Collingwood’s Brody Mihocek celebrates one of his last-quarter goals on Monday against Melbourne. Photo: AFL MEDIA

FULL BACKS

Jimmy Webster (St Kilda)
Webster performed a miserly shut-down job on Charlie Cameron in the loss to Brisbane on Saturday night, and it is not the first time the Saint has beaten the star small forward. Cameron’s only goal came from an undisciplined free-kick given away by Brad Crouch, with Webster holding him to just one behind from 10 touches, while picking up 18 himself.

Harris Andrews (Brisbane)
For perhaps the first time in his decorated career, the Brisbane full back has experienced a relatively prolonged dip in form, and the inevitable criticism that goes along with that has come his way. After a fast start by Max King, Andrews bounced back into great form, managing to get well on top and beat him for the rest of the game.

James Sicily (Hawthorn)
Sicily’s remarkably consistent season continued on Saturday, with the intercept defender again one of Hawthorn’s better players in the tight loss to Fremantle. Plenty of backmen rack up big numbers in the marks column in modern footy, but Sicily’s are almost always well earned, as was the case again this week with five of his nine being intercepts, and three others contested.

HALF BACKS

Sam Docherty (Carlton)
One of the greatest footy stories in years continues to roll on, with Docherty again among the best players on the ground against the Bombers on Friday night. The reliable half-back had 33 disposals at 88 per cent efficiency, also applying significant pressure around the contest with some big tackles.

Harry Himmelberg (GWS)
In just his third game as a defender since becoming a regular starter in the GWS side, Himmelberg produced a totally comprehensive drop-off defender game. The numbers were almost preposterous – 37 touches, 16 marks, 10 rebound 50s, and a goal – but it’s his ball use by foot that really stands out, and a clear motivation for interim coach Mark McVeigh’s decision to move him back there.

Liam Baker (Richmond)
Such is Baker’s form since returning to the backline around a month ago, he could well be right up there in Richmond’s best and fairest award once again. Not only did he win his position in the back line against Port Adelaide, but also managed five clearances around the ground, seven inside 50s, and, of course, the match-winning goal.

CENTRES

Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane)
In a tight-but-scrappy affair against the Saints, McCluggage’s decision making, and smooth ability to execute his decisions, stood out significantly. His 33 disposals equalled the previous biggest tally of his career, as did his seven clearances, and he continues to add improved inside work to his already outstanding efforts when stationed on the wing.

Jaeger O’Meara (Hawthorn)
A top-shelf and well balanced midfielder’s game from the Hawks’ vice-captain, who was the standout for his side against a strong Fremantle midfield. O’Meara gave Hawthorn their first lead of the match with a goal midway through the first quarter, had a hand in two more, and went on to win 30 touches and nine clearances.

Blake Acres (Fremantle)
With Hawthorn holding an unlikely 10 point lead at half time, it was Acres who led the charge with an outstanding third term to help get the Dockers back on track. The in-form wingman had 13 touches and a goal to make it 24 for the match and nearly 700 metres gained, before he unfortunately went down with a hamstring injury early in the final quarter.

HALF FORWARDS

Tanner Bruhn (GWS)
This was a break-out game from Bruhn, who has played eight of 12 games in his second year at AFL level. He contributed strongly up forward, where he slotted two goals and worked hard leading up to the wing from a flank, and also in the middle as part of the Giants plentiful on-ball rotation.

Brody Mihocek (Collingwood)
With two goals late in the second quarter, Mihocek brought Collingwood back to within two straight kicks before half time, making the scoreboard look more reflective of how well the Magpies had played. It was only fitting that he added two more as they ran away with it in the last. A true heart-and-soul player.

Stephen Coniglio (GWS)
Coniglio has been consistently solid and sometimes outstanding all throughout the season, but he appears to be enjoying somewhat of a genuine renaissance under Mark McVeigh. This form continued with a highly productive and lively outing against North Melbourne, featuring 34 disposals, as well as three goals and two goal assists.

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FORWARDS

Michael Walters (Fremantle)
Walters has enjoyed a strong return to form over the past month, looking invigorated as part of an electrifying small forward mix. With 21 disposals, he collected more of the footy than he’s had since midway through last year, and his two goals came in succession at the beginning of the third term to put Fremantle back in front.

Harry McKay (Carlton)
McKay returned early from a shoulder injury and showed no ill effects, with his overhead marking and aerial contest work as strong as ever. All of his three goals came in the first half, however he continued to stay involved in the game with some important touches, including setting up Charlie Curnow’s brilliant third quarter dribbler.

Mason Cox (Collingwood)
Mason Cox may never top his best-ever performance in the 2018 preliminary final, but his display in the Queen’s Birthday game on Monday goes close. 21 disposals, including nine in an inspirational final quarter, along with eight marks and an absolutely cracking goal. Often on the receiving end of criticism, hopefully he gets his dues this week after a brilliant game.

FOLLOWERS

Todd Goldstein (North Melbourne)
The North Melbourne veteran made all the review shows this weekend for his animated on-field discussion with Jason Horne-Francis, however little was made of the fact that he’d actually played a fantastic game. Goldstein contributed up forward with two of the Kangaroos’ seven goals, and also in the middle where he won three centre clearances.

Lachie Neale (Brisbane)
Just as he is racking up disposals, Lachie Neale is continuing to amass Footyology Team of the Week gongs. The 2020 Brownlow Medallist (and current favourite for this year’s medal) was again dominant against a lacklustre St Kilda midfield, bursting his way through contests to amass seven clearances, 37 disposals, and eight score involvements.

Andrew Brayshaw (Fremantle)
Another fantastic game in what is becoming a consistently dominant season for the former number two draft pick. Where in other weeks it has been his supreme clearance and contested work that’s done the damage, it was his immense work-rate and spread – and the sealing goal – that hurt the Hawks on Saturday.

INTERCHANGE

Hayden Young (Fremantle)
After a couple of injury-affected seasons to start his career, Young is starting to show why the Dockers selected him so highly in the 2019 draft. Excellent overhead, and a superb distributor of the ball by foot, he was outstanding in the match against Hawthorn where he had more than 30 disposals for the second time this year. It’s hard to believe he’s still played less than 25 games.

Dylan Shiel (Essendon)
This was not only Shiel’s best performance of the season, but right up there with his best since joining Essendon at the end of 2018. The oft-maligned Bomber enjoyed more time playing on-ball as a pure midfielder, with five of his eight clearances coming from a centre bounce, and his 10 tackles were indicative of improved defensive intent.

Clayton Oliver (Melbourne)
Throughout Melbourne’s last three weeks, which can now officially be dubbed a “rough patch,” Oliver has continued to dominate through the middle of the ground. Whilst a share of his 43 touches on Monday were “one-twos”, he still managed his usual swathe of inside 50s and contested possessions, and his ability to get involved in these chains is indicative of his vastly improved tank and work-rate.

Jack Crisp (Collingwood)
The incredibly consistent Magpies star was brilliant in his side’s outstanding win over (former) ladder leaders Melbourne on Monday. Crisp mixed his time between half back, where he intercepted the ball on eight occasions, and the midfield, where he was typically productive. A fantastic running goal in the last quarter all but sealed the win.

STIFF TO MISS
Luke Davies-Uniacke (North Melbourne), Patrick Cripps (Carlton), Lewis Young (Carlton), Brennan Cox (Fremantle), Nick Vlastuin (Richmond), Keidean Coleman (Brisbane), Todd Marshall (Port Adelaide), Nick Daicos (Collingwood), Jack Viney (Melbourne), Andrew Brayshaw (Melbourne).