Fremantle defender Luke Ryan in action during the Dockers’ huge loss to Carlton on Sunday. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

FULL BACKS

Luke Ryan (Fremantle)
In a tough loss at home to Carlton, Ryan provided valiant resistance in the back half. With a staggering 17 intercept possessions, along with 10 marks and 880 metres gained, Ryan showed why he has become the lynchpin of the Docker defence, and one of their most reliable players week-to-week.

Sam Taylor (GWS)
Taylor has played three matches on return after an eight-week layoff, and has found himself in Footyology’s Team of the Week following two of them. His efforts against Hawthorn were crucial to the Giants’ win, with 13 intercepts possessions from 19 in total, and four contested marks from eight. An absolute top-liner of the competition.

Blake Hardwick (Hawthorn)
Toby Greene had not been held goalless for more than 12 months until Hardwick completed the feat on Saturday afternoon. With a series of strong contest wins, and a good ability to judge when to attack the footy, the tough defender covered his defensive bases while also contributing in attack.

HALF-BACKS

Isaac Quaynor (Collingwood)
A strong run of recent form culminated in Quaynor’s most prolific match of 2023 on Friday night. Always a strong player in direct contests, the sprightly defender kept his defensive focus but also added eight intercept marks and 27 disposals. One could call him an underrated part of Collingwood’s system, but one could also say that about half the side.

Aliir Aliir (Port Adelaide)
This was an outstanding defensive performance. A defender who has achieved balance between pure defence and rebound, Aliir contested an enormous 14 one-on-ones, and remarkably did not lose a single one of them. His opponent Ben King was goalless, markless, and eventually subbed out, while Aliir dominated with five contested marks.

Andrew McGrath (Essendon)
A player who is enjoying a really good, yet somewhat under-the-radar year, McGrath’s form at half-back has been a big part of Essendon’s resurgence. Playing an attacking role against the Crows on Sunday, the nimble defender set the tone for the Bombers’ fast and frenetic ball movement with 20 disposals in the first half, before finishing with 31.

CENTRES

Mitch Duncan (Geelong)
A man who has thrived at Kardinia Park more than most (and that’s saying something), Duncan was a more familiar version of himself against North Melbourne on Sunday afternoon with 30 disposals at 90 per cent efficiency, eight marks and a goal, playing on what would notionally be a wing on any other ground.

Nick Daicos (Collingwood)
Daicos continues to find a way to be best on ground nearly every week, whether in the midfield, back, or pinch-hitting in the forward half. On Friday he got the ball rolling with six clearances in the first quarter alone, before bobbing up again with 11 touches and two crucial goals in the third. Now an almost unbackable Brownlow favourite, it’s hard to see him coming away from the night empty handed.

Nic Martin (Essendon)
Like McGrath, Martin’s determined mindset made the Bombers irresistible against Adelaide on Sunday. Offering plenty in offence with 28 touches, two goals, and three further goal assists, he also worked hard back into defence to both help out, and also kickstart Essendon’s transition play.

HALF-FORWARDS

Tyson Stengle (Geelong)
The main man to capitalise on a strong performance from the Cats, Stengle enjoyed a strong return to form and the biggest haul of his career against North Melbourne on Sunday. Having failed to kick more than one goal in a single game since Round 11, the 2022 All-Australian booted five and dished off another as Geelong punished the Kangaroos.

Harry McKay (Carlton)
A move further up the field has done wonders for McKay, who is not only showing improvement in front of the big sticks, but is far more involved in the play from a ball-winning and a defensive point of view. Playing as a true centre half-forward, McKay was terrific in getting on his bike and taking important marks up the field against Fremantle.

Christian Petracca (Melbourne)
Taking his talents to the forward 50 in an effort to notch a competitive total, Petracca came to the party for coach Simon Goodwin by nailing all four of his shots at goal. With Clayton Oliver set to miss another month of footy, how much time Petracca splits between attack and midfield poses a tough question for the Melbourne brains trust, but his performance on Saturday may well have shown the way forward.

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FORWARDS

Jamie Elliott (Collingwood)
Back in the side post-bye, and very much back in form, Elliott followed up his strong Round 16 performance with another excellent display against the Western Bulldogs. In a competitive game with plenty of good performances in attack, it was Elliott who stood out with two brilliant goals right before half-time that set Collingwood on its path to victory.

Jesse Hogan (GWS)
Teaming up well with Jake Riccardi to form an increasingly dangerous forward duo, Hogan was excellent over four quarters against the Hawks. Playing as a deep forward, he booted four goals (his most of the season), including the sealer late in the match after Hawthorn had made a late charge at victory.

Jack Gunston (Brisbane)
A really strong return after what was a much-discussed sabbatical from the senior side. Looking fresh and certainly with a September-focused spring in his step, Gunston managed an equal career-high bag of six goals against West Coast. Never one to plonk himself deep and wait for the ball, he also managed a massive 15 score involvements.

FOLLOWERS

Rowan Marshall (St Kilda)
Marshall may have lost the hitout count against the combination of Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn, but that St Kilda broke even in clearances and won the inside 50s says as much about his follow-up work as anything else. His eight clearances topped the match, and with 30 disposals at 90 per cent efficiency, he was just about the best midfielder on the ground.

Zach Merrett (Essendon)
The plaudits are rightfully rolling in for Merrett, and it is genuinely difficult to think of a more transformational captaincy appointment in recent years. Blitzing them once again from the centre square and beyond, he booted an amazing first-quarter goal before going on to rack up 39 disposals and seven inside 50s.

Shai Bolton (Richmond)
Emerging as a bonafide top-tier midfielder this season, but especially under caretaker coach Andrew McQualter, Bolton produced a match-winning performance as the Tigers’ main playmaker against the Swans. With 31 disposals (17 contested), nine clearances, nine inside 50s and four goal assists, he dominated all aspects of the role against a hesitant Sydney side.

INTERCHANGE

Stephen Coniglio (GWS)
Coniglio’s tremendous season continued at Giants Stadium on Saturday, with a comprehensive performance from the midfield. Hawthorn’s on-ball unit was up for the fight, but Coniglio controlled the flow of play with 30 disposals, 10 of which turned into scores. Booting the first goal of the game, he added two more in what was an outstanding display.

Caleb Daniel (Western Bulldogs)
That Daniel is essentially the Bulldogs’ best utility player and coach Luke Beveridge’s “Mr Fix-It” speaks volumes about his footy smarts and adaptability. Against the toughest opposition, he was one of the primary reasons that the contest was fought out for so long with a hearty and impactful performance through the middle and at half-back.

Dustin Martin (Richmond)
Martin’s relatively unique blend of elite ball-winning ability and devastating use by foot was on show against the Swans on Friday night. In wet and slippery conditions, Martin’s laser-like kicking continually found targets most hadn’t even spotted yet, and when the game was there to be won, he stepped up another gear with 12 contested possessions after half-time.

Adam Cerra (Carlton)
In a highly successful return to his old stomping ground of Optus Stadium, Cerra accentuated his significant rise as one of the season’s in-from attacking midfielders with 11 inside 50s, a nice long goal, three goal assists and more than 700 metres gained. As Carlton turns its season around, discussion on Cerra should turn to All-Australian contention.

STIFF TO MISS
Steven May (Melbourne), Lachie Neale (Brisbane), Will Ashcroft (Brisbane), Harris Andrews (Brisbane), Connor Rozee (Port Adelaide), Jeremy Finlayson (Port Adelaide), Jacob Weitering (Carlton), Sam Walsh (Carlton), Aaron Naughton (Western Bulldogs), Cody Weightman (Western Bulldogs).