Brisbane’s Callum Ah Chee marks strongly against Geelong at the Gabba on Saturday evening. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

FULL BACKS

Jordan Ridley (Essendon)
Steady as ever as the leader of a defence with a clear plan on Friday night, Ridley’s 29 disposals at an efficiency of nearly 97 per cent were vital in helping the Bombers retain the ball against the Western Bulldogs. Capable of playing on a variety of opponents, his defensive work on Aaron Naughton was also important on the night.

Sam Taylor (GWS)
Taylor’s remarkable month of footy continued on Sunday with a best-on-ground performance against Gold Coast. Not only did the GWS defender help keep Ben King and Levi Casboult to just one goal between them through a swathe of intercept marks and excellent contested work, but also assisted rebound play with reliable ball use coming out of the back half.

Nathan Murphy (Collingwood)
A highly versatile defender, Murphy was rock solid in defence against Port Adelaide in a number of roles. At times undersized against the Power’s tall forward set-up, the highly-valued Magpie struck a good balance between interception and old-school defending, ultimately finishing the match with a round-high 16 spoils.

HALF-BACKS

Tom Stewart (Geelong)
There was somewhat of a new role for Stewart in the clash against Brisbane, with the star defender being used in centre bounces by coach Chris Scott after half-time. Although he drifted back to resume his first-class intercept work after the ball was cleared, he did have a big impact as a bigger body helping the Cats wrest back an advantage in the guts.

James Sicily (Hawthorn)
Sicily’s form on either side of his controversial three-week suspension has been superb, and the Hawthorn captain was again an aerial force to be reckoned with against the Tigers. Playing on Richmond veteran Jack Riewoldt, Sicily curbed his opponent’s influence by dominating the air, in the end taking a record-equalling 10 intercept marks.

Lachie Whitfield (GWS)
Whitfield has quietly gone about putting together a really good campaign, particularly in the back half of the season when his spark and skill off half-back have returned and played a key part in the Giants’ resurgence. He was one of GWS’s best against the Suns, setting up play from half-back with 25 touches at an impressive 92 per cent efficiency.

CENTRES

Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane)
A consistent performer in 2023 without perhaps reaching the heights of previous years, McCluggage was clearly one of the Lions’ best in their tight win over Geelong. In a predominantly wing role, but with cameo moments at centre bounces, the smooth-moving Lion managed a good balance between contested and uncontested possessions among his 26 disposals.

Tom Liberatore (Western Bulldogs)
One of the purest extractors in the AFL, Liberatore dominated the Essendon midfield on Friday night to give the Bulldogs a big advantage from the centre. Quick enough to spread from the contest and strong enough to win it, he contributed 12 clearances (including five from the middle), as well as 21 contested possessions from 36 in total.

Steele Sidebottom (Collingwood)
One of several veteran Magpies to have carved out a vital niche in the new Collingwood set-up, Sidebottom was brilliant against Port Adelaide in slippery conditions. With two big moments in the final term, including the opening goal and a late spoil that may well have prevented an easy Power goal, he was one of the best players in the top-of-the-table clash.

HALF-FORWARDS

Izak Rankine (Adelaide)
Rankine chipped away at his unwanted reputation as an Adelaide Oval specialist with a brilliant performance against Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday. It came at a cost with a pinged hamstring late in the match, but up until that point he’d been the Crows’ best with a goal in each of the first three quarters, 20 disposals and nine score involvements.

Lance Franklin (Sydney)
Playing what will almost certainly be his last game in his home state of Western Australia, Franklin produced one of his best performances of his 19th season against the Dockers. Kicking three goals and having a hand in several more, the champion forward was influential, especially in the second half when the contest became somewhat of a grind.

Jack Graham (Richmond)
The high half-forward role can be a thankless one at times, with statistical and scoreboard impact varying week-to-week depending on the nature of the contest. On Saturday, not only did Graham provide the tireless defensive efforts he always does, but had a big influence going forward with a goal, three assists and 10 score involvements to go along with his eight tackles.

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FORWARDS

Kysaiah Pickett (Melbourne)
Matching Rankine’s top performance in the same game was Pickett, who not only offered brilliance up forward, but also spent increased minutes in his new part-time midfield role. Although he was influential all game, his third quarter featuring two goals and several assists gave Melbourne a decisive advantage.

Charlie Curnow (Carlton)
Having narrowly missed out on his maiden 10-goal haul last time he took on the Eagles, Curnow completed the deed in style with a mammoth performance on Saturday afternoon. Booting four in the first quarter and with seven at half-time, he gave the contest purpose in the second half as he hunted down a target that now sees him with a near-unassailable Coleman Medal lead.

Jamie Elliott (Collingwood)
One of the form forwards of the competition over the past month, Elliott repeated history when he slotted the match-winning set shot against Port Adelaide. Near the boundary and with the Power crowd offering strong advice from the sidelines, Elliott confirmed his status as the AFL’s ice man when he once again gave Collingwood the points in a tightly contested game.

FOLLOWERS

Max Gawn (Melbourne)
It was another excellent display from the Melbourne captain, who managed three contested marks from eight in total, and also contributed up forward with two goals in a thrilling game. Against a very credible ruck opponent in the Crows’ Reilly O’Brien, Gawn was simply too good as he dominated both the hitouts and the around-the-ground contest.

Luke Davies-Uniacke (North Melbourne)
Davies-Uniacke’s season promised so much in the early stages, before injury and club turmoil struck, but he is absolutely finishing it with a bang. Capable of filling the stats sheet like few others on his day, he finished with 33 disposals (22 contested), 12 clearances, nine inside 50s, eight intercepts and 668 metres gained in an absolute day out against St Kilda.

Connor Rozee (Port Adelaide)
Rozee’s incredible vein of form continued in Saturday night’s blockbuster, with the midfielder’s two early goals not only getting Port Adelaide buzzing, but making it a fourth consecutive week that he has contributed multiple goals from the midfield. It wasn’t quite enough to get the Power over the line, but he was still huge with 28 touches and 641 metres gained.

INTERCHANGE

Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
Rivalling Liberatore for best-on-ground honours, Bontempelli ensured that the fumble of Round 18 was not to be repeated with another commanding performance against Essendon. Putting the Bulldogs in front for the first time early in the second term, he also added another goal in the third, as well as 29 disposals and eight inside 50s.

Callum Ah Chee (Brisbane)
Back in the side and fresh off signing a new two-year deal, Ah Chee showed no signs of complacency in producing one of the best performances of his career. With a genuine influence in all three areas of the ground, he played the role of an old-school utility, and his goal in the final term was significant in making sure the Lions hung on.

Luke Parker (Sydney)
This was a workmanlike performance from the Sydney co-captain, flexing his muscle as an experienced and big-bodied midfielder against a Fremantle unit that was spread pretty thin. Racking up 31 disposals, nine tackles, nine score involvements and eight tackles, he showed again why he has been one of the better two-way midfielders in the league for years.

Sam Docherty (Carlton)
Playing the vast majority of the match as a pure midfielder against the Eagles, Docherty was the main link-up man between the inside work of George Hewett and co, and the brilliance of Curnow up front. Using his precise foot skills to send the ball inside 50 on 12 occasions, he also managed eight tackles and nine clearances in what was a well-rounded effort.

STIFF TO MISS
Sam Collins (Gold Coast), Stephen Coniglio (GWS), Toby Greene (GWS), Callum Wilkie (St Kilda), Jack Steele (St Kilda), Jai Newcombe (Hawthorn), Ben McKay (North Melbourne), Caleb Serong (Fremantle), Lachie Schultz (Fremantle), Tim Taranto (Richmond).