Team of the Round

Team of the Week: Round 19

Check out who made the cut 👇

Published by
Ben Lawless

Backline

Caleb Daniel

Daniel was instrumental for his side, as the small defender helped generate offense for the Dogs, even managing to hit the scoreboard himself with a goal.

Challenging for the Bulldogs best player behind Bontempelli, Daniel put on a show. He gathered 34 touches, 6 marks, 5 clearances, 9 intercepts, and 6 score involvements.

Tom Stewart

In another strong performance, Stewart led a Cats defense that held Richmond to only one goal in the first half. This effort set up his side's victory as they built up an insurmountable lead.

Leading all players with 10 intercepts, he also managed 25 disposals, 7 score involvements, 7 rebounds from 50, 9 marks, and 92% disposal efficiency. While previously undervalued, Stewart is close to a lock for an All-Australian spot after a season of stellar play.

Daniel Rich

The booming left-footer was at it again helping his side down back while propelling his team forward on the rebound.

Ending with 29 touches, he also had 671 metres gained, 6 marks, 8 intercepts, 6 score involvements and disposed of the ball with 80% efficiency.

Jake Lloyd

Lloyd was once again a reliable defender who manages to generate opportunities for his side coming out of defence. His efficiency (87.5%) while collecting plenty of the ball gave his side excellent use ensuring that the Swans could keep control of possession.

Finishing with 32 touches, he also had 5 intercepts, 4 score involvements, 6 marks and 502 metres gained.

Dyson Heppell

In a disappointing loss for the Bombers, Heppell was one of his team's best trying hard all game. While the Bombers missed an opportunity to hold a top-eight spot, strong Heppell performances will be crucial for the side to challenge for that final spot.

With a team-high 28 disposals, he also finished with 6 marks, 4 tackles, 6 intercepts and 435 metres gained.

Jack Crisp

Crisp was one of the Magpies best, being one of the main reasons that his side only lost by 28. He was strong in defence, preventing many entries into 50 and keeping Power's forwards at bay.

He finished with a team-high 30 touches, 10 intercepts and 13 marks, to go with 83.3% efficiency and 6 tackles.

Centre

Lachie Whitfield

Whitfield was instrumental in his sides comeback victory, as he led the midfielder group who dominated the Bombers in the second half.

Finishing with a game-high 36 touches, he also had 10 marks, 4 score involvements, and an impressive 82.9% disposal efficiency. The Giants are a different team when Whitfield is up and firing, being one of his sides most important and impactful players.

Rory Laird

Laird has been putting together an impressive 2021 campaign, but his efforts against the Hawks was one of his best for the season.

Gathering a game-high 36 touches (20 contested), he also managed 6 marks, 10 clearances (8 centre), 518 metres gained, 10 score involvements and 6 inside 50s. What differentiated this game for Laird was his ability to hit the scoreboard, with his 2 goals coming at critical times for the Crows.

Dom Sheed

Sheed was impressive all game, but it was his final quarter heroics that made him the Eagles best player. Kicking two majors in the last quarter, he was able to ice the game and ensure there was no late comeback from the Saints.

To go along with his 2 goals, he managed to grab 32 touches, 6 marks, 7 clearances, 10 score involvements and 6 intercepts.

Forward Line

Patrick Dangerfield

Dangerfield has continued with his recent impressive form starring for the Cats in the Grand Final rematch. He was all over the ground hitting the scoreboard and generating opportunities for his other forwards.

To go along with 28 disposals, he also had 6 marks, 7 tackles, 7 clearances, 7 score involvements, and 6 inside 50s. With Danger rounding into form towards the end of the season, the Cats are looking dangerous and one of the biggest chances to take home the premiership cup.

Max King

King was unstoppable against the Eagles, grabbing 8 contested marks with the opposition having no answer for him.

He managed to kick a career-high 6 goals, as he manages to shake the goal kicking inaccuracies that plagued him earlier in the season. Here is a highlight package of his dominance throughout the game.

Tarryn Thomas

Thomas continues to impress with a career-best four-goals against the Blues. Being a lethal combination with Larkey, the pair tore the game open as the Kangaroos took control of the match in the second half.

In an all-around performance, he also gathered 23 disposals, 7 inside 50s, 9 score involvements, 87% efficiency, 5 tackles and 5 clearances. He provided North fans with a lot to look forward to, by hitting the scoreboard and generating multiple opportunities for his side with repeated forward 50 entries.

Isaac Heeney

Heeney was the clear best on the ground being the main difference between the two sides. In an incredible display, he changed the momentum of the game as he begins to take over and hit the scoreboard.

Kicking 5 goals and collecting 22 disposals, he also grabbed 11 marks, 8 score involvements and 403 metres gained. Of his 11 marks, this hanger below not only swung the game in the Swans favour but is a mark of the year contender for 2021.

Nick Larkey

Larkey was the best performing forward of the weekend, kicking 7 majors and helping his side inch closer to moving out of the last place.

He also managed to obtain 20 touches, 8 marks, 13 score involvements, 3 inside 50s and 3 intercepts as he showcased his versatility and ability to impact the game in front of goal and around the ground.

Taylor Walker

After a few quieter performances, Tex was back in the thick of the action with another starring performance.

With Coleman leader Harry McKay out for the round, Walker utilised the opportunity to decrease the gap with a four-goal haul.

Followers

Oscar McInerney

After struggling last week against the Tigers, Oscar was back to his best in a Ruck masterclass against the Suns. After a tight first half, McInerney decided to take the game into his own hands by not only setting up teammates but clearing the ball from stoppages himself.

In a display of rucking domination, his 39 hitouts were three times as many as anyone else on the ground. He also managed to get 18 touches, 12 clearances, 7 centre clearances, 5 inside 50s and 16 contested disposals.

Marcus Bontempelli

The Bont was excellent again, with his ability to dominate possession and hit the scoreboard. His consistency in those areas can only be matched by Dustin Martin around the league.

With 31 disposals and 2 goals, Bont also had 10 clearances, 6 tackles, 10 inside 50s and 8 score involvements. In another best-on-ground performance, he solidifies his spot as Brownlow favourite.

Ollie Wines

Wines was slow to get started against the Magpies but was unstoppable in the second half as the Power took over. In the second half, he was sent to Taylor Adams and did an excellent job keeping him quiet and obtaining plenty of his own ball.

By the end of the game, he had 30 disposals (13 contested), 6 score involvements, 7 clearances, 572 metres gained and a goal.

Interchange

Tom Green

While GWS were without their skipper Toby Greene, the other Green starred as they overcame a deficit to jump into the eighth position. Green is one of the rising star favourites, with the second-year player putting together a series of strong performances.

Against the Bombers, Green had 29 touches, 7 marks, 6 clearances, 6 score involvements and 4 inside 50s. Green appears to have a promising future in this league with the Giants bullish about their academy player.

Brayden Fiorini

After struggling to make the team earlier in the season, Fiorini found some form against the Lions. Working hard all match, Fiorini put together a four-quarter performance that saw him as Gold Coast's best player.

He ended with 41 touches, 8 marks, 4 clearances, 6 score involvements and 78% disposal efficiency. Fiorini used the ball more effectively than usual. If he had been more efficient or impacted the scoreboard he could have found a place on the starting team.

Bailey Smith

Smith was a tenacious player all game, gathering plenty of the ball and also making his presence known with a game-high 9 tackles.

He also finished with 26 disposals, 592 metres gained, 6 score involvements and 8 inside 50s. While a great performance, he was just beaten out for a starting spot by slightly stronger and more efficient performances.

Willem Drew

In a dominant display from the Power, Willem was one of the driving forces for his side as they overpowered the Magpies in the middle of the ground.

Drew finished with a game-high 32 touches (17 contested), five inside 50, 8 clearances, 8 score involvements, and 5 tackles. Keeping him from a starting position is his low metres gained and inability to hit the scoreboard.

Published by
Ben Lawless