Fremantle youngster Heath Chapman is growing in stature with each passing week. Photo: Getty Images

FULL BACKS

Heath Chapman (Fremantle)
Chapman has made a strong start to his second season at AFL level, playing every game and now putting up career-best numbers for the second consecutive week. He was particularly impressive in the last quarter against the Giants, where his composure and cleanliness in the back half were crucial in a number of contests.

Steven May (Melbourne)
Every time Port Adelaide looked as though they might get a smooth piece of play moving out of defence or from the middle, they just could not get past the final hurdle of Steven May. The dependable Melbourne full back played his best game of the season so far, blanketing an in-form Todd Marshall, and protecting the defence with strong marking.

Jayden Short (Richmond)
Short has been a good player for quite a few years now, but there is a consistency about his game this season that now sees him as one of the premier half backs in the competition. His metres gained numbers were huge as always, but his ability to hit short targets out of the backline with precision were just as important.

HALF BACKS

Lachie Weller (Gold Coast)
A consistent performer for the Suns across multiple positions, Weller looks well suited to a running half back role where his speed and skill by foot are accentuated. He was brilliant against Carlton, gathering 31 disposals, and transitioning the footy up the ground with seven rebound 50s and seven inside 50s.

Jeremy McGovern (West Coast)
Given the chaos that’s been happening all around him, it’s not an exaggeration to say that Jeremy McGovern has been one of the performers of the year so far in 2022. His aerial work against the Magpies was about as good as it gets, demonstrating again that the four-time All-Australian clearly has more great footy left in him.

Jack Sinclair (St Kilda)
If last year was a breakout season for Sinclair across half back, season 2022 looks to be a year of consolidation and continued improvement. He was busy up and down the ground against Hawthorn, but also showed his hard edge in the contest at times as he begins to spend time on the ball. One of St Kilda’s best in a strong field.

CENTRES

Justin McInerney (Sydney)
In a match that was begging for a gamebreaker at three-quarter time, it was McInerney who came to the fore with a stunning final term. With 14 disposals, three clearances, and the goal that put Sydney ahead, McInerney capped off what was already a solid game with one of the quarters of the season to steer the Swans to victory.

Jack Steele (St Kilda)
Steele led a St Kilda on-ball unit that completely smashed the Hawthorn combination. In a type of performance that we have become accustomed to seeing over the past two seasons, the Saints captain did everything to a high level, including working accountably when Hawthorn won the ball, and also hitting the scoreboard.

Isaac Smith (Geelong)
Smith keeps on proving his worth as a shrewd free agency pick-up by the Cats, continuing to be an elite contributor well into his 30s. His was a prototype wingman’s game against Brisbane, with 10 marks, eight inside 50s, a goal, and 29 touches at 90 per cent disposal efficiency to be one of the best on ground.

HALF FORWARDS

Jade Gresham (St Kilda)
The return of Jade Gresham, after a 2021 campaign ruined by an achilles injury, has been one of the underrated stories of the season so far. He put together a comprehensive performance in his centre forward role against the Hawks, with 20 disposals, two goal assists, and a goal in each quarter himself.

Tom Hawkins (Geelong)
Another outstanding performance from Hawkins, who at 33 years old looks as sharp and as fit as he ever has. Matched up against an experienced and generally miserly Brisbane defence, the Cats champion took five contested marks from seven in total. His fifth goal, at the 18-minute mark of the last quarter, would be the last of a tense final term.

Shai Bolton (Richmond)
Everything Bolton does is pretty captivating at the moment, whether in the air, around goals, in at clearance, or moving the ball inside 50 with pace and skill. It was all on show against the Bulldogs on Saturday night, with the highlight being a stunning steal and left-foot snap from the boundary that will surely contend for goal of the year.

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FORWARDS

Willie Rioli (West Coast)
Apart from an indiscretion that cost him a game in round three, Rioli has hardly missed a beat in his return from a 900-day layoff. He was superb for the Eagles in their gutsy win over Collingwood, hitting the scoreboard with three goals, but also providing guile and class around the contest and at stoppages.

Max King (St Kilda)
King has now kicked bags of four goals in three consecutive weeks, to sit equal top of the Coleman Medal race after four rounds. He got reward on the scoreboard late in the match against Hawthorn, but was excellent throughout the day with career-high numbers in marks (11) and disposals (17) indicating his growth as a player.

Jack Ziebell (North Melbourne)
The North Melbourne skipper returned to the forward line after a solid year-and-a-bit playing as a sweeper at half back. In what was an encouraging – albeit unsuccessful – outing for his side, Ziebell made the most of his opportunities up forward and booted five goals, along with one goal assist, from just nine disposals.

FOLLOWERS

Max Gawn (Melbourne)
The premiership skipper was back to his utterly dominant form of late last season against the hapless Power on Thursday night. With 12 marks (seven contested), Gawn controlled the air around the ground, and also collected 25 touches and six clearances. His long raking goal from outside 50 has become something of a trademark.

Will Brodie (Fremantle)
The former Sun has made the most of his move to Fremantle during the off-season, and the Dockers appear to be reaping the rewards of what was effectively a salary-dump trade. Facing up against a talented on-ball unit, Brodie had easily the best game of his career, with 37 possessions (his previous best was 29) and six clearances.

Noah Anderson (Gold Coast)
This was a huge game from Anderson, who along with his captain Touk Miller, took it up to the much-improved Carlton midfield and came out on top. Anderson was vibrant, and moved the ball long distances with his 35 possessions, also adding 10 clearances, eight inside 50s, and a goal in what was a well-rounded game.

INTERCHANGE

Bailey Smith (Western Bulldogs)
Smith continued his prolific start to the year with another big game against Richmond. The Bulldogs’ young star looked dangerous whenever he went near the ball, which was often, and was a big reason why the Dogs got off to such a hot start. Clearly he is a highly skilled player, but he also gives 100 per cent effort, 100 per cent of the time.

Dion Presia (Richmond)
The idea that Dion Prestia is the most important player in Richmond’s side has almost become a cliche, but one can’t look at the game on Saturday night and come away with any other conclusion. Coming off a short-term hamstring injury, he was terrific as the Tigers’ major ball winner in the middle, showing up the Dogs with his two-way running.

Mark Blicavs (Geelong)
With Sam De Koning back in the side, Blicavs was let off the leash somewhat on Friday night, and did some excellent work around the ground as a support ruck and general utility. He was competitive in the hitouts as always, but excelled with his contest work, and ended up with 22 disposals (10 of which became scores) and eight tackles.

Darcy Parish (Essendon)
The 2021 All-Australian had a lot on his plate with fellow stoppage players Zach Merrett and Jake Stringer out of the side, but he rose to the occasion to produce his best game of the year, winning eight clearances – including three from the centre – in his 38 disposals. In a tight second quarter, his dominance around the ball kept Essendon’s nose in front.

STIFF TO MISS
Bradley Hill (St Kilda), Sam Collins (Gold Coast), Jarrod Witts (Gold Coast), Josh Daicos (Collingwood), Nick Daicos (Collingwood), Daniel Rioli (Richmond), Tom Lynch (Richmond), Daniel McStay (Brisbane), Ben Keays (Adelaide), Taylor Walker (Adelaide).