Charlie Ballard was one of the heroes of Gold Coast’s stunning one-point win over GWS. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

FULL BACKS

Tom Highmore (St Kilda)
A fantastic game from Highmore, who looked totally at home against the Lions in St Kilda’s magnificent win. With Eric Hipwood going down early, Highmore took advantage of the Lions’ lack of height to take six intercept marks, and used the ball beautifully out of the back half with 16 disposals at 100 per cent kicking efficiency.

Jacob Weitering (Carlton)
Weitering can now add Tom Hawkins to his list of scalps in 2021. The Blues’ gun defender played a metre off his opponent, beating him to the ball and not giving him opportunities to win body-on-body contests. As a result, Hawkins was held goalless for the first time all year, and to just two score involvements for the match.

Charlie Ballard (Gold Coast)
Ballard was very solid over four quarters on Sunday afternoon, but for the second week in a row, really came to the fore late in the game when the match was on the line. He took nine intercept marks, easily the most of the round, and 15 of his 19 touches were intercept possessions. A real asset for the Suns, and still only 21 years old.

HALF BACKS

Jack Crisp (Collingwood)
Collingwood’s biggest name stars got things humming along in the last quarter and a half, but Crisp held his end up commandingly all day, as he has done across the whole season in 2021. His ability to hit the ball at pace, break through tackles and then send the ball long distances was invaluable, and far too destructive for the Tigers to contain.

Tom McCartin (Sydney)
This was one of the best performances in what is fast-becoming a wonderful body of work for the young Swans defender, who is also an excellent user of the footy. McCartin spent time on various different opponents throughout the day and beat them all, competing one-on-one, getting a timely fist in where required and zoning off to take important marks.

Zach Tuohy (Geelong)
The former Blue kicked back-to-back goals early in the last quarter to snuff out any chance Carlton had of an unlikely win, topping off an excellent game in which he combined beautifully with Geelong’s other half backs to drive the footy forward. At 31 years old, Tuohy is one of Geelong’s most important players and going as well as ever.

CENTRES

Jaidyn Stephenson (North Melbourne)
A brilliant, match-winning performance from Stephenson, who had a career-high 38 disposals, along with 10 marks and two goal assists. His third quarter, in which he racked up 14 touches, helped turn the game in North’s favour, and his inspirational long goal to put North Melbourne nine points up inside the last 10 minutes was utter brilliance.

Taylor Adams (Collingwood)
It took Collingwood a half of footy before they fully capitalised on Brodie Grundy’s ruck dominance, but once they did it was Adams who ripped the game away from the Tigers. He amassed 10 clearances and 10 tackles with his 31 touches, and a superb long set shot goal in the last quarter was one of the highlights of the game.

Jordan Dawson (Sydney)
Dawson is stringing together an excellent patch of form, which continued on Sunday afternoon with a best-on-ground performance against the Dogs. Spending more time higher up the ground, Dawson slotted three of the Swans’ first six goals, and continued to work the wing tirelessly to provide an option throughout the four quarters.

HALF FORWARDS

Christian Petracca (Melbourne)
A typically-brash performance from Petracca, who has made it his habit to lift against quality sides all season. His second quarter broke the game open for the Demons, with a great mix of offensive and defensive play, and his last goal sealed the match as he gathered more than 30 disposals and slotted three goals for the first time in his career.

Tom McDonald (Melbourne)
With Port Adelaide seemingly in control of the contest and back within nine points late in the third quarter, it was McDonald who pinched back momentum, and a handy lead, with two goals in three minutes right before the siren. This game-changing burst highlighted a terrific game from McDonald, who also had a lot of impact working further from goal.

Jordan De Goey (Collingwood)
An influential outing for De Goey, especially in the second half where he broke the shackles and had some massive moments as the Magpies ran away with the game. It’s really pleasing for Collingwood that De Goey is showing that he can work his way into matches and find a way to impact week-on-week.

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FORWARDS

Tim Membrey (St Kilda)
Another important contribution from Membrey, who always seems to know where to be in significant moments, whether that’s taking a contested mark up forward, swinging back into defence, or winning a contest on the wing. He slotted two crucial goals in a tight third quarter, and also managed to reel in 14 marks pitted against some good aerialists.

Rory Lobb (Fremantle)
After Hawthorn had got off to a strong opening 10 minutes, Lobb took control of the game, booting three goals in a 13-minute burst in which he showcased his elite overhead marking ability. He combined well with Nat Fyfe all day, and three contested marks and four goals in total was a top outing from a player who is in some pretty good form at the moment.

Kysaiah Pickett (Melbourne)
A strong return to form from Pickett, who looked much more assured with some taller targets in the forward line, and managed multiple goals for the first time since round 12 as a result. Each of his majors were creative and decisive, and his nine tackles, including four inside 50, reflected the Demons intent on the night.

FOLLOWERS

Sean Darcy (Fremantle)
Max Gawn is the nominal All-Australian ruck at this point, but Darcy’s performances have been just as good this year. He was best on ground again, largely rucking alone against the Hawks’ duo, and collecting 25 possessions (16 contested) and six contested marks. It’s hard to see Fremantle sitting anywhere near the eight right now without Darcy’s output over the season.

Jack Steele (St Kilda)
Many would have expected Brisbane to rally and roll over the top of St Kilda in the last quarter, and they may have, were it not for a brilliant final term from skipper Steele in which he amassed 15 touches, four clearances and two goals. He is fast earning himself a reputation as a stirring, dependable leader and a big moments specialist.

Touk Miller (Gold Coast)
Another week, another brilliant effort from Miller, who is playing some unbelievably consistent and effective football this year. Against the gun GWS on-ball unit, and missing his main man in Hugh Greenwood, Miller racked up 35 touches, 14 tackles, 11 clearances and two goals. In VFL/AFL history, no other player has hit these numbers in a single game.

INTERCHANGE

Nat Fyfe (Fremantle)
The Fremantle skipper had a great afternoon in his 200th match, leading the Dockers to an impressive win in Launceston and registering 30-plus disposals and a goal for the first time this season. His first quarter, with 13 touches, five inside 50s and a big grab, set the tone for the game, and from that point he was able to work through some attention without much trouble.

Daniel Rich (Brisbane)
Daniel Rich’s kicking ability is so impactful for the Lions that it may be one of the best individual assets of anyone across the competition. Whilst Brisbane’s key defence was well beaten against the Saints, Rich mopped up what he could and sent it going the other way, gaining 712 metres with typical precision.

Sam Walsh (Carlton)
Carlton’s star midfielder had another beauty against the Cats on Saturday, running harder and longer than anyone else in the navy blue and getting involved in the majority of their scoring chains. There was an element of “I’ll just do it myself then,” as Walsh kicked two fantastic goals – his side’s fourth and fifth for the match – in the last 10 minutes.

Jacob Hopper (GWS)
Hopper continues to build his breakout campaign, elevating his standing from a reliable second-string midfielder to be among the most consistent inside players in the AFL. He had a monster game against the Suns, picking up a career-high 41 disposals, 12 clearances and 12 inside 50s to be the Giants’ best contributor.

STIFF TO MISS
Zach Merrett (Essendon), Mason Redman (Essendon), Brayden Maynard (Collingwood), Jy Simpkin (North Melbourne), Clayton Oliver (Melbourne), Tom Stewart (Geelong), David Mundy (Fremantle), Alex Keath (Western Bulldogs), Nic Naitanui (West Coast), Dylan Grimes (Richmond)