Gold Coast’s Ben Long was popular with fans in Darwin after his impressive display against Adelaide on Saturday night. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

FULL BACKS

Ben Long (Gold Coast)
A pure defender’s game by Long, who wore the dangerous Izak Rankine like a glove for four quarters on Saturday night. One of only three Gold Coast players not to have played alongside the former Sun in previous years, Long rattled his opponent by holding him touchless in the first term, and goalless for the entire match.

Ben McKay (North Melbourne)
In what was another decisive one-on-one victory in Round 12, McKay kept Essendon forward Sam Weideman to just four disposals and no score, whilst also contributing 18 disposals at 100 per cent efficiency and eight intercept marks from 10 in total. Overall, this was a timely return to his brilliant form of much of 2022.

Jordan Ridley (Essendon)
Up the other end of the field, Essendon was getting similar service from Jordan Ridley. Playing his best role as a third tall in defence, Ridley took some terrific contested marks in addition to his reliable work dropping off an opponent to meet the ball. For a tall, somewhat gangly player, he almost never makes errors with the ball in hand.

HALF-BACKS

Nick Daicos (Collingwood)
It’s too harsh to describe Daicos’ recent form as a slump, but this performance was perhaps a return to the dominant footy he’d produced in the first third of the season. He continues to be difficult to define, with a role that seems to see him creep further up the field as the game wears on. Whatever it is, it landed the Magpies 30 nice disposals and three goals.

Noah Balta (Richmond)
Balta’s excellent season as Richmond’s only key defender of renown continued in the thrilling win over GWS. With the Tigers conceding 70 inside-50s for the match, the captivating backman had his work cut out for him, but he managed to hold Jesse Hogan to just one goal by repeatedly beating him to the ball.

Tom Stewart (Geelong)
The game’s premier medium defender had another beauty against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night, with 28 disposals at 89 per cent efficiency, nine rebound 50s and 697 metres gained. The highlight, however, was a snap in traffic at the beginning of the last term that resulted in his first goal since 2018, and a handy break for the Cats.

CENTRES

Ed Langdon (Melbourne)
One of the most disciplined wingmen in the competition, Langdon was a key piece of the Demons’ set-up that stifled Carlton on Friday night. His overlap run in combination with fellow swift teammates was notable on the night, as was his impact on the end of chains, with seven of his 25 touches landing inside 50.

Connor Rozee (Port Adelaide)
The ball use by Port Adelaide as a whole was a sight to behold on Saturday, and despite winning a lot of his possession on the inside, Rozee was right amongst it with some crisp kicking. Sending it inside 50 an incredible 13 times, he also gained 859 metres, set up two goals and kicked one of his own.

Nic Martin (Essendon)
Another tremendous outing by the Essendon wingman. A really consistent contributor, he performed strongly across four quarters to finish with 21 disposals and two goals against North Melbourne. He is now starting to get recognition as being one of the top-line outside midfielders of this season.

HALF-FORWARDS

Jack Lukosius (Gold Coast)
That is now 10 goals in two weeks for Lukosius, and his third bag of five this season. As with the week previous, Lukosius was part of an impressive burst from the Suns, booting two in their run of six to open the second half, before adding two more in the final term just when the Crows had threatened to pinch the game.

Jack Riewoldt (Richmond)
Old man Riewoldt produced a stirring performance against the Giants, having the better of a difficult opponent in Jack Buckley to boot five goals, two in an incredible final quarter. An underrated aspect of his career is his performances on the road – he now has 25 hauls of at least four outside Victoria, which is the most ever of a Victorian-based player.

Cameron Zurhaar (North Melbourne)
For much of the last term, it looked as though Zurhaar was destined to win the game for North Melbourne. In the end it was another gallant defeat for the Kangaroos, but the man they call “Bull” was terrific, with nine of his 12 disposals resulting in scores, and three exhilarating goals in another entertaining final quarter.

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FORWARDS

Luke Breust (Hawthorn)
The much-loved Hawk finally crossed the 500-goal milestone when he slotted the first of what turned into another bag of five at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday. It continued a great patch of form for Breust, who now has 15 goals in the last five weeks, and is enjoying much more than just a handy twilight season.

Todd Marshall (Port Adelaide)
A really tough call to separate Marshall and his equally impressive teammate Jeremy Finlayson, but Marshall’s dominance inside 50 both as a target and a distributor was impossible to miss against the Hawks. Seven of his 10 marks came within the forward arc, and in addition to kicking five goals himself, he handed off three others.

Junior Rioli (Port Adelaide)
Four goals from Junior Rioli equals his career-best, and marks his best performance in Port Adelaide colours. Always capable of big highlights, his best of the day came in the first quarter when he outstripped five players from the back of a rolling pack, soccering the ball through from the top of the square.

FOLLOWERS

Tim English (Western Bulldogs)
Not only is English establishing himself as the game’s best ruckman, he’s staking his claim as one of the best players in the league. His consistency in always impacting the play is excellent, but what was most telling against the Cats was his contested marking. With 27 disposals, eight tackles and six contested grabs, it was a hugely influential performance.

Christian Petracca (Melbourne)
Handed the reins in the midfield in the absence of Clayton Oliver, Petracca backed up a strong effort in Round 11 with a best-on-ground display against Carlton. It was not one for the archives on Friday night, but Petracca’s impact in all areas of the ground, with 32 touches, nine intercepts and a goal, stood out significantly.

Noah Anderson (Gold Coast)
A big second quarter from Anderson kept the Suns in touch against Adelaide, with the blooming superstar kicking a goal and winning eight contested possessions from nine in total. Whilst the third quarter was where Gold Coast made its move, the efforts of Anderson to will the Suns into the contest were absolutely vital. Another brilliant display.

INTERCHANGE

Jarman Impey (Hawthorn)
This was a really big effort from Jarman Impey. Heading back from the main break 82 points down against his former club, the defender showed enormous resolve to deliver a big second half consisting of 21 disposals and a goal. With captain James Sicily out suspended, his leadership and assuredness in the back half really shone through.

Callan Ward (GWS)
Riewoldt wasn’t the only veteran to produce an inspiring throwback performance at Giants Stadium on Sunday, with the former GWS captain stepping up after quarter-time and nearly dragging the Giants over the line. A final-quarter goal on the run didn’t quite pinch victory, but it capped off an afternoon full of trademark grit and power.

Zach Merrett (Essendon)
The Bombers’ skipper played as dominant a quarter as one could hope to see from a midfielder in the opening term against North Melbourne, running rampant with 16 touches, five clearances and two goals. Close checking from Liam Shiels curbed his influence somewhat, but without his early dominance Essendon may well have suffered a bad loss.

Caleb Daniel (Western Bulldogs)
Returning to a familiar half-back role to help cover for injured Dogs, Daniel demonstrated why he’s one of the best distributors in the league with a potent display against Geelong. Although starting in defence, the slick Bulldog won the footy all over the ground, finishing with 36 touches and a goal.

STIFF TO MISS
Jeremy Finlayson (Port Adelaide), Dan Houston (Port Adelaide), Steven May (Melbourne), Kyle Langford (Essendon), Kieran Briggs (GWS), Elliott Yeo (West Coast), Tim Taranto (Richmond), Will Phillips (North Melbourne), Brody Mihocek (Collingwood), Tom Mitchell (Collingwood).