (766m gained from 21 disposals) and racked up 10 inside 50s for his hard-running efforts.

Centre

Wing - Steele Sidebottom (Collingwood)

Along with Howe, was the Pies best on Monday, going hard at the contest while winning it on the outside as well and putting the ball to good use.

His 32 touches went at 72 per cent efficiency and kicked two goals for his troubles.

A genuine match-winner on his day, and form that Pies fans would love to see continue.

Centre - Zach Merrett (Essendon)

Essendon's midfield came together as a whole on Saturday night, but as he has done all year, Merrett stood out as his class all around the contest was on show.

38 touches at 79 per cent efficiency was just the beginning of Merrett's Saturday night out, as he gathered six marks, six clearances, seven tackles, eight inside 50s and had 11 score involvements in the Bombers rout of the Power.

Wing - Dylan Shiel (Greater Western Sydney)

The Giants may have gone down but Shiel stepped up in a big way on Sunday.

He picked up 32 disposals (11 contested), eight clearances, four tackles and kicked two goals with his speed out of the contest a feature as the Giants dominated the clearance battle.

Anyone else see a little bit of a young Chris Judd in this kid?

Forwards

Half Forward - Christian Petracca (Melbourne)

The young gun has taken his game to another level in 2017 and claimed best on ground honours in the Demons Queens Birthday win, starring with 18 touches, seven marks and three goals.

Centre Half Forward - Cale Hooker (Essendon)

Five goals in the opening half set up Essendon's dominant win over Port.

Hooker finished with 17 touches, nine marks and 12 score involvements as the Bombers cruised to a 70-point win.

Half Forward - Lewis Taylor (Brisbane)

Not only did the little Lions man kick four of his own as his side thumped Fremantle, but his work up the ground was also a standout.

Taylor would round out a great game with 20 touches, 12 score assists, five marks and five inside 50s.

Forward Pocket - Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (Essendon)

The Dons' livewire raised the roof on Etihad with his goal of the week contender on his way to collecting 19 touches, six tackles, five inside 50s and four goals.

Full Forward - Jack Gunston (Hawthorn)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 07: Jack Gunston of the Hawks celebrates kicking a goal during the round seven AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the Hawthorn Hawks at Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 7, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

The Hawks may've gone down to the Suns however Gunston's performance wasn't to be ignored.

A bag of five goals came from his 19 touches and 12 marks on another bleak day in a tough 2017 season.

Forward Pocket - Tom Lynch (Adelaide)

Three goals on Friday night took Lynch's tally up to 19 for the season, putting him on track to bag just under 40 goals, which would be an impressive return for the Crows' fourth option in attack.

He also plucked eight marks and registered five inside 50s, confirming his importance to the Crows forward line.

Followers

Ruck - Matthew Kreuzer (Carlton)

When the Blues big man is on song, he's one of the best in the competition to watch.

On Sunday, his battle with GWS' Shane Mumford was a highlight, which Kreuzer prevailed in to the tune of 21 touches, nine score involvements, eight tackles, six marks and a goal.

Apologies to Stefan Martin, was brilliant against Freo.

Ruck Rover - Dayne Zorko (Brisbane)

BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND - JUNE 10: Dayne Zorko of the Lions celebrates a goal during the round 12 AFL match between the Brisbane Lions and the Fremantle Dockers at The Gabba on June 10, 2017 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Brisbane's midfield was destructive on Saturday with Zorko the pick of the bunch (just) with 10 clearances from his 30 disposals (14 contested), adding that to seven inside 50s, six marks, five tackles and two goals.

Rover - Gary Ablett (Gold Coast)

The little master was back at the home of football on the weekend and didn't he make it his own.

37 disposals (15 contested), 10 tackles, eight clearances and a couple of goals led the way as the Suns scored back to back wins over the Hawks this season.

Interchange

Josh Kennedy (Sydney)

As expected, Kennedy got down and dirty against the Dogs, controlling much of the contest on their way to a big win.

Kennedy's 37 touches were highly influential, as his seven marks, six clearances and one major led to the premiers going down by 46 points.

Conor McKenna (Essendon)

John Worsfold has shown plenty of faith in the Irishman, and it's paid dividends over the last few weeks.

Against the Power, his 22 disposals were at 77.3 per cent efficiency while gaining an impressive 655m off of half back. His run and decision-making has been a highlight this season, and Bomber fans will only hope that continues.

Dayne Beams (Brisbane)

The Lions' captain would've been extremely proud of his sides efforts on the weekend, and he led from the front in emphatic fashion with 36 disposals, nine clearances, eight tackles and a goal.

Steven May (Gold Coast)

The Suns' co-captain was his usual self against the Hawks, getting the Suns' defence into order with great effect.

He played a big hand in nullifying his opposing skipper Jarryd Roughead, reeling in 13 marks on his way to 24 touches (91.4% efficiency) and five rebound from defence.

Published by
Johaan Forbes-Anthony