Young Tiger Noah Cumberland tackles Brisbane’s Darcy Gardiner during Richmond’s epic comeback win on Sunday. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

FULL BACKS

Brayden Maynard (Collingwood)
The ever-reliable Magpie was excellent in a tight match against Port Adelaide, combining some disciplined defensive work with his decisive long kicking to take 469 metres from his 21 disposals. He also intercepted the ball on 11 occasions, and proved up to the task when pitted against Charlie Dixon in one-on-one situations.

Jordon Butts (Adelaide)
The Crows look to have their defensive bookend locked away with Butts, who has been a mainstay in the full back position for well over 12 months now. He was important against Carlton on Saturday, performing a miserly shutdown job on Harry McKay and holding him to one goal and just seven touches. He also executed 17 spoils which was one of the highest tallies recorded in that category all season.

Ed Richards (Western Bulldogs)
The dynamic Bulldog backed up his Round 19 Footyology Team of the Week selection with another terrific display, and was easily the Western Bulldogs’ best four-quarter performer. While his more experienced teammates in defence were hampered by Geelong’s pressure, Richards was composed, and provided intercept marking as well as run from the back half.

HALF-BACKS

Mason Redman (Essendon)
Another energetic display from the Essendon half-back, who over the course of the season has become a powerhouse performer in his attacking defender role. He had 32 disposals at a seriously impressive 97 per cent efficiency, hit the scoreboard and took six intercept marks. He is playing at a level of supreme confidence, and it’s giving the Bombers significant spark.

Sam Taylor (GWS)
A clear standout player for the Giants in a dismal showing against the Swans, Taylor’s contribution to his side’s performance in Round 20 was reflective of his season in general. He was a defensive wall against a barrage of 69 inside 50s, picking off 13 intercept possessions and taking five contested marks among 10 in total.

Brodie Smith (Adelaide)
In what has been a relatively quiet year for the consistent Adelaide veteran, Smith produced a monstrous territory-based game against Carlton. Running the ball from deep in defence right into the forward 50 all game, he tallied up a career-high 37 disposals, 13 intercepts and 13 inside 50s, and had more than 1000 metres gained.

CENTRES

Josh Daicos (Collingwood)
Yet another brilliant game from Josh Daicos, who continues to produce influential performances running off a wing. He had 26 touches against Port Adelaide, gaining 659 metres for the Magpies, and his forward-focused mindset again seemed to permeate across the side. His form this season is a big reason why Collingwood sits third after 20 rounds.

Jack Viney (Melbourne)
Viney’s 2022 season has seen him rise to sit comfortably among his superstar centre-bounce colleagues, and as a genuine A-grade midfielder. He had 33 touches in a fierce performance against Fremantle, including an equal balance of contested and uncontested possessions, frequently working back into defence to chop the ball off.

Errol Gulden (Sydney)
Like many young Swans, Gulden’s improvement has been rapid since he joined the squad last year, with his last month in particular stamping his position as one of the most exciting young players in the AFL. He was involved in all significant plays on Saturday, driving the ball inside 50 ten times, and also booting two goals.

HALF-FORWARDS

Shai Bolton (Richmond)
A brilliant first half from the ever-dangerous Bolton was offset by some wasteful kicking for goal, however he rectified this with an important set shot goal late in the second term to keep Richmond in touch. His second half was littered with brilliant moments, featuring powerful centre-clearance work and decisive forward-50 entries. A consistently influential player.

Jack Darling (West Coast)
A near-match-winning display from the stalwart West Coast forward, who produced his biggest bag of the season with six goals from six shots. He brought the Eagles back into the contest on two separate occasions, marking strongly and providing goalkicking bursts in each of the third and fourth quarters.

Ben Keays (Adelaide)
Keays has been a great performer for the Crows in a midfield role, but he produced possibly his most important contribution of the year against Carlton on Sunday as a defensive forward. Not only did he nullify the formidable Adam Saad, but he also exposed the Carlton defender a number of times in getting out the back, coming away with three goals and three direct assists.

PLEASE HELP US CONTINUE TO THRIVE BY BECOMING AN OFFICIAL FOOTYOLOGY PATRON. JUST CLICK THIS LINK.

FORWARDS

Noah Cumberland (Richmond)
Cumberland has provided instant impact up forward for Richmond, coming into the side early in the Gold Coast match and generating 19 shots on goal in his four games. His outing against the Lions was his best, with five goals from an impressive variety of methods. The pressure he provided on Darcy Gardiner in the final moments resulted in the shot that sealed the game.

Mabior Chol (Gold Coast)
The big Sun knows where the goals are, a fact illustrated again at Metricon on Saturday where he booted five goals straight from just seven disposals. He has always had an edge over his opponents at ground level, but it’s his contested marking and willingness to throw his weight around that’s seen him improve this season – traits that were on show in the win over West Coast.

Jake Stringer (Essendon)
Looking on from the opening bounce, Stringer was electric in the first term, kicking the Bombers’ first three goals of the match. He spent more time up the field in the third quarter, before hitting the scoreboard again in the last with two more majors. While his impact in front of goal was important, his seven tackles were a strong indication of his involvement in the game.

FOLLOWERS

Rowan Marshall (St Kilda)
With rucking partner Paddy Ryder out injured and Tom Campbell a late withdrawal, Marshall took on solo ruck duties and thrived, putting up an utterly dominant display. His impact at stoppages was significant, with 35 hitouts and seven clearances, and he had an equally strong influence around the ground with seven tackles and a career-high 30 touches.

Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
A vintage performance from Dangerfield, who played in a powerful, desperate manner, and was aggressive at both the ball and any opposition who stood in the way of the ball. He kickstarted the Cats with their first goal late in the opening term, and his contested work in the bruising third quarter was awesome to watch. He looks primed for a huge finals series.

Touk Miller (Gold Coast)
There were some ridiculous numbers produced by the Gold Coast co-captain against the Eagles – 31 disposals, 10 tackles, eight inside 50s, and three goal assists. To cap it off, his total of 15 clearances was the equal-10th most in a game since the statistic has been recorded. A powerful, energetic player, who has ironed out his rough edges and now has virtually no weaknesses in his game.

INTERCHANGE

Zach Merrett (Essendon)
This has been quite a significant uptick in form for Merrett, whose last six weeks have been right up there with the best footy he’s produced. With the Bombers unable to totally shake North Melbourne in the first half, Merrett came out after the long break and set about finishing them off, with a 26-disposal half in which he also laid nine tackles.

Keidean Coleman (Brisbane)
In the first half of Sunday’s epic against Richmond, Coleman was clearly the most influential player on the ground and a big reason for Brisbane’s commanding lead. He sliced through Richmond’s set-up, winning the ball back in defence and driving it forward with pinpoint skill. He had some attention after half-time, but still ended up Brisbane’s most important player.

James Rowbottom (Sydney)
Where Gulden, Nick Blakey and Chad Warner provide the flair and pizzazz for Sydney, Rowbottom is equally important in providing grunt work in the middle of the ground, and maintaining a defensive mindset to watch an opponent. He played his role perfectly against GWS, laying 13 tackles and gathering 23 touches. Clearly, he’s a key cog for the Swans going forward.

Connor Rozee (Port Adelaide)
For Port Adelaide fans, the idea that Connor Rozee would simply play well every single week would have been right near the top of the wishlist going into season 2022. That he’s doing it in a pure on-ball role is even more important. Not only were his 35 disposals against Collingwood a career-high, but it marked 15 weeks straight of 20 touches or more.

STIFF TO MISS
Tom Lynch (Richmond), Noah Anderson (Gold Coast), Patrick Cripps (Carlton), Tom Barrass (West Coast), James Aish (Fremantle), Brad Crouch (St Kilda), Nathan Murphy (Collingwood), Luke Parker (Sydney), Isaac Smith (Geelong), Christian Petracca (Melbourne).