MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 04: Jeremy McGovern of the Eagles marks the ball during the 2019 AFL round 20 match between the Carlton Blues and the West Coast Eagles at Marvel Stadium on August 04, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
With the race for September heating up, here are the players that lit up Round 20.
Rory Laird (Adelaide)
Laird played a pivotal role for the Crows in their win over the Saints on Saturday night. Collecting 38 touches, 12 marks, and eight rebound 50’s, Laird’s efforts helped to ease the current top eight pressure on Don Pyke’s side.
Joel Hamling (Fremantle)
Geelong ace Tom Hawkins was looking in ominous form over in the West, booting three majors before quarter time. However, the Coleman Medal contender was kept to nothing from that point forward with Hamling playing a crucial shut-down role, amassing five marks of his own.
Nick Haynes (GWS)
Haynes was immense for the Giants, having another standout performance down back in the Sydney Derby. Haynes collected 12 marks (eight intercept), 18 disposals, and four tackles, continuing his impressive 2019 form.
Nick Newman (Carlton)
Played his best game for the Blues since moving over from the Swans at the end of last season. Running off half-back, Newman gathered 24 touches, six defensive 50 rebounds, 11 marks, three tackles, and topped off his super performance by streaming forward and kicking four goals.
Jeremy McGovern (West Coast)
The three-time All-Australian once again showed off his class on Sunday afternoon against an inexperienced Blues forward line. The key defender took 13 marks, of which six were intercepts and four contested, had 18 touches, and seven defensive 50 rebounds.
Shane Edwards (Richmond)
Was once again instrumental for the Tigers gaining 467 metres off half-back, whilst also collecting 31 touches (11 contested), having nine score involvements and racking up eight clearances.
Mitch Robinson (Brisbane)
Was electric at the Gabba on Sunday evening, continuing his rich vein of form. The lively character put his stamp on the match with six tackles, 653 metres gained from his 24 touches, eight marks, and two crucial goals for the Lions.
Toby Greene (GWS)
Reaping the rewards that come with such a purple patch of form, Greene helped to once again lift the Giants to a win at home. Up against local rivals the Swans, Greene starred once again for Leon Cameron’s side, collecting 34 touches (18 contested), winning 10 clearances, gaining 673 metres, taking eight marks, and kicking a goal.
Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
In almost single-handedly leading the Dogs to an upset win away against the Lions, Bontempelli showed why he currently sits second in the AFL Coaches Association Player of the Year Award. The Dogs' star racked up 35 disposals, had seven tackles, took five marks, and kicked a goal in a valiant performance up at the Gabba.
Liam Ryan (West Coast)
Apart from taking a contender for mark of the year, Ryan was lively around the ground, collecting 16 touches and kicking a career-high four goals. His forward pressure and presence around the football have been crucial this year for the Eagles, as they look to retain their premiership crown.
Ben Brown (North Melbourne)
In a dominating performance up forward, Brown kept the pressure on Jeremy Cameron at the top of the Coleman Medal tally, with the big Roo kicking four of his own to keep North’s slim finals hopes alive. While Brown was slightly inaccurate, kicking 4.3, he laid a career-high four tackles and took six marks.
Isaac Heeney (Sydney)
Almost helped his side to a last gasp win over rivals GWS, Heeney played a lone hand up forward for the Swans, collecting 18 disposals (12 contested), taking seven marks and kicking 4.2 in Sydney’s narrow loss.
Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide)
Gray was superb as the Power ran over the top of Essendon on Saturday afternoon at Marvel Stadium. The livewire forward had 10 score involvements, kicked four goals and finished with 19 disposals to help keep the Power’s season alive.
Taylor Walker (Adelaide)
Widely criticised so far this season, Walker turned in a performance of the highest order on Saturday night as the Crows’ captain turned back the clock, kicking a bag of four goals against the Saints. Walker collected 12 disposals, and six marks, with Adelaide fans hoping the performance sparks some late-season form for their skipper.
Charlie Cameron (Brisbane)
One of Brisbane’s best this season, Cameron once again lit up the Gabba on Sunday evening as he ran rings around a helpless Bulldogs’ defence. Cameron had a perfect day in front of goal, kicking four straight, on top of taking seven marks, as the Lions tightened their grip on a top-four spot.
Brodie Grundy (Collingwood)
Grundy continued his impressive year with another commanding performance against Gold Coast, winning the ruck battle against former teammate, and in-form Suns ruckman, Jarrod Witts. Grundy had an immense day around the ball, racking up 43 hitouts, with 10 of those being to advantage, 26 disposals, six marks, five tackles, and a goal.
James Worpel (Hawthorn)
Worpel had one of the best performances from a member of the losing side in recent memory on Friday night when he acted as a shining light in an otherwise uninspired Hawthorn performance. The second-year Hawk had 37 disposals (15 contested), won 11 clearances, laid five tackles and took five marks to cap off a mammoth effort.
Adam Treloar (Collingwood)
The Pies steadied their previously faltering season at the MCG on Sunday with Treloar stamping his authority and class upon Gold Coast’s midfield. Now viewed as one of the premier midfielders of the competition, Treloar collected 37 possessions during the game, with 15 of those contested. Treloar also had nine inside 50s, 13 score involvements, 10 clearances, eight marks, and a goal.
Jackson Macrae (Western Bulldogs)
While the Dogs ultimately fell to the Lions up at the Gabba, the efforts of Jackson Macrae can only be applauded. The Dogs’ midfielder, who has taken a liking to playing the Lions, collected an enormous 45 disposals to go along with the 47 he grabbed last year against the same opposition. Macrae's stoppage work was fantastic, as he won 12 clearances, gaining 574 metres and eight inside 50s.
Dan Houston (Port Adelaide)
Helped to Power to a big win in the context of their season. Houston gained 474 metres from his 29 touches (11 contested), kicking two goals and taking two marks.
Matt Crouch (Adelaide)
Crouch played a crucial role in Adelaide’s victory over the Saints. The former All-Australian midfielder had 35 disposals and kicked two goals to lift the Crows’ to a 22-point victory in front of their home crowd.
Michael Walters (Fremantle)
It was going to take a special performance from someone if the 11th-placed Dockers were going to take down the ladder leading Cats, and that performance came from Walters. In arguably his career-best season, Walters has continually performed for Ross Lyon’s side, with his 29-possession (17 contested) performance on the weekend once again showcasing his class and skill. Walters also kicked a goal, won eight clearances, laid five tackles and took five marks.