Zero Hanger’s Round 22 Team of the Week

DEFENDERS

Jeremy Howe (Collingwood)

Howe was brilliant down back in Collingwood’s big win over the Crows. The Pies' high flyer had 23 touches and 11 marks in a standout performance, helping to keep the Crows' forward line quiet in front of their home crowd.

Marcus Adams (Brisbane)

Was Brisbane’s stand out player in their top of the table win over Geelong. Not only did Adams keep Geelong’s champion forward Tom Hawkins goalless, but the former Bulldog gathered 10 marks of his own, eight spoils and 19 possessions in a dominant game down back.

Dylan Grimes (Richmond)

When Alex Rance went down in Richmond’s first game of the season, many wrote off Richmond’s premiership credentials. Up stepped Dylan Grimes, who this season has developed into one of the league’s top defenders. Thrust into a high-pressure situation, Grimes has stood tall for Richmond all year, with his performance against the Eagles’ on the weekend highlighting his individual growth. Grimes took eight marks and finished with 17 disposals at 100 per cent efficiency, to keep the prolific Eagles’ forward line relatively quiet after quarter time.

Bachar Houli (Richmond)

An underrated star of the competition, Houli’s class was once again personified by his performance on the weekend, with the hard-running defender collecting a huge 34 disposals, nine marks, six inside 50s and three rebound 50s in the Tigers’ crucial win.

Shannon Hurn (West Coast)

Despite falling short against the Tigers, West Coast’s skipper put up a strong performance at the 'G on Sunday. Hurn collected 24 disposals, had 10 marks and 12 rebound 50s in the Eagle’s narrow, six-point loss.

Dane Rampe (Sydney)

One of the Swans’ shining lights in a disappointing season, Rampe was a dominant force down back in Sydney’s win over the Demons on Friday night. Rampe had 22 touches, took eight marks, and gained 516 metres in another impressive individual performance.

CENTRES

Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane Lions)

Having transformed from a young talent to a genuine star of the competition this season, McCluggage ran rings around Geelong at the Gabba on Saturday afternoon. The prolific wingman gained 644 metres from his 27 disposals, took seven marks, laid six tackles, had six inside 50s, and kicked a crucial goal in another standout performance for Chris Fagan’s side.

Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)

Dangerfield had fans of both Geelong and Brisbane on the edge of their seats on Saturday afternoon, as the former Brownlow Medalist threatened to almost single-handedly win the game for Chris Scott’s men. Dangerfield was huge around the contest all day, amassing 36 touches (23 contested), recording eight inside 50s, 11 score involvements including a goal, and winning nine clearances as the Cats’ lost by the smallest of margins.

Dion Prestia (Richmond)

Prestia was enormous around the ground for the Tigers on Sunday afternoon. In wet conditions, Prestia finished with 29 possessions (11 contested), five clearances, five tackles and four marks to continue his impressive run of form to match the Tigers’ late-season revival.

FORWARDS

Jamie Elliot (Collingwood)

Once one of the league’s premier small forwards, injuries have hampered Elliot’s last few seasons. His performance on the weekend however showed Pies fans exactly what they’ve been missing, with Elliot kicking a season-high five goals, as well as collecting 19 possessions, taking 10 marks, and amassing 12 score involvements in a huge win.

Nick Larkey (North Melbourne)

Combining for 15 majors with forward partner Ben Brown, Larkey continued his impressive 2019 season with another dominant performance against the Power. Larkey kicked a career-high five goals, took seven marks and had 11 touches at 100 per cent disposal efficiency to top off a spectacular night for North’s forward line.

Michael Walters (Fremantle)

Another superb game from Walters who along with Nat Fyfe has shined this year at Fremantle. Despite going down to a finals-bound Bombers side, Walters recorded a season-high 36 possessions, won seven clearances and kicked 2.2 to further stake his claim for an All-Australian spot.

Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn)

In legendary fashion, Roughead could not bow out of the AFL quietly, with the four-time premiership player bagging a haul of six goals in what was expected to be his final senior match. With the pressure now on Alastair Clarkson to pick the veteran for the Hawks’ final game of the home-and-away season, Roughead turned back the clock to give Hawks fans a thrilling send-off to one of their favourite sons.

Ben Brown (North Melbourne)

Ben 10 Brown became the first player this season to kick 10 goals in a match, and in doing so tightened his grip on a maiden Coleman Medal in the Kangaroos' comprehensive victory over Port Adelaide. Having started the night six goals behind Giants spearhead Jeremy Cameron, Brown now leads the race for the Coleman by four goals. Brown made the most of his opportunities up front, registering only one behind in his 10-goal tally, which was the first bag of 10 to be kicked by a Kangaroos player since Wayne Carey in 1999.

Charlie Cameron (Brisbane)

After another standout performance on home turf, it seems like Charlie Cameron has inherited a permanent spot in the team of the week. Now arguably the best small forward in the league, Cameron once again shone for the Lions, kicking five goals in Brisbane’s huge win over the Cats.

FOLLOWERS

Todd Goldstein (North Melbourne)

It is not often that a 10-goal performance doesn’t land you three Brownlow votes, but Ben Brown might just have to concede the extra vote to Todd Goldstein. Goldstein was immense in his battle against Port’s two-pronged ruck attack of Patty Ryder and Pete Ladhams, as the big man collected a career-high 34 disposals (19 contested), took three marks, won 28 hitouts (nine to advantage), and kicked a goal to top off arguably the best game of his esteemed career thus far.

Dustin Martin (Richmond)

Having somewhat struggled at the start of the season, Martin’s form in the second half of the year has been nothing short of outstanding. Since rediscovering the form that so famously lead him to a Brownlow Medal in 2017, Martin and the Tigers have charged back into premiership favouritism; with their win over the Eagles cementing their claim. Martin’s impact on the weekend was huge, as he gathered 35 disposals, 13 inside 50s, took four marks, laid four tackles and kicked a goal in the Tigers’ win.

Josh Dunkley (Western Bulldogs)

Dunkley’s season just gets better and better every week with the emerging Bulldog once again dominating the midfield battle, this time away against the Giants. Dunkley tore his way through a helpless Giants core, amassing 31 disposals (13 contested), seven clearances, six marks, 10 tackles, eight score involvements and two goals as the Dogs jumped into the eight.

INTERCHANGE

Jarryd Lyons (Brisbane Lions)

An All-Australian smokey, Lyons just continues to get the job done for Brisbane. One of the Lions' headline recruits from last season, Lyons had 28 possessions (19 contested), nine clearances, four marks, 11 tackles and kicked a crucial late goal as the Lions’ wrestled top spot from Geelong on the eve of September action.

Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)

Mr Consistent. Pendlebury was once-again incredibly impressive in Collingwood’s win over the Crows at Adelaide Oval on Saturday evening, recording 34 touches, taking 10 marks, laying six tackles and having 10 score involvements in the Pies' 66-point win.

Patrick Lipinski (Western Bulldogs)

The young Dog has played a mature role throughout the second half of the season, and has played a crucial part in their run toward September. Lipinski finished with 27 disposals, took seven marks, laid seven tackles and booted two majors in the Dogs' win.

Elliot Yeo (West Coast)

Another huge effort from Yeo, who has well and truly cemented his spot as an elite midfield this past season. Yeo won an enormous 15 clearances amongst his 26 possessions, of which 18 were contested. The hard-nosed midfielder also laid eight tackles, had six inside 50s and took a respectable five marks in his side’s narrow loss to the Tigers.