Hawthorn young gun Mitchell Lewis played the game of his fledgling career as the Hawks smashed Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night. Photo: Getty Images

FULL BACKS

Jack Scrimshaw (Hawthorn)
It’s taken him almost six years, but Scrimshaw is now clearly more than comfortable at AFL level, and is in fact developing into Hawthorn’s most assured defender. He used the ball with typical precision against Port Adelaide, with 22 disposals at 86 per cent efficiency, and rebounded strongly as part of what is becoming a strong back seven.

Sam Collins (Gold Coast)
A really solid defensive game from the Gold Coast vice-captain. Collins worked tirelessly as always, restricting the Demons’ Ben Brown to two goals from just six disposals and one mark inside 50, losing one solitary one-on-one contest for the night, and continually getting a timely and effective spoil away.

Josh Battle (St Kilda)
After a quiet start in his new backline role last week, Battle enjoyed a fantastic outing against the Dockers, controlling the defensive area and marking confidently. With the Fremantle attack in benign form, Battle zoned off to win 13 intercept possessions and reel in 13 marks, also getting up the ground to deliver the ball inside 50 on several occasions.

HALF BACKS

Jayden Short (Richmond)
This was a classic Jayden Short performance, with the Tigers half-back clocking up 11 rebound 50s and nearly 800 metres gained from his 33 disposals, at an impressive 88 per cent disposal efficiency. With a somewhat undermanned, new-look backline at his side, Short has clearly become one of Richmond’s key on-field leaders.

Jeremy McGovern (West Coast)
In a depleted defensive line-up that made Richmond’s look like the West Coast of the mid-90s, the Eagles’ contemporary backline star played a brilliant game to give his side an unlikely shot at victory. McGovern was strong all day with nine marks, 11 intercept possessions, and plenty of solid defensive work in the contest too.

Jake Bowey (Melbourne)
With 34 disposals in just his ninth game of AFL football, Bowey put forward a performance to show he can become much more than just a link-up role player for the Demons, both this year and into the future. With a remarkable 16 intercept possessions, the slight 19-year-old got in the way of the Suns’ forays forward and delivered the ball sharply.  

CENTRES

Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane)
A typically clean, hard-running game from McCluggage, who made every disposal count against the Bombers. Three goals, for the first time since 2018 and just the second time in his career, is a good indication that he’s working through the bizarre inaccuracy in front of goal that has plagued him in recent years.

Patrick Cripps (Carlton)
We have to go back to rounds four and five in 2019 to find the last time that Patrick Cripps had 30 or more disposals in back-to-back games, and he had until Thursday night never kicked multiple goals in consecutive weeks at any point in his career. Put all that together, and it’s not hard to think that a mighty resurgence is taking place with the Carlton skipper.  

Chad Warner (Sydney)
Warner is occasionally an afterthought when reeling off the list of Sydney’s young stars, but continued performances like he put up on Friday, and that is unlikely to continue for too much longer. In his first game of 2022, Warner was influential both inside and outside the contest, collecting 25 disposals and impacting in the forward half with three goal assists.

HALF FORWARDS

Isaac Heeney (Sydney)
Another huge game from Heeney, who has made a big impact on the scoreboard, and around the footy, for the second week in a row to start the year. All of his five goals came at important stages, but his two quick goals to end the first half stubbed out a good run of play from the Cats and sent the Swans into the break full of spark.  

Charlie Curnow (Carlton)
This was Charlie’s first big game since 2019, and a joyous one for Carlton fans. Kicking the first goal within 30 seconds of the opening bounce, Curnow played with confidence and demonstrated his unique array of skills in the forward half. He gets the nod here over his teammate McKay for steadying the ship with two big final quarter goals.

Sam Powell-Pepper (Port Adelaide)
An absolute shining light on a dirty evening for Port Adelaide. Where it seemed that many of his teammates had packed it in by the time the third term rolled around, Powell-Pepper did his best to get the side (and the crowd) fired up with three sensationally creative goals, all of which came in response to Hawthorn extending their lead.  

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FORWARDS

Willie Rioli (West Coast)
After a controversial week, Rioli made the most of his contentious availability to boot a career-high four goals against North Melbourne. His class and skill stood out enormously in this West Coast side, but even with the best 22 out on the park he is one of their most talented players. A huge inclusion for season 2022.

Mitchell Lewis (Hawthorn)
One of the early contenders for breakout star of the year, Lewis has put together the two most impressive games of his career in consecutive weeks. He kicked well and took his opportunities with five goals straight, but it’s been his contested marking in the first two weeks that’s really stood out. Clearly he’s got the coach’s backing as the main man up forward.

Brad Close (Geelong)
Following an impressive 2021, in which he played every game from round four, Close had a career-best outing against the Swans on Friday night. Where his more renowned teammates failed to capitalise on a huge inside-50 dominance, Close hit the scoreboard with four goals, and had more score involvements than anyone on the ground.

FOLLOWERS

Luke Jackson (Melbourne)
A thrilling performance from a player who is quickly becoming a genuine star of the competition. Slowly taking more responsibility in the centre square, Jackson was excellent around the contest, winning seven clearances, kicking two skilful goals, and holding his own against the experienced Jarrod Witts in the ruck.

Christian Petracca (Melbourne)
Petracca could do impressive things in small doses from the very start of his career, and then he learned how to play a full time, consistent midfield role. He has now developed the ability to accumulate monstrous numbers. Forty disposals and 14 inside 50s (the all-time record is 16) feels like a standard Petracca game, but in reality we’re witnessing something significant.  

Lachie Neale (Brisbane)
There were some big midfield games this weekend, but Neale’s was perhaps the biggest. Forty-one touches, 12 clearances, nine inside 50s and two goals speaks for itself, however the eye test really elevated his game above all others, and his extraction and ability to shoot a lightning handball directly to a teammate in space was truly beautiful to watch.

INTERCHANGE

Andrew Brayshaw (Fremantle)
Clearly more than ready to take the mantle as Fremantle’s number one guy in the middle, Brayshaw backed up his strong start with another vigorous midfield game against St Kilda. Hit 40 disposals for the first (but surely not the last) time, and just did everything to a really high level both on the inside and outside of contests.

Touk Miller (Gold Coast)
Equalled a club record with 17 touches in the opening quarter, and continued working strongly to end up with 38, as well as nine clearances, nine inside 50s, seven tackles and 944 metres gained. The Suns haven’t had too many reliable, week-in-week-out performers in their existence, but they have one of the best in the competition right now.

Jack Higgins (St Kilda)
Higgins could have easily been dropped after his sketchy, ill-disciplined performance against the Magpies in round one. Instead, coach Brett Ratten backed his mercurial forward in, and was vindicated by a strong response. Higgins did some exciting things in the third term as the Saints took control, but also provided the intensity and smarts that were missing last week.

Callum Mills (Sydney)
Performances like this one from Mills on Friday night, where a player quells the influence of an opposition star, and also impacts on the attack, are scarce and incredibly valuable. That Mills was able to restrict Patrick Dangerfield to just 13 touches, while also leading the match in disposals and clearances, is testament to his focus and rare two-way ability.

STIFF TO MISS
Jack Gunston (Hawthorn), Luke Ryan (Fremantle), Harry McKay (Carlton), Nick Larkey (North Melbourne), Daniel Rioli (Richmond), Jack Crisp (Collingwood), Max King (St Kilda), Clayton Oliver (Melbourne), Daniel Rich (Brisbane), Josh Kelly (GWS)