North young gun Tarryn Thomas played the best game of his fledgling career against Carlton on Saturday. Photo: AFL MEDIA

FULL BACKS

Tom Doedee (Adelaide)
The Crows captain-in-waiting demonstrated his immense value to the side, returning from a concussion-related absence and instantly making the defence look imposing and more assured. Half of his 22 disposals were intercept possessions, and he used the ball cleverly and precisely in setting Adelaide up on the rebound.

Harris Andrews (Brisbane)
Andrews had a good battle with Gold Coast’s Ben King, who kicked a few on him early before the Lions, and their gun full back, took complete control of the game. It was a much more physical Harris Andrews after half-time, playing close to his man and taking five contested marks, as well as clearly winning all bar two one-on-one contests.

Tom Stewart (Geelong)
They don’t come much more locked into the All-Australian team than Tom Stewart. His performance on Sunday featured everything we’ve come to expect on a weekly basis: brilliant timing, smart decision-making, and some decisive playing-on and launching from full back. He is the centrepiece of an intimidating defensive unit that’s going to be hard to stop.

HALF BACKS

Caleb Daniel (Western Bulldogs)
Daniel produced one of his best performances of the season in the top-of-the-ladder clash on Saturday night against Melbourne. His ability to find space around the contest, and then to open up the ground with his superb ball use, stood out in a fairly stodgy game. He also racked up his fair share of contested ball in what was a balanced display.

Sam Taylor (GWS)
In just his third game back from a significant layoff, the Giants’ lynchpin in defence was back to the sensational form he showed in the first half of the season. Matched up against the in-form Peter Wright, Taylor took care of his opponent and also managed a career-high 11 marks and an equal career-high 21 disposals going the other way.

Dan Houston (Port Adelaide)
After a relative lean patch in the past month, Houston returned to form with an excellent, attacking game on Friday night. He drove the Power’s ball movement all evening, sending the ball inside 50 on seven occasions, kicking one goal and giving off three direct assists, as well as chalking up more than 600 metres gained.

CENTRES

Mitch Robinson (Brisbane)
Robinson was Brisbane’s best four-quarter performer in the Q-Clash, especially in the second term where he gathered 10 disposals, three inside 50s and a goal while the Suns mostly controlled the game and kicked six goals to two. He continues to be a valuable part of the side and is a heart-and-soul contributor.

Rory Laird (Adelaide)
A brilliant game from Laird, who probably hasn’t got the plaudits he’s deserved for a wonderfully-consistent season and seamless transition to the midfield since late 2020. He was involved in absolutely everything against Hawthorn, dominating the midfield battle to win 36 disposals and 10 clearances as well as booting two goals.

Lachie Whitfield (GWS)
Whitfield was another standout player who returned from a week off and hit the ground running in round 19. He was the most influential member of a decisive GWS midfield unit, gathering 35 disposals – his most since early 2019 – and using them with typical efficiency in linking up and moving the ball forward.

HALF FORWARDS

Tarryn Thomas (North Melbourne)
One of the breakout performers of 2021 and a genuine star in the making. Thomas continued his exhilarating form against the hapless Blues, booting four goals for the first time in his career and picking up 23 touches for the second week in a row. His mix of strength, game sense and ball use made him too hard to contain as the Roos ran away with the win.

Nick Larkey (North Melbourne)
Larkey has seriously turned his form around after a difficult start to the year, slotting 23 goals in eight games since round 10. His career-best haul of seven, matched up against one of the best defenders in the game, was a thrilling, dynamic effort, and showed North fans that he can be the main man up front for many years to come.

Dylan Moore (Hawthorn)
After being delisted and relisted at the end of last season, Moore has made the most of his second chance with an excellent season. His revival was highlighted by a standout game and an influential effort up forward on Saturday night, where he picked up 25 touches, kicked an important goal just before half-time, and gave away two more.

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FORWARDS

Lincoln McCarthy (Brisbane)
McCarthy continued his terrific run of form on Saturday, with his second four-goal haul of the season and another masterclass in forward-half nous. He was particularly effective in time-on, scoring crucial goals late in each of the first, second and third quarters when the game was very much still in the balance.

Max King (St Kilda)
This will be the game that gets referred back to repeatedly over the next decade, no matter what happens in King’s career from this point. Eight contested marks (just two off the record), and, importantly, a career-high six goals from seven shots. A wonderful response, and a great reward for what has no doubt been a significant amount of effort on the training track.

Isaac Heeney (Sydney)
It seems like whenever Heeney plays an above average game, he makes it a dominant, best-on-ground display. He was brilliant all over the park against the Dockers, but particularly up forward where he marked beautifully and took opportunities in front of goal when others could not. An absolute wildcard come finals.

FOLLOWERS

Oscar McInerney (Brisbane)
A really good response from “The Big O”, who controlled the centre square against the Suns after having his colours lowered last week. He dominated the hitouts, as would be expected against the undersized Gold Coast rucks, but also followed it up with a round-high 12 clearances of his own – an impressive feat considering the roll call on both sides.

Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
Season 2021 has been the season in which Bontempelli has learned to accumulate, but also a season of moments and timely intervention. His game against Melbourne had both: a terrific swag of disposals and inside 50s, but also a match-winning minute which included a goal, a follow-up clearance, and a spear pass to Jamarra Ugle-Hagan that ended the contest right when the Demons looked like pinching it. A true champion.

Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
This was Dangerfield at his damaging, ‘un-tackleable’ best, and an ominous indication of the kind of impact he could have in the last two months of the season. Against the outfit that has so often been the thorn in his side during September, the Cats superstar may have removed them from the equation entirely with a bullocking and fleet-footed performance.

INTERCHANGE

Jy Simpkin (North Melbourne)
Simpkin is another North Melbourne star in the making, although he may be further advanced on his peers. Not only did he quell one of the form players of the competition in Sam Walsh, but he also managed to be the most productive midfielder on the ground with 31 touches, eight marks and eight clearances.

Dom Sheed (West Coast)
Sheed has shown a great ability to adapt to different roles depending on who else is playing and where the team needs him, and on the weekend he showcased his wares as a versatile inside/outside midfielder with a best-on-ground effort. Already known for his aptitude in big moments, he added to the narrative with two vital last-quarter goals, each responding to a St Kilda challenge.

Clayton Oliver (Melbourne)
The performance of Melbourne’s midfield bull was perhaps overshadowed by some other superstars from the winning side, but Oliver’s game was enormous and a big reason why the Demons were still in the contest at half-time. His 25 contested possessions were easily a round-high, and he also added eight clearances and eight inside 50s, exhibiting his impressive breakaway speed.

Josh Kennedy (Sydney)
The Swans co-captain continues to perform strongly, without necessarily having to be the number one guy in the centre every week. He picked through the Fremantle midfield on Sunday, not only providing his usual imposing contested work, but including some brilliant field kicking and utility as an outside player as well.

STIFF TO MISS
Jarryd Lyons (Brisbane), Jack Macrae (Western Bulldogs), Willem Drew (Port Adelaide), Charlie Dixon (Port Adelaide), Jack Henry (Geelong), Esava Ratugolea (Geelong), Brent Daniels (GWS), Tom Green (GWS), Adam Cerra (Fremantle), Jordan Ridley (Essendon)