Jack Scrimshaw used the ball beautifully off half-back for the Hawks in their win over Collingwood. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

FULL BACKS

Callum Wilkie (St Kilda)
Much of the talk leading up to the St Kilda vs Sydney clash was around how many goals “Buddy” could snag on the Dougal Howard-less Saints on his march to 1000 goals. Instead, he was held to just five disposals and one major by the hugely impressive Callum Wilkie, who gave away significant size but eclipsed Franklin in terms of positioning and defensive intent.

Sam Taylor (GWS)
Forget the discussion on great games by key defenders, this was one of the best individual displays from any player in any position this season. Not only did Taylor hold Tom Hawkins to just one goal, but he played in front all night and consistently chopped off balls meant for him, coming away with 17 intercepts and 12 marks. A complete performance.

Ryan Burton (Port Adelaide)
A rock-solid performance down back for Burton, who has played every game this season and is enjoying a strong patch of sustained form. Against the Crows, he had a game-high nine rebound 50s, and provided excellent support to the Showdown Medal winning Aliir with 10 marks and 26 touches.

HALF BACKS

Jack Scrimshaw (Hawthorn)
Scrimshaw’s game on Sunday was further evidence of a really solid breakout year. He used the ball beautifully off half-back for the Hawks, combining with Blake Hardwick and company to move the ball into attack, and taking plenty of grabs. His goal, right before quarter time, was crucial in giving Hawthorn a deserved two-goal lead.

Aliir Aliir (Port Adelaide)
This was right back to the scintillating form that Aliir was showing in the first half of the season. The Power’s gun recruit had a field day back in his natural role, and clearly demonstrated his prowess with 10 intercept marks. He was the main reason that the Crows only led by a point at quarter-time, and tellingly took the mark that seal the game at the death.

Wil Powell (Gold Coast)
There were all sorts of statistical career-highs for Powell in the game against Carlton, as he ran riot across half-back and worked up the ground to expose the Blues’ lack of defensive accountability. His ball use was particularly effective, and a goal-of-the-year contender right before the final siren capped off a superb afternoon for player and club.

CENTRES

Jack Graham (Richmond)
In the absence of nominal wingers McIntosh and Pickett, Graham pushed up from his normal high-half forward role and played one of his best games of the season. While many Tigers saved their skins with impressive second halves, Graham was excellent across four quarters, and was Richmond’s main driver with 36 touches, 10 score involvements, and eight tackles.

Jack Steele (St Kilda)
Another week, another brilliant performance from the St Kilda skipper, who really has to be considered among the very top echelon of players in the competition after his last two seasons. Steele was again involved in everything the Saints did going forward, but he continues to apply himself defensively and knows how to make his presence felt around the ground.

Paul Seedsman (Adelaide)
The leading metres-gained player in the competition continued his excellent season with a fantastic game in the “Showdown” on Saturday night. Seedsman played his role sensationally, working up and down his wing to collect 31 disposals and nine inside 50s. If the All-Australian selectors pick genuine wingmen, he will well and truly be in the mix.

HALF FORWARDS

Liam Baker (Richmond)
Baker started the match against North Melbourne as a defensive winger and contributed well, however his move to the half-forward line after half-time proved crucial to the Tigers’ win. Not only did he help shut down the Roos’ chip-mark game, but he also hit the scoreboard, booting two important goals and giving off two more – including a generous handball to debutant Maurice Rioli.

Joe Daniher (Brisbane)
This was a hope-inspiring performance for Lions fans, particularly in the way that Daniher and Dan McStay combined and both managed to hit the scoreboard. This was Daniher’s equal-best haul of the year with four goals, but he was also much more impactful than he has been at times this season, picking up 17 disposals and a game-high 10 score involvements.

Dylan Moore (Hawthorn)
Yet another fantastic performance from Moore, who has fully established himself in Hawthorn’s forward half this season, and is one of the better-performed small forwards across the league in recent weeks. In the absence of Luke Breust, Moore stepped up to the plate and contributed two goals, four assists, and 20 disposals.

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FORWARDS

Toby Greene (GWS)
It seems like Toby Greene barely plays a game where his output and actions aren’t a major talking point in the aftermath, and Friday night was no exception for a number of reasons. He set the win up for the Giants with a typically dynamic performance up forward, with his fourth goal of the night giving his side a game-high lead halfway through the third term.

Peter Wright (Essendon)
What a phenomenal game from Peter Wright. He slotted them from everywhere on his way to a clear career-best performance, essentially winning the Bombers the match with two beautiful long-range goals when the game was in the balance. With his bag of seven capping off a pretty solid month, perhaps Essendon has found its primary spearhead.

Jack Higgins (St Kilda)
After blowing his chances with one goal and six behinds in St Kilda and Sydney’s previous meeting this season, Higgins made amends with a decisive performance up forward. He hit the scoreboard early, with three of his four goals coming before half time, and nailed some really difficult shots that gave the Saints important momentum against a good side.

FOLLOWERS

Rowan Marshall (St Kilda)
Marshall and Ryder paired up in the ruck is certainly an ideal setup for St Kilda, but there is no doubt that the former is more than capable of holding the fort on his own. Against one of this season’s standout big men in Tom Hickey, Marshall took the points in the ruck and especially around the ground, where he won eight clearances and 18 contested possessions.

Dayne Zorko (Brisbane)
Brisbane needed to arrest the slide and steady its season on the weekend, and the skipper put in an inspirational leader’s game to make sure it happened. Zorko set the scene with a ferocious start to the game, and, as he always does, worked incredibly hard both ways with double-figure numbers in tackles and inside 50s.

Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn)
Tom Mitchell absolutely loves playing Collingwood, and he dominated them once again on Sunday in a match-winning performance. Mitchell had a massive 44 disposals, nothing out of the ordinary for him, but tellingly, this included a round-high 12 score involvements, as well as eight clearances and seven tackles. He has been right back to his peak form in the last two months.

INTERCHANGE

Touk Miller (Gold Coast)
Miller just keeps getting it done for the Suns, and he was once against his side’s most productive midfielder in an impressive win, outworking the Carlton engine room and winning plenty of clearances and contested footy. He also bobbed up with two goals, the second of which was effectively the sealer. He’s become a widely-admired figure in the game.

Isaac Cumming (GWS)
Aside from one absolute howler (that he ultimately got away with), Cumming was very assured in the back half against Geelong. His confidence to kick long and drive the ball from defence was crucial to the Giants’ victory, and he finished the match with a monstrous 18 rebound 50s – equal the all-time record – and just shy of the extremely rare 1000 metres gained mark.

Zach Merrett (Essendon)
That Merrett was the best midfielder on the ground in a game against the Western Bulldogs speaks volumes of his output. He had his usual swag of disposals and score involvements, but it was his supreme ball use by foot that really stood out in the Bombers’ big win. One of the most consistent players in the league this year.

Tim Taranto (GWS)
After spending a few weeks in the forward-pocket nursing a shoulder complaint, Taranto sprung back to his brilliant, tenacious best. Missing a large chunk of his midfield cohort, the 2019 club best-and-fairest stepped up and led the way with 34 touches, nine tackles, and two goals to be the best midfielder on the ground.

STIFF TO MISS
Sam Draper (Essendon), Jack Macrae (Western Bulldogs), Josh Bruce (Western Bulldogs), Nick Vlastuin (Richmond), Elliot Yeo (West Coast), Jy Simpkin (North Melbourne), James Harmes (Melbourne), Luke Parker (Sydney), Blake Hardwick (Hawthorn), Noah Anderson (Gold Coast)