Hayden Young tackled by Christian Salem during Fremantle’s upset win over Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

FULL BACKS

James Sicily (Hawthorn)
This was a colossal display from the Hawthorn captain, and one of the best individual games a defender has produced in recent years. Of his 43 disposals, 22 were interceptions and 17 were contested. Whatever St Kilda tried, Sicily was there on the end of it with staunch body work and perfect timing.

Liam Jones (Western Bulldogs)
What a difference-maker Liam Jones has been in his second stint at the Western Bulldogs. Not only has he provided much-needed marking ability in the Dogs’ defensive half, but his contested work is as good as ever. He was outstanding against Gold Coast on Saturday night, keeping Ben King in check and winning the footy back 13 times.

Nick Blakey (Sydney)
In what was a largely unvarying game for three-and-a-half quarters, it was Blakey who was ultimately the difference maker against Carlton with a dazzling final-quarter display. Having been required to man bigger opposition for much of the game, Blakey broke free in the fourth quarter and blitzed the Blues from defence, providing vital dash when few others could muster it.

HALF-BACKS

Hayden Young (Fremantle/Walyalup)
One of many Dockers who has found form in a more striking team system, Young was terrific against the Demons with 27 disposals and 10 rebounds from defensive 50. His ability to take on difficult kicks and nail them was highly valuable for Fremantle as they consistently broke through Melbourne/Naarm’s defence.

Aliir Aliir (Port Adelaide/Yartapuulti)
Aliir has rounded his game off beautifully from a defensive perspective, and is now much more than simply a drop-off defender. Against an inclement weather specialist in Jack Riewoldt, Aliir not only raked in plenty of interceptions from high half-back, but won or halved every single one of his eight one-on-one contests.

Mason Redman (Essendon)
Another outstanding game from a player whose rise from bottom-six Bomber to All-Australian fancy continues to delight Essendon fans. Redman’s attack from defence was brilliant against West Coast on Saturday night, with a goal and two further assists among his 31 disposals as a damaging running back.

CENTRES

Josh Daicos (Collingwood)
Although his disposal count fell below 20 for the first time this season, the game’s premier wingman made up for it with some superb finishing in front of goal to finish with three majors. Scoring the first of the match more than seven minutes in, he also kicked off the blitz late in the third quarter that finally knocked off a gallant North Melbourne.

Matt Rowell (Gold Coast)
Rowell further enhanced his reputation with a formidable effort against the Western Bulldogs midfield. His third quarter had to be seen to be believed – 11 disposals, of which nine were contested, and seven were clearances. His total of 16 clearances is among the most ever recorded, and his burst from stoppage enabled him to gain 700 metres for his side. A complete midfield game.

Nic Martin (Essendon)
In a testament to his discipline and impact, 25 of Nic Martin’s career-best 31 disposals were won between the arcs on Saturday night. The man who surprised everyone with his brilliant debut year just continues to get better and better in 2023, now one of Essendon’s most consistent threats on a wing or at half-forward.

HALF-FORWARDS

Izak Rankine (Adelaide)
The more of the footy Izak Rankine gets, the more tears opposition supporters shed. There are no cheap disposals, just maximum impact. So it was in the Crows’ win over Brisbane, as Rankine managed 13 score involvements (including two goals and three assists) from his 23 disposals, with a hand in everything Adelaide did as they claimed the game late.

Jack Lukosius (Gold Coast)
Matt Rowell’s third quarter will be remembered as the match-winning stint, but it may have all been in vain were it not for Lukosius’ tremendous second term. The Suns kicked four goals for the quarter, all of them from the boot of Lukosius. From that point on they were never headed, with the silky Sun kicking a fifth right before three-quarter time.

Toby Greene (GWS)
Others finished off the work, but Greene was the one who set the Giants’ victory up with a dynamite first half at Kardinia Park. Booting the first goal of the match, the 200-gamer added three more in the second term, including a ripper from long range and a telling shot on the half-time siren.

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FORWARDS

Luke Breust (Hawthorn)
Opting to stick around and help guide through the next generation of Hawks, Breust has been a valuable contributor in a variety of ways this season. In round 11 it was all about creative impact, with some brilliant plays as part of Hawthorn’s stunning theft in the game against St Kilda. Closing in on 500 goals, he will go down as one of the best small forwards of the era.

Nick Larkey (North Melbourne)
This was an excellent outing for Larkey, with five goals against tough opposition franking his return to form after a few solid weeks. Presenting as a target for North Melbourne all day, he got reward late with three last-quarter goals, and managed eight marks inside 50 despite the fact his side only got it in there 43 times.

Brent Daniels (GWS)
Daniels provided everything one could want from a pressure forward against the Cats. Five tackles inside 50 was the most of any player this round, and he continually posed a threat around stoppages and when the ball hit the deck inside 50. With two goals in the final term, including the matchwinner, he rivalled Greene for best-on-ground honours.

FOLLOWERS

Luke Jackson (Fremantle)
The validating form of Luke Jackson was again on show on the weekend, this time against his former club at the MCG. After gun ruck Sean Darcy injured a hamstring just before half-time, Jackson took over and went to work, with his clearance work and influential contributions in transition proving crucial to Fremantle’s victory.

Tim Taranto (Richmond)
The gun Richmond recruit showed his prowess in all facets of the game on Sunday, not only hitting the scoreboard, but also clocking up 33 disposals, seven tackles and seven clearances. He had some strong attention from Willem Drew in the final term, but still managed his third and fourth goals, with only a finger on the goal line preventing what could’ve been a handful.

Jordan De Goey (Collingwood)
Another splendid performance from De Goey, with plenty of his trademark blend of drive and class that has become a consistent mark of his game in the last 12 months. His 35 touches were the most he’s had in a single match, and with 10 of those heading inside 50, he was clearly the most damaging player on the field.

INTERCHANGE

Chad Warner (Sydney)
Warner’s best games are fairly comprehensive, and he produced the goods when the Swans needed a big one on Friday night. Slicing up the Carlton midfield along with Isaac Heeney, Warner managed 29 touches and two goals, the second of which finally broke the game in Sydney’s favour after a deadlock at the start of the final term.

Tom Stewart (Geelong)
Of all the Cats to have run riot at Kardinia Park over the years, few have owned it like Stewart has. Notching up 12 intercept possessions from his 31 in total, and a game-high 783 metres gained, the gun backman was Geelong’s main source of resistance against a fired-up Giants outfit.

Rory Laird (Adelaide)
With his loose-man-in-defence days long behind him, Laird has grown into one of the most consistent defensively-minded midfielders in the AFL. Taking it to an in-form Brisbane midfield, Laird created time and space for his more attacking teammates with a monster 16 tackles, to go with seven clearances and 27 disposals.

Zak Butters (Port Adelaide)
Last year it was Connor Rozee who took the big leap foretold, and this year Butters has matched it. Plenty of things are working out well at Port, but none more than this. In soggy conditions that suited him beautifully, Butters won plenty of the footy at the coalface, also nailing a beautiful set shot from 50 that killed off some Richmond momentum.

STIFF TO MISS
Lachie Whitfield (GWS), Stephen Coniglio (GWS), Jarman Impey (Hawthorn), Will Day (Hawthorn), Hugh Greenwood (North Melbourne), Toby Nankervis (Richmond), Max King (St Kilda), Jacob Weitering (Carlton), Sam Collins (Gold Coast), Dan Houston (Port Adelaide).