Adelaide veteran Rory Laird also had a memorable milestone game at Optus Stadium on Sunday. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

FULL BACKS

Blake Hardwick (Hawthorn)
Hardwick is capable of the most miserly of shut-down jobs, and he dished out one of his best on dangerous Suns forward Izak Rankine on Saturday. The tough Hawthorn defender kept the Gold Coast fire starter to just 11 disposals, no goals and three score involvements for the match, while also utilising his long kicking to send the ball beyond defensive 50.

Sam De Koning (Geelong)
The highly impressive season of Sam De Koning rolled on against St Kilda, as his rock-solid performances at full back continue to allow the Cats more flexibility and dynamism further up the field. In what will no doubt be a much talked-about match-up for years to come, De Koning clearly took the points against Max King, holding him to one goal and two marks.

Luke Ryan (Fremantle)
The break-out form of a couple of tall Fremantle defenders has been wonderful for Ryan, with the gun intercept defender free to play his natural game without having to battle away undersized. He was an absolute wall against the Western Bulldogs, with a mammoth 15 marks, as well as 11 rebound 50s and 25 kicks at 100 per cent efficiency.

HALF-BACKS

Daniel Rioli (Richmond)
In what was another comprehensive performance, Rioli kept close watch over Sam Powell-Pepper and held him goalless, picked up 25 touches, and also slotted two lovely long goals. He is playing with total confidence, in stark contrast to recent seasons. Remarkably, he has already kicked as many goals as he did last year when he was playing largely as a permanent forward.

Tom Barrass (West Coast)
With a lot on his plate, Tom Barrass is playing the most consistently outstanding footy of his career. His form continued in the final game of Round 21 where he smashed Taylor Walker, keeping the Adelaide star to just one goal and five disposals for the match, while taking 10 marks himself. Quite possibly the most difficult defender to beat at the moment.

Lachie Whitfield (GWS)
Looking refreshed after an interrupted month of footy, Whitfield was at his crafty best against the Bombers and played one of his best games for the season. He read the play beautifully to clean up across the middle of the ground, delivered nicely inside 50 and also kicked a final-quarter goal that just about put the game beyond doubt.

CENTRES

Isaac Smith (Geelong)
With 11 score involvements from 21 disposals, Smith played an excellent wingman’s game and was one of the most influential players on the ground against St Kilda. Still running harder and longer than anyone at the age of 33, the star Cat hit the scoreboard himself in each of the last three quarters, also dishing off two more direct assists.

Rory Laird (Adelaide)
His 200th game may have been second billing in terms of significant milestones in this particular match, but Laird thrives as a quiet achiever, and he did so again with an outstanding midfield performance. He got the Crows moving early on with two quick goals, before dominating from the guts with 36 touches and 10 clearances.

Max Holmes (Geelong)
Like De Koning, the inclusion of Holmes as a locked-away best-22 player has been significant for the Cats this season. Offering significant pace on the opposite wing to Smith and also up forward, Holmes also did plenty of damage with a career-best 24 disposals, the highlight being a beautiful set-shot goal from right on 50 in a telling third term.

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HALF-FORWARDS

Shai Bolton (Richmond)
Shai Bolton will kick eight goals one day soon, but until he does, performances like this will keep Richmond satiated. The superstar Tiger was again lively and compelling both in centre bounces and up forward, with four goals, four clearances and four marks inside 50 – including a couple of contested grabs that totally belied his 175cm frame.

Josh Kennedy (West Coast)
What a way to bow out. With his sixth bag of eight (or more), Kennedy not only produced the biggest haul of any player this season, but also moved up four spots to finish his career as the 21st greatest goalkicker in VFL/AFL history. A universally liked and admired player, he goes out still very capable, and as one of West Coast’s best-ever players.

Zac Bailey (Brisbane)
It was impressive in itself that Bailey even played on Sunday, having been subbed out with a sternum injury the week before. That he ended up as one of the best players on the ground in Brisbane’s big win against the Blues was pretty remarkable. Balanced and impactful as he so often is, Bailey slotted four goals through the middle of the match, and also handed off two more.

FORWARDS

Jamie Elliott (Collingwood)
Collingwood fans are getting a solid look at how different things could have been with a fit Jamie Elliott over the past six or seven years. The in-form forward was outstanding in his 150th game, applying meaningful forward pressure and, of course, finding the goals with pinpoint accuracy. An inspirational player and genuine leader of the side.

Nick Larkey (North Melbourne)
A player very capable of a big bag of goals, Larkey equalled his career-best tally of seven in a strong outing against Sydney. Up against a genuinely tough opponent in Tom McCartin, Larkey took a number of strong contested marks, but also made the most of his opportunities at ground level to boost his numbers.

Jack Gunston (Hawthorn)
Gunston started hot against Gold Coast, booting the opening two goals for the match and helping keep the Hawks’ beaks in front all day. He wasn’t able to add to his haul of five in what was a dour final term, but still ended up the best forward on the ground and continued his excellent late-season form.

FOLLOWERS

Toby Nankervis (Richmond)
Taking on sole captain duties with Dylan Grimes on the sidelines, Nankervis rose to the occasion with a fierce and prolific display against the Power. The much-loved Tiger gathered 29 touches, half of which were contested, and won eight clearances. He also sent the ball inside 50 on seven occasions in an indication of his impact around the ground.

Lachie Neale (Brisbane)
Neale kicked the first goal of the game in a slow opening term against Carlton, but it was his determined work late that was truly match-winning. With the Blues mounting an unthinkable comeback, the Brownlow Medal favourite stepped up with some big centre square moments, driving the ball Brisbane’s way with four clearances from the middle in the final quarter alone.

Luke Parker (Sydney)
While the exciting, new fandangled Swans are generating a lot of the headlines, the triple Bob Skilton Medallist continues to get the job done as Sydney’s prime inside midfielder. Parker teamed well with ruckman Tom Hickey to ensure the Kangaroos didn’t get too many fast clearances, winning seven himself, but also applying nine tackles and plenty of pressure to the ball-carrier.

INTERCHANGE

Jordan De Goey (Collingwood)
De Goey is one of those players for whom you’d take their 25 touches over most other players’ 45. He looked on from the moment he booted the first goal of the game with a brilliant roving snap, and continued on with maximum impact both in the centre square and at half-forward. A real finals wildcard.

Trent Cotchin (Richmond)
A vintage bulldozer-type performance from the Richmond champion, who after copping some criticism during the week, produced a game of high impact and determination. Thirty-one disposals is the most he’s had since Round 22 last year, but it was his will to move the ball forward at all costs – as illustrated by his three goal assists – that most stood out.

Oscar McInerney (Brisbane)
A match of strong influence by the long-limbed Brisbane ruckman, with some excellent centre-square work through sheer force proving important late in the game. McInerney also had 19 touches around the ground, of which 16 were contested, and managed eight clearances of his own.

Christian Petracca (Melbourne)
Responding quickly to De Goey’s opener with his own outstanding snap under pressure, Petracca set the scene for what was a terrific first term full of highlights. As he has during the second half of the year, the reigning North Smith Medallist spent plenty of time at half-forward post-centre bounce, finishing with a game-high 10 score involvements from his 36 disposals.

STIFF TO MISS
Jesse Hogan (GWS), Harris Andrews (Brisbane), Rory Lobb (Fremantle), Darcy Fogarty (Adelaide), Dion Prestia (Richmond), Chad Warner (Sydney), Brandon Parfitt (Geelong), Matt Guelfi (Essendon), Max Gawn (Melbourne), Elijah Hollands (Gold Coast).