Nathan Broad was one of Richmond’s best on Friday night and is putting together a very good season. Photo: AFL MEDIA

FULL BACKS

Nathan Broad (Richmond)
Broad has really stepped up in the absence of Nick Vlastuin this season, starting 2021 in career-best form. He worked tirelessly on Friday night and was strong defensively as always, but also pushed hard the other way and had 11 marks and 25 disposals. A real key cog to the Richmond backline.

Steven May (Melbourne)
Yet another superb defensive-half performance from May, who continues to beat his man and then work offensively to provide rebound with his long, accurate kicking. The loss of Adam Tomlinson so early in the game didn’t appear to affect his performance, as he dominated the back 50 and picked up 25 touches and 14 marks.

Sam Collins (Gold Coast)
It hasn’t taken long for Collins to become the Suns’ most reliable player, and he was at his best again on Saturday in a commanding display. He had 23 possessions and 12 marks to comfortably beat Darcy Moore, and regularly demonstrated his excellent one-on-one ability and strength in the contest.

HALF BACKS

Adam Saad (Carlton)
A very well-balanced game from Saad, who displayed his trademark run and bounce to the sound of the Essendon fans’ boos all day, but also performed really solidly in the contest and won his share of one-on-ones. His six rebound 50s, six inside 50s and three direct goal assists indicate his influence on the game.

Harris Andrews (Brisbane)
Bounced back really solidly after a somewhat tepid start to the season, including being well beaten last week. Andrews took six intercept marks in the first half to establish his dominance over Charlie Dixon, who barely got a look in due to the dual All-Australian’s textbook defensive work. Still the best key defender in the game.

Callum Mills (Sydney)
Mills has moved back into defence after a strong start to the season in the middle, but isn’t having any less impact and is now just a really solid performer week-to-week. His second quarter, in which he gathered nine disposals and five marks, was instrumental in getting the Swans back into the contest.

CENTRES

Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane)
Another fantastic game from McCluggage, who hasn’t been out of his side’s best players for five weeks now. He had 30 possessions, 12 score involvements and six clearances against the Power, showcasing his rapidly improving ability on the inside as well as on a wing. Shaping as one to watch on Brownlow night.

Ben Cunnington (North Melbourne)
Wound the clock back with a huge midfield exhibition against the much-vaunted Melbourne centre square crew, gathering 35 disposals (20 contested), eight clearances, six tackles and a goal. His first half was completely dominant, as he and the rest of the North Melbourne side took advantage of a laconic opposition.

Brandon Ellis (Gold Coast)
Like many of the Gold Coast’s more recent mature recruits, Ellis has come into the side, filled a need and done exactly what’s been asked of him. This was no more evident than on Saturday, when he ran riot on the familiar MCG wings to pick up 35 possessions and take a round-high 16 marks. He always works so hard to provide an option for teammates.

HALF FORWARDS

Shai Bolton (Richmond)
Played the Dusty role this week, starting in at stoppage and then drifting ahead to at times play as the deepest forward. In high praise of his performance, the Tigers lost nothing, as Bolton contributed three goals, 10 inside 50s and 10 score involvements. A captivating and unique footballer who’s still getting better.

Brody Mihocek (Collingwood)
Mihocek was a shining light for the Magpies in round seven, hitting career or equal career highs in disposals (24), marks (12) and goals (four) as well as eight inside 50s. He played a fantastic first quarter and ended up kicking his side’s first three goals, genuinely looking like Collingwood’s only threat up forward.

Bayley Fritsch (Melbourne)
A career-high six-goal effort for Fritsch, who has almost become the key element in a Melbourne forward line that is functioning better than it has in many years. Led and marked very strongly all day, but he really lifted in the third quarter and booted three when the Demons were seriously under the pump.

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FORWARDS

Charlie Cameron (Brisbane)
Charlie looked like Charlie for the first time this season on Saturday night, providing all the spark and skill that has made him one of the best forwards in the competition in recent years. He was a constant threat, and it was fantastic to hear the Gabba crowd light up whenever he went near the footy.

Tom Lynch (Richmond)
Responded strongly to a week of pointed critique by putting in one of his best performances in the yellow and black. He took 12 marks, including seven inside 50, and crashed packs with clear intent from the very beginning. Five behinds and no goals in the first half was disappointing, but he made up for it with three goals in an exhilarating third term.

Josh Corbett (Gold Coast)
This was somewhat of a breakout game from Corbett, who has only played sporadically since joining the Suns from the VFL at the end of 2018. He worked into the game slowly, but by the end was one of the dominant players on the ground as he marked absolutely everything. Four goals and 11 marks is a great base to work from.

FOLLOWERS

Tom Hickey (Sydney)
A huge game from the resurgent Sydney ruckman, dominating Rhys Stanley both in the contest and around the ground. He gave his midfielders first use with competent efficiency, but it was his work at ground level, where he had 16 contested possessions and a game-high 10 clearances, that made this a standout effort.

Tim Kelly (West Coast)
One of the great, commanding performances of the season so far from Kelly, who is capable of being one of the game’s most complete midfielders at his best. Forty-two disposals, 13 clearances, 13 score involvements, nine tackles, two goal assists and 599 metres gained is going to take some beating for stat line of the year.

Sam Walsh (Carlton)
Walsh has become a remarkably consistent, top-line AFL midfielder so quickly that sometimes his performances get taken for granted, however there was none of that on Sunday as he dominated on the inside and out with 33 possessions and eight clearances. A genuine star, and he still hasn’t played 50 games.

INTERCHANGE

Zak Jones (St Kilda)
Jones burst out of the blocks against the Hawks, gathering 15 disposals in a mammoth first term that set the tone for what was a vastly-improved and focused performance by his side. He carried on in quarter two in which he hit the scoreboard twice, and ended up with a career high 37 touches and 13 score involvements.

Tim Taranto (GWS)
Taranto flies under the radar due the Giants’ lack of recent success, and the fact that he plies his trade in a traditionally non-footy state, but he is an authentically tough and skilful midfield gun who has put together a fantastic season so far. Was best on ground against the Crows, with 35 disposals, seven clearances and seven tackles.

Kysaiah Pickett (Melbourne)
Everyone’s favourite turned it on once again on the weekend, this time down in Hobart against the much-improved Kangaroos. Pickett’s ability to control the ball in traffic, and to seemingly predict which way his opponent is going before they move, makes him very hard to defend against.

Cameron Guthrie (Geelong)
A really solid game from Guthrie, whose performance went under the radar due to the Cats’ loss and the controversial circumstances surrounding the end to the game. He has that great balance between run and spread, and ability to win the ball inside, as evidenced by his nine clearances, seven tackles and 10 inside 50s from 30 disposals.

STIFF TO MISS
Trent Cotchin (Richmond), Josh Kelly (GWS), Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (Essendon), Cale Hooker (Essendon), Jack Darling (West Coast), Andrew Gaff (West Coast), Tom Stewart (Geelong), Aaron Hall (North Melbourne), Bradley Hill (St Kilda), Hugh Greenwood (Gold Coast)