AFL News

Team of the Week: Round 22

Published by
Johaan Forbes-Anthony

Defenders

Back Pocket - Nathan Wilson (GWS)

Don't let his position on the ground fool you, Wilson was sensational as a two-way runner for the Giants, collecting 24 touches with seven inside 50s and a goal to compliment his six rebounds with 11 of his 24 touches intercepting an Eagles attack.

Full Back - Liam Jones (Carlton)

His influence in the defensive half is becoming more profound by the week. 16 one-percenters registered on the weekend while keeping Hawthorn skipper Jarryd Roughead to just one goal in a moral-boosting win for the Blues.

Back Pocket - Dane Rampe (Sydney)

Shutting Taylor Walker down at the Adelaide Oval is no easy task but that's exactly what Rampe did on Friday night which went a long way to Sydney stealing the four points. Aside from keeping Walker to just the one goal, he picked up 16 disposals and five rebounds of his own.

[PLAYERS NAME] of the Crows / [PLAYERS NAME] of the Swans competes during the round 22 AFL match between the Adelaide Crows and the Sydney Swans at Adelaide Oval on August 18, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia.
Half Back - Sam Docherty (Carlton)

Docherty continued his outstanding 2017 season with 31 touches at a super impressive 93.5% efficiency while taking 15 marks (round high) and having eight score involvements as the Blues beat the Hawks for the first time in 15 attempts.

Centre Half Back - Steven May (Gold Coast)

Generally when your side loses the inside 50 count by 40, you expect the gun opposition forward to kick a few. Not on Saturday night, however, when May kept Joe Daniher to just the one major and 10 touches while claiming 25 touches and eight rebounds of his own.

Half Back - Lachie Whitfield (GWS)

Instrumental through the midfield, Whitfield finished with 31 touches (84% efficiency), 10 marks, three clearances and a goal for his hard work, gaining 676m in the process.

Centre

Wing - Josh Kelly (GWS)

Kelly continues to prove himself this season. He notched up a club record 43 touches on the weekend while picking up eight clearances before kicking the sealer after having his head knocked off by Josh Kennedy's hip.

Centre - Rory Sloane (Adelaide)

A ridiculous 18-disposal, 10-tackle first-half set the tone for Sloane's performance on Friday night as he finished with 29 touches (20 contested), 14 tackles, nine clearances and a goal.

Wing - Jack Steven (St Kilda)

The midfielder was immense for the Saints with 40 touches (87.5% efficiency), 11 clearances and a round-high 16 score involvements in a dominating effort.

Forwards

Half Forward - Cameron Pedersen (Melbourne)

With the ink still drying on his new contract, Pederson justified the faith shown in him with a sensational performance across half forward, with 24 touches, six inside 50s and three goals.

Centre Half Forward - Charlie Dixon (Port Adelaide)

Came up in the clutch in a big way on Saturday to bury the Dogs. Kicked four goals - including two in the final term - in a dominant display in a pure key forward's game.

BALLARAT, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 19: Charlie Dixon of the Power celebrates a goal during the 2017 AFL round 22 match between the Western Bulldogs and the Port Adelaide Power at Mars Stadium on August 19, 2017 in Ballarat, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Half Forward - Bailey Dale (Western Bulldogs)

The young star might've cost himself a few extra dollars on the contract he signed earlier in the week after this performance, impressing in the absence of the injured Jake Stringer. Kicked four goals from his 14 touches while taking three marks inside 50.

Forward Pocket - Jacob Townsend (Richmond)

In his first game for 2017, Townsend booted six goals in Richmond's rout of Fremantle, taking five marks and laying four tackles in the process.

Has he given Damien Hardwick a selection headache come finals time?

Full Forward - Jesse Hogan (Melbourne)

Just weeks after breaking his collarbone, Hogan bagged six goals on his return in a performance that will go a long way to securing Melbourne a finals birth. He also plucked eight marks inside 50 for good measure.

Forward Pocket - Lance Franklin (Sydney)

Bobbed up at important stages and put his stamp on the game with 16 touches (12 contested), five marks and three goals, needless to mention one that will be replayed for generations to come.

Followers

Ruck - Paddy Ryder (Port Adelaide)

The game's premier ruckman at the moment asserted himself early, kicking Port's first two goals before popping up all over the ground to finish with 12 touches, five tackles and four clearances to compliment his 55 hit outs.

Ruck Rover - Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)

The Power skipper stood up with the game on the line, tallying 33 disposals, seven tackles, six clearances and 11 score involvements to keep their top four hopes alive.

Rover - Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)

Another sublime performance from the Cats star, willing his side over the line against the Pies with 32 touches, 12 clearances, five tackles and two goals, including one with nothing more than a pitching wedge from 60m out on the run.

Interchange

Dayne Beams (Brisbane)

The Lions may keep on losing but this man keeps putting up performances worthy of All-Australian selection. 33 touches, seven marks, five clearances and three goals in another sublime effort from their leader.

during the round 22 AFL match between the Melbourne Demons and the Brisbane Lions at Melbourne Cricket Ground on August 20, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia.

Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn)

Keeps on amazing in 2017, registering 40+ disposals for the third time this season. He also had 11 clearances and seven tackles in a complete performance.

Josh Kennedy (Sydney)

Returned from injury as if he hadn't missed a beat, with 31 touches, seven tackles and five clearances and a goal to continue the Swans' surge towards September.

David Zaharakis (Essendon)

Essendon's best in their win over the Suns, the free agent picked up 38 touches (765m gained) at over 81% efficiency along with a round-high inside 50s and three goal assists.

Published by
Johaan Forbes-Anthony