Bulldogs young gun Rhylee West celebrates a goal after producing another eye-catching performance on the weekend. Photo: Getty Images

FULL BACKS

Brayden Maynard (Collingwood)
In his 150th game, Brayden Maynard produced a typically powerful performance from the back half against GWS. The reliable defender played with aggression and competitive spirit, keeping the dangerous Toby Greene to just one goal, while intercepting plenty of footy as well. A true heart-and-soul Magpie.

Robbie Tarrant (Richmond)
In doubt to play all week after undergoing a minor hand operation, Tarrant produced a vintage defensive performance against the Cats. With 13 years’ worth of experience to guide him, the veteran full back held Tom Hawkins goalless for the first time since Round 17 last year, using a great combination of aerial judgement and strength in the contest.

Tom Stewart (Geelong)
The central figure in what was one of the best home-and-away matches in recent memory. Where many players would have been unable to stay present after an incident like Stewart’s nasty hit on Dion Prestia, the ever-cool Geelong defender went on to be one of the most influential players on the ground. Although he will now miss a chunk of the season, it’s doubtful the Cats would have won without his efforts.

HALF-BACKS

Nick Blakey (Sydney)
Such is the power and propulsion with which “The Lizard” plays his footy, it sometimes seems as though opposition players panic, or even freeze, at the mere sight of him approaching the ball. This was certainly the case on Saturday night, where Blakey belted across the SCG, running rings around St Kilda, and helping himself to 31 disposals.

Jake Lever (Melbourne)
A return to form from a player who had been genuinely out of it for a number of weeks. With the backline crew looking more like that which he had become accustomed to, Lever relished the opportunity to fly for his spoils and marks, in the end coming away with an impressive eight intercept marks and some big one-on-one wins.

Jack Scrimshaw (Hawthorn)
Coming off the back of a few quiet weeks, Scrimshaw was one of Hawthorn’s best contributors in the Round 15 loss to the Western Bulldogs. Not only did he clean up for the Hawks in the back line with some precision ball use, but also took a number of impressive contested marks, and intercepted the ball on 13 occasions.

CENTRES

Steele Sidebottom (Collingwood)
The man who is now fourth on the list of matches played for the Magpies produced what was quite comfortably his best performance of 2022 on the weekend. Stationed out on a wing, Sidebottom starred with a hardworking effort that included 26 touches, and also an important – albeit slightly confusing – goal just before half-time.

Tom Liberatore (Western Bulldogs)
One of the form players of the competition over the last month, Liberatore continued his hot streak with a demolition job on the Hawthorn midfield. His ability to consistently rack up big numbers in clearances (11 on Friday night) and score involvements (12) is indicative of his impact as a midfielder – not only does he win the ball in dispute, but he gets it to where it needs to go.

Sam Walsh (Carlton)
Walsh’s game against Fremantle on Saturday was right up there with the dominant performances that he produced so regularly in 2021. Now that there’s less of a necessity for Carlton to use him at every centre bounce, Walsh is able to play to his strengths and cover the ground as a link-up player, which he did brilliantly with 40 disposals and 11 inside 50s.

HALF-FORWARDS

Rhylee West (Western Bulldogs)
The past few weeks have seen a terrific coming-of-age for West, with the young Bulldog generating a high level of impact against Hawthorn. Twelve of his 19 possessions were contested, but it was his work forward of centre, where he booted three goals and dished off three others, that made this a stand-out game.

Taylor Walker (Adelaide)
As he so often does, Walker got Adelaide off to a hot start with three goals in the opening term, this time against a hapless North Melbourne. The Crows’ all-time leading goalscorer added another three across the match, nailing set shots from near and far, and also a tremendous left-foot snap on the run from 40 metres out.

Zac Fisher (Carlton)
Often an impact player, Fisher was involved in Carlton’s impressive win over the Dockers for the whole four quarters, influencing contests up the ground from half-forward, and popping into centre bounces at times too. The talented Blue picked up a career-high 29 disposals, and was a lively presence on the inside and out.

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FORWARDS

Tyson Stengle (Geelong)
Geelong fans have been quick to embrace (or perhaps more accurately, adore) Stengle, and when he produces displays like he did on Saturday, it’s easy to see why. Another three goals to take his season tally to 29, but as with all the best small forwards, it’s all about moments, and Stengle had some weighty ones in what was a compelling final term.

Josh Kennedy (West Coast)
In a miserable season for the Eagles, this win was a joy for supporters, and it was brought about partly due to a big game from their champion spearhead. With his biggest bag of goals since Round 8, 2020, Kennedy steered West Coast home with a strong performance that included two important majors in the last term.

Darcy Fogarty (Adelaide)
Fogarty has long had a reputation as a man who doesn’t waste a disposal, it’s just that he usually only gets seven or eight of them. On Sunday against North Melbourne, Fogarty burst through his career-best to pick up 20 touches, used it well as always, booted four goals, and gave off two others. A brilliant game, and part of a month-long body of work that suggests a genuine break-out run may be occurring.

FOLLOWERS

Darcy Cameron (Collingwood)
What a season the perennial back-up ruckman is having, not only shaking the bridesmaid tag in the absence of Brodie Grundy, but showing he can match it with the best rucks in the AFL. He put in a brilliant marking display against the Giants, won five clearances in the middle, and also went forward and kicked two majors. Collingwood is fortunate to have signed him up to a three-year extension during the week.

Jack Viney (Melbourne)
Much like his Round 15 Footyology Team of the Week teammate Liberatore, Viney offered up a fearsome midfield performance on the weekend, only the gun Demon did it against one of the best on-ball units in the game. Returning to his role as skipper in the absence of the injured Max Gawn, Viney led from the front and terrorised the Lions, with a prolific, impactful and inspiring game.

Connor Rozee (Port Adelaide)
Rozee’s terrific run of form playing as a full-time midfielder continues, with the Port Adelaide star shaking off some early-season wobbles to now be a strong contender for the John Cahill Medal. His 24 touches were probably under-par for selection as one of the top midfielders of the round, but his impact with ball in hand is a class above most – as evidenced by his two crucial third-quarter goals, and brilliant assist to Mitch Georgiades in the first.

INTERCHANGE

Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
A fantastic all-round effort from the Bulldogs champ, with a comprehensive stat line that included 27 disposals (half of which ended up as scores), 11 inside 50s, eight clearances, seven tackles, one goal and one assist. As his side slowly gets back to its best in 2022, so too does Bontempelli – a confronting prospect for opposition sides.

Ben Ainsworth (Gold Coast)
Key to Gold Coast’s improvement this season has been the sheer quantity of players, some older and some young, who are producing clear career-best form. This is perhaps best exemplified by Ainsworth, who again was one of his side’s most influential players. While he only managed one goal himself, he handed out three others, and picked up 20 touches for the second week running.

Liam Baker (Richmond)
Damien Hardwick’s fixer was again the man for the job against Geelong, stepping into the midfield after Prestia’s concussion and turning the game with sheer guts and effort. In an era in which the Tigers have been blessed with so many modern-day greats, it’s hard to think of a player more universally beloved by Richmond people – a sentiment that is now roaring around the wider AFL community.

Clayton Oliver (Melbourne)
It can be easy to overlook Oliver at times, especially when his teammates are putting in performances as ballistic as Viney’s on Thursday night. But he was undoubtedly just as influential in Melbourne’s stunning second-quarter blitz as his stand-in captain was, and he continued that form through to the final siren with another dominant clearance game.

STIFF TO MISS
Adam Saad (Carlton), Tom De Koning (Carlton), Jarrod Witts (Gold Coast), Izak Rankine (Gold Coast), Rory Laird (Adelaide), Shai Bolton (Richmond), Aaron Hall (North Melbourne), Tom Hickey (Sydney), Mitch Lewis (Hawthorn), Jake Kolodjashnij (Geelong).