Team of the Week: Round 5
The team
Defence
Back Pocket
Elliot Yeo (West Coast)
A major reason why Greater Western Sydney could only manage 1.5 after quarter time on Saturday night. Playing largely as a loose man in defence, Yeo cleaned up plenty of forward thrusts from the Giants, taking nine marks, amassing 25 possessions and laying five tackles. Very important player for West Coast.
Full Back
Luke Delaney (St Kilda)
Harshly maligned at times, the former North Melbourne defender stood tall in St Kilda’s backline on Sunday afternoon against Essendon. Matched up on the taller and quicker Joe Daniher, Delaney kept him to just three handballs, before moving to the dangerous Jake Carlisle in the final quarter, who couldn’t add to his tally of four majors. Didn’t waste any of his 11 disposals.
St Kilda defender Luke Delaney kept Joe Daniher quiet on Sunday
Back Pocket
Easton Wood (Western Bulldogs)
Heroes are made in famous victories, and Easton Wood was a colossus for the kennel on Saturday evening in Sydney. After the Swans forced their way in front with a goal to Harry Cunningham, the Bulldogs needed a giant effort to claw back the lead. Enter Wood. With a high, bouncing ball in the attacking goalsquare for the Dogs, Wood displayed superb athleticism to goal out of mid-air. It would be the last goal of the match. However, with Sydney attacking in the final minute, the Dogs needed another hero. Enter Wood, again. With a frantic race into Sydney’s forward line chasing a loose ball, Wood effortlessly picked the ball up off the wet ground, hitting a teammate with a handball, and that was all she wrote.
Half Back
Bachar Houli (Richmond)
One of few Tigers that looked eager to atone for their efforts against Melbourne last weekend. Delivered the ball from defence with precision, going at 90% efficiency from 33 disposals. Also took seven marks, laid nine tackles and kicked a goal in a fine display.
Bachar Houli was Richmond’s best player against Geelong
Centre Half Back
Jack Frost (Collingwood)
Has taken some significant strides so far in 2015, and is a large reason why the Pies are so defensively sound this season. Playing on Lachie Henderson, who was coming off a five-goal haul in Round 4, Frost kept him not only goal-less, but without a single touch. Henderson was subbed off in the third quarter, completely dominated by the 23 year old Magpie.
Half Back
Robert Murphy (Western Bulldogs)
In greasy, wet conditions in the tight constraints of the SCG on Saturday, it was Western Bulldogs’ captain Bob Murphy who led his team to victory. In the final quarter, when the Dogs needed clean disposal, especially coming from defence, it was Murphy hitting targets with dangerous passes. Finished with 24 possessions, four marks and a disposal efficiency of 79%.
Robert Murphy’s sure ball use was vital on Saturday against Sydney
Middle
Wing
Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)
Controlled proceedings on Saturday night against North Melbourne, collecting 33 touches, taking eight marks, laying four tackles and booting a classy goal in the final quarter. His workload might increase in the next couple of weeks.
Centre
Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)
Led the way in the midfield on Friday night at the MCG, amassing 32 possessions at 90% efficiency, taking nine marks, laying three tackles and kicking two majors. 2015 might be the year the Collingwood captain finally wins the Brownlow Medal.
Wing
Mitch Duncan (Geelong)
Arguably Geelong’s best against Richmond on Saturday at the MCG. Was slick through the midfield, gathering 29 touches, taking 12 marks, laying four tackles and booting two goals.
Mitch Duncan was flawless on Saturday at the MCG
Forward
Half Forward
Isaac Smith (Hawthorn)
For the second week running, Smith was fantastic on a Saturday night. The speedster covered plenty of ground at Etihad Stadium, finishing with 27 disposals at 88% efficiency, taking 11 marks and slotting two goals. At his best, is it too over-the-top to suggest he’s Hawthorn’s most damaging player?
Centre Half Forward
Charlie Dixon (Gold Coast)
In his second game of the season, the hulking Dixon monstered young Lion defender Darcy Gardiner, collecting 19 touches from seven marks and kicking an equal career-high six goals. If he can bring that kind of form to the table most weeks, the Gold Coast forward line becomes a lot more dangerous.
Half Forward
Chris Mayne (Fremantle)
With Matthew Pavlich and Michael Walters both forced from the ground relatively early in Fremantle’s clash with Melbourne, the Dockers needed to find some scoring power. They got that through Chris Mayne, who has suffered a dip in form over the past season or so. A defensive pressure king, Mayne amassed 18 possessions, took nine marks, laid 12 tackles and booted four goals.
Chris Mayne returned to form on Sunday against Melbourne
Forward Pocket
Eddie Betts (Adelaide)
The former Blue wowed the Adelaide Oval yet again on Sunday night with a great Showdown performance, kicking 5.3 from 19 disposals, seven marks and two tackles. Kicked a brilliant goal from his favourite pocket.
Full Forward
Josh Bruce (St Kilda)
One of the most improved players in the competition. After a breakout performance in Round 2 against Gold Coast, Bruce was sensational again on Sunday against Essendon. The former Giant won the ball 17 times, taking six marks, laying three tackles and booting 5.1. Played on Cale Hooker and Michael Hurley, two of the best defenders in the league.
Josh Bruce was a handful for the Essendon defence on Sunday
Forward Pocket
Jack Gunston (Hawthorn)
Won a lot of the ball on Saturday night against the Kangaroos, picking up 23 disposals, taking 13 marks, laying three tackles and slotting 4.3. Missed a couple that he would normally have slotted.
Followers
Ruckman
Brodie Grundy (Collingwood)
Has taken great strides in his third year on Collingwood’s list, and performed well again on Friday night. Did plenty of work around the ground, finishing with 17 possessions, five marks, nine tackles, 22 hitouts and a goal. Didn’t win the hitouts battle against Robbie Warnock, but made up for it with his efforts at ground level.
Ruck Rover
Liam Picken (Western Bulldogs)
Has had an amazing past fortnight for the Western Bulldogs, and epitomises the new brand of footy the Dogs are playing. Was incredibly important in the clinches against the Swans, racking up 32 touches, 16 contested, taking four marks, laying 12 tackles and winning 10 clearances. Huge performance.
Liam Picken is playing career-best footy
Rover
Lachie Neale (Fremantle)
Another player who has taken giant strides so far in 2015. Used the ball superbly against Melbourne on Sunday, collecting 25 touches at 95% efficiency, taking nine marks, laying five tackles and booting two goals. Marginally better than Fyfe for mine.
Interchange
Adam Oxley (Collingwood)
Took many by surprise on Friday night with a dominant display from half back and through the middle. The young Magpie amassed 26 disposals, took 11 marks, laid five tackles and booted an inaccurate 1.3, also setting up numerous other scoring chains.
Adam Oxley is a rising star for Collingwood
David Armitage (St Kilda)
Another who has taken his game to another level this year. The in-and-under Saint was arguably best afield on Sunday against Essendon, collecting 35 touches, taking four marks and laying nine tackles. Won 11 clearances, and was a big reason as to why St Kilda nearly upset the Bombers.
Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide)
After missing the Power’s win over Hawthorn last weekend, Gray made his return under a slight injury cloud against Adelaide in Showdown XXXVIII. That cloud quickly disappeared as he dominated in the midfield, winning 32 possessions, 20 contested at 78% efficiency, taking four marks, laying three tackles and booting a major. Was awarded the Showdown Medal for his efforts.
Robbie Gray won the Showdown Medal against Adelaide
Substitute
Matt de Boer (Fremantle)
Took the green vest off earlier than planned when Michael Walters suffered a head knock late in the first quarter of Sunday’s match against Melbourne. The tough midfielder collected 16 touches, took six marks, laid seven tackles and kicked a goal in a polished display. Will be strongly considered for the starting 21 next week against Essendon.
On paper
FB: Elliot Yeo (West Coast), Luke Delaney (St Kilda), Easton Wood (Western Bulldogs)
HB: Bachar Houli (Richmond), Jack Frost (Collingwood), Robert Murphy (Western Bulldogs)
C: Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn), Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood), Mitch Duncan (Geelong)
HF: Isaac Smith (Hawthorn), Charlie Dixon (Gold Coast), Chris Mayne (Fremantle)
FF: Eddie Betts (Adelaide), Josh Bruce (St Kilda), Jack Gunston (Hawthorn)
R: Brodie Grundy (Collingwood), Liam Picken (Western Bulldogs), Lachie Neale (Fremantle)
I/C: Adam Oxley (Collingwood), David Armitage (St Kilda), Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide)
SUB: Matt de Boer (Fremantle)
By team
Adelaide: Betts (1)
Brisbane: Nil (0)
Carlton: Nil (0)
Collingwood: Frost, Pendlebury, Grundy, Oxley (4)
Essendon: Nil (0)
Fremantle: Mayne, Neale, de Boer (3)
Geelong: Duncan (1)
Gold Coast: Dixon (1)
Greater Western Sydney: Nil (0)
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Smith, Gunston (3)
Melbourne: Nil (0)
North Melbourne: Nil (0)
Port Adelaide: Gray (1)
Richmond: Houli (1)
St Kilda: Delaney, Bruce, Armitage (3)
Sydney: Nil (0)
West Coast: Yeo (1)
Western Bulldogs: Wood, Murphy, Picken (3)
