Mid-year recruit Cooper Sharman capped off an impressive second half of the season for the Saints on Sunday. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

FULL BACKS

Jake Lever (Melbourne)
It was business as usual as Lever led the competition for intercept marks and intercept possessions in round 23. In an era of football that is littered with star players in that role, Lever is the best of the best, and he demonstrated again on Saturday night how influential he can be as part of a well-drilled and organised defensive system.

Alex Keath (Western Bulldogs)
Keath’s sensational year at full-back continued against Port Adelaide, with his performance one of the few shining lights on a calamitous night for the Western Bulldogs. With the Power claiming a healthy victory in inside 50s, Keath did an excellent job holding Charlie Dixon goalless and to just two marks, with his aerial defensive work at an elite level across all four quarters.

Trent McKenzie (Port Adelaide)
It’s been an unlikely journey for McKenzie, from inconsistent fringe half-back flanker with one major weapon (his booming kick), to gun lockdown defender in a top-two side. On Saturday night he moved between English and Naughton, comfortably beating both of them, and used his powerful kicking beautifully to clear the ball beyond the Bulldogs’ scoring territory.

HALF BACKS

Jake Lloyd (Sydney)
A season-high 36 disposals for the dual Bob Skilton Medal winner, who returned from his rest in top form and moved the ball from defence with ease against the hapless Suns. Lloyd was at his absolute best, contributing eight score involvements, eight rebound 50s, and eight intercepts, and delivering the ball at 94 per cent efficiency.

Sam Taylor (GWS)
More brilliance from Sam Taylor, who has been one of the genuine breakout stars of season 2021. He played a decisive game against the Blues, particularly in the first half when the game was very much up for grabs. Were it not for five games missed through injury in the middle of the season, he’d quite possibly have an All-Australian spot locked away.

Daniel Rich (Brisbane)
A huge game from the veteran Lion, who will surely be named an All-Australian for the first time on Thursday night. In a game stacked with superb midfield performances, Rich was probably the best player on the ground from defence, with his 874 metres gained from 29 touches, and eight inside 50s, having a huge impact on the territory battle.

CENTRES

Jordan Dawson (Sydney)
Dawson capped off a wonderful home-and-away campaign with another busy display, running riot on the wing as the Swans belted Gold Coast at Docklands. His improvement in becoming a more damaging player was highlighted on the weekend, as he topped the match in metres gained, inside 50s, and also managed a goal and two direct assists.

Jack Steele (St Kilda)
Another complete midfielder’s game from Steele, who put up a nice balance of contested and uncontested possessions, tackles, score involvements and clearances against a good midfield unit in Fremantle. He should certainly lock away three Brownlow votes in the final round of the count, and it’s hard to imagine that he wouldn’t be in the mix at that point.

Isaac Smith (Geelong)
It’s easy to take a wholly pessimistic view of Geelong’s performance on Saturday, but there were periods of the game where they looked absolutely electric, and Smith’s work on the wing was a big part of that. He ran hard and kicked well as he always does, and was again prolific in the last quarter as many credentialed teammates dropped right off.

HALF FORWARDS

Devon Smith (Essendon)
The 2018 Crichton Medallist waited until the final round to put up his best performance of the season, but it was very much the club champion-winning version of Devon Smith on Sunday as the Bombers cruised to an easy win. He pushed up the field at times, but his work deep in forward 50 was exceptional, and his four goal assists was the most of round 23.

Lance Franklin (Sydney)
Another Swan who returned from a timely rest and looked much better for it. Things were looking ominous when he booted an absolute vintage Franklin goal from outside 50 in the first 10 seconds of the game, and he carried on brilliantly, with his bag of six turning an otherwise inconsequential game into captivating viewing.

Ed Curnow (Carlton)
Not a noted goalkicker, Curnow hit the scoreboard four times on Saturday night – the equal most of his career, and just the sixth time he’s been a multiple goalscorer. They came in a variety of ways, too, with a long-range bomb late in the third term a highlight of the night. He showed he still has plenty to offer as he enters the twilight of his career.

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FORWARDS

Jamie Elliott (Collingwood)
One massive positive for Collingwood this season has been the fitness and form of the hugely talented Jamie Elliott. He played a lone hand up forward against the Bombers on Sunday, contributing across four quarters to take eight marks and boot four goals, including a few strong individual efforts.

Peter Wright (Essendon)
A big first half for Wright, who continued his good form as a deep forward and still managed to give Sam Draper a chop-out in the ruck when required. His marking was especially good against Collingwood, with four contested marks from eight in total, including some beauties that resulted in shots on goal – which he inevitably doesn’t miss.

Cooper Sharman (St Kilda)
The mid-season draftee, who was playing reserves footy in the SANFL only a few months ago, has been a bright spark for the Saints. Since coming into the side, he has booted 10 goals in four games, capped off with a bag of four against Fremantle in a performance that also included four contested marks. A real bonus with which to end a somewhat flat season.

FOLLOWERS

Max Gawn (Melbourne)
After probably being edged by the rejuvenated Rhys Stanley, the Demons’ skipper put in one of the best 40-minute periods of his career to drag his side over the line and into first spot on the ladder. Eleven disposals, four marks and three centre clearances in the final term alone, culminating in a goal after the siren to claim victory in the most dramatic of circumstances. These are the performances that cement a player as an all-time great of their club.

Clayton Oliver (Melbourne)
Gawn’s combativeness may have been the catalyst for Melbourne’s remarkable turnaround, but Melbourne would not have been within striking distance as he took that last kick were it not for Oliver. He was absolutely immense through the middle, winning 26 contested possessions from 37 in total, a game-high nine clearances, and slotting two momentous goals.

Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)
A brilliant display from the Port Adelaide champion, who in his 304th game put up a performance as good – and as crucial – as any in his career. Not only did he lead the charge with 12 touches in the second term, as the Power tried to work their way back into the game, but he was there at the end to flush a perfect snap for the second-last goal of the game, and then set up Robbie Gray for the match-winner only moments later.

INTERCHANGE

Rory Laird (Adelaide)
Laird rounded off an excellent first-up season as a permanent midfielder with an equal season-high 40 disposals in a commanding performance against North Melbourne. Along with vastly-improved teammate Ben Keays, Laird controlled the centre square contest to win 10 clearances, and also laid eight tackles for the match.

Chad Wingard (Hawthorn)
Wingard continued his stellar end to season 2021 with another best-on-ground performance on Saturday. In what was essentially a dead-rubber encounter, everything Wingard did against the Tigers seemed significant – whether that was a goal out of nothing, a creative assist, or a timely and virtuosic clearance. At his best, he’s still better than essentially everyone else on the park.

Nic Naitanui (West Coast)
It took a season-defining performance to bump Naitanui from the first ruck position in this week’s team, but he still put in one of the best games of the round with a high-impact, high-intensity display. Oscar McInerney is far from a slouch in the ruck, but Naitanui managed 20 hitouts to advantage, feeding the ball into the arms of Luke Shuey and Elliot Yeo, and also winning 11 clearances of his own. Twenty-four disposals is also his season-high, in a year where he’s accumulated more of the footy than ever before.

Callan Ward (GWS)
The former Giants skipper has quietly put together a really strong season, after his career looked to be slowly winding up following some injury-interrupted years. Against the Blues on Saturday he looked as sharp and as physically capable as he ever has, with a game-high 12 score involvements along with 28 touches and two goals making him the most influential midfielder on the ground.

STIFF TO MISS
Isaac Heeney (Sydney), Justin McInerney (Sydney), Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide), Ollie Wines (Port Adelaide), Scott Lycett (Port Adelaide), Joe Daniher (Brisbane), Elliott Yeo (West Coast), Ben Keays (Adelaide), Caleb Serong (Fremantle), Jake Stringer (Essendon)