Gold Coast big improver Sam Flanders played the game of his career against Carlton on Saturday. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

FULL BACKS

Jake Lever (Melbourne)
Lever’s best performance of the season came at a crucial time for the Demons, with Hawthorn’s challenge on Sunday afternoon placing their top-four position in peril. The experienced defender was a restrictive force all afternoon, taking a round-high seven marks off an opposition boot.

Tom McCartin (Sydney)
The Swans might miss McCartin over the next two matches due to suspension, a blow that is further intensified by his impeccable performance on Taylor Walker in Round 23. The Adelaide spearhead has been unstoppable at home this year, but McCartin kept him to minimum impact, while contributing strongly on rebound as well.

Blake Hardwick (Hawthorn)
Hardwick has been one of the best exponents of the pure back pocket position all year, with his ability to shut down an opponent, and also get involved in ball movement from defence, making him a major asset at Hawthorn. He had plenty of the footy on Sunday, but it was his shutdown job on Kysaiah Pickett (five touches, zero goals) that gets him the nod here.

HALF-BACKS

Jack Sinclair (St Kilda)
A genuine star of the competition, Sinclair produced one of his best performances in the Saints’ season-shaping win over Geelong. Despite spending the night outside of the centre square rotation, the running backman managed a game-high 11 score involvements, an indication of his remarkable impact on the contest.

Jeremy McGovern (West Coast)
As the most experienced, and clearly the largest, of West Coast’s depleted defensive unit, McGovern led the Eagles’ backline to a clear victory over the Western Bulldogs’ dangerous attack. Demonstrating how important he still is to his side’s success, the four-time All-Australian dominated the aerial contest and snuffed out scoring opportunities.

Nick Blakey (Sydney)
Blakey’s form has been a key factor in the Swans’ resurgence over the past six weeks. Long recognised for his pace and kicking in running the ball from defence, his one-on-one work has also been crucial in Sydney’s key position crisis, and he continued that trend against the Crows with 12 spoils to go along with nine intercepts and a sizzling goal assist.

CENTRES

Karl Amon (Hawthorn)
The form of Hawthorn’s off-season recruit has been terrific in the post-bye period, and given the performances of the young midfield alongside him, his recruitment makes significantly more sense than it did at the time. In a hardworking and effective display, Amon managed 602 metres gained against Melbourne – over 100 more than the next best in the match.

Lachie Neale (Brisbane)
This was an impressive return to form by Neale, who easily shook off the defensive attention of Tom Mitchell to claim best-on-ground honours against Collingwood. Continually winning it on the inside with 10 clearances for the match, he set the tone early with a 13-disposal opening term as the Lions opened up a break.

Sam Flanders (Gold Coast)
Despite not clocking up the midfield minutes that he had been accustomed to in the previous month, Flanders’ prolific form continued with another busy display against Carlton. Starting the match on fire with 13 disposals and three clearances in the first term alone, he continued buzzing around the expanses of Carrara to finish with a career-high 36 touches.

HALF-FORWARDS

Dustin Martin (Richmond)
It’s no secret that Martin has been a dominant force in big games since early in his career, and although finals were out of the equation, the last outings of champion teammates Jack Riewoldt and Trent Cotchin were enough to get him up and about. Clearly on from the first bounce, Martin was best on ground with massive influence up the field and inside 50.

Charlie Curnow (Carlton)
Yet another match-winning display from the man many are viewing as the No.1 player in the game at the moment. Down by 33 points at quarter-time, Curnow dragged the Blues back into it with four goals in the second term. The game still on the line, he had a say in the final term too with another major, a brilliant assist, and the game-saving mark at full back.

David Swallow (Gold Coast)
A big performance from the inaugural Sun, who looked at home playing mostly inside forward 50 against the Blues. A centrepiece of Gold Coast’s impressive start with two goals in the opening quarter, he hit the scoreboard again in the third and fourth to finish with a career-high four goals, as well as seven additional score involvements.

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FORWARDS

Shai Bolton (Richmond)
Stationed more permanently in the forward line than he has been for most of this season, the dynamic Tiger managed four brilliant goals against North Melbourne. Bolton, who is one of just three players to average at least 20 disposals and a goal per game this season, also contributed 25 touches and eight inside 50s.

Jesse Hogan (GWS)
A performance long-foretold. The central figure in the Giants’ biggest-ever victory, Hogan produced one of the most memorable displays of not just this season, but in recent AFL history. Nine goals from 10 attempts and 17 marks (six contested) was the damage as he munched Essendon’s defence on Saturday afternoon.

Jamie Cripps (West Coast)
Cripps played plenty of great footy during West Coast’s era of contention, but his contribution in the win over the Western Bulldogs on Sunday would have to be right up there with his best. Providing tackling pressure and scoring impact through the match, he proved to be the difference in the final term with three of the Eagles’ five goals in an inspiring display.

FOLLOWERS

Rowan Marshall (St Kilda)
Another towering performance from the St Kilda ruckman, who somehow continues to fly under the radar in the discussion about the league’s best. Taking advantage of an area of weakness for the Cats, Marshall continued his dominant around-the-ground form with 24 disposals, 10 marks (three contested) and a beautiful set shot goal to seal the game.

Tim Kelly (West Coast)
To lead the Eagles to just their third victory of the season, away from home and against a strong Bulldogs midfield, makes this Kelly’s best performance of the season in a really strong field. Offering huge impact going forward from the centre square, Kelly contributed 32 disposals, eight clearances and a mammoth five goal assists.

Tom Green (GWS)
An emerging superstar, Green is finishing off the season in the same commanding manner in which he began it. Working in tandem alongside the impressive Kieran Briggs in the ruck, Green demolished the Essendon midfield on his way to 39 disposals, 10 clearances and 11 score involvements.

INTERCHANGE

Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)
With his impact being questioned for quite possibly the first time in his illustrious career, Pendlebury stepped into the midfield void left by Jordan De Goey and had a huge game. Winning seven centre clearances from 12 in total, he also managed nine inside 50s and two goal assists in an important performance.

Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
A shining light on a very dark day for the Dogs, Bontempelli further enhanced his Brownlow Medal chances with a big outing against West Coast. Although he was unable to drag the Bulldogs over the line as he so often has this year, his efforts were mighty with 32 disposals, 12 clearances, 10 tackles and a goal.

Nick Larkey (North Melbourne)
It’s been a really impressive season from Larkey, who has managed to establish himself on the podium of the Coleman Medal leaderboard despite playing in a side that sits last on the ladder, having lost 20 games in a row, and is ranked 17th for inside 50s. A constant threat up forward against the Tigers, Larkey goaled from set shots and ground balls on his way to a bag of six.

Zak Butters (Port Adelaide)
A consistent, four-quarter display from Butters helped Port Adelaide stay in top-two contention against a persistent Fremantle outfit on Sunday evening. Racking up more than 30 disposals for the fifth week running, he also showed good defensive intent around the coalface, and nailed one of the goals of the season in the opening term.

STIFF TO MISS
Charlie Cameron (Brisbane), Trent Rivers (Melbourne), Harrison Himmelberg (GWS), Kieran Briggs (GWS), Jacob Weitering (Carlton), James Worpel (Hawthorn), Rory Laird (Adelaide), Tarryn Thomas (North Melbourne), Caleb Serong (Fremantle), Isaac Heeney (Sydney)