The Inner Sanctum has put together a team of the week comprised of the best performing players in round 14 of the AFL season.
Defenders are rewarded for their defensive play, midfielders receive accolades for their dominance, while forwards receive a shout-out for hitting the scoreboard and applying pressure.
You can read last week’s team here.
Tom Stewart had one of the games of the season with 15 intercepts and almost 700 metres gained. Cale Hooker was seventh in the Coleman, but Sam Frost nullified his influence for an undersized Hawks defence and kept him goalless. Isaac Cumming continued his ultra-impressive season with 23 disposals at 96 per cent efficiency, plus a goal.
Jarman Impey was a driving force out of the backline on Sunday with 25 disposals at 88 per cent. Port key defender Aliir Aliir continued his huge season, collecting 12 intercept possessions including three contested marks. Essendon’s Jordan Ridley showed his innate composure with ball in hand for a 22-year-old, going at 84 per cent with his 25 disposals – of which 10 were intercepts.
The Cats’ Sam Menegola was brilliant in delivering 27 disposals (17 contested) and two goals from the wing. Ollie Wines has become a great outside player as well as a contested beast this year. The midfielder had 43 disposals (16 contested) to go along with five clearances and six tackles. His teammate Karl Amon was at his brilliant best on the outside of contests, collecting 26 disposals and kicking a goal.
Essendon ruckman Sam Draper returned with a bang on the weekend, winning the ruck duel against both Ceglar and McEvoy to amass 15 disposals (14 contested), nine clearances and four contested marks. Tom Liberatore had 20 contested possessions and kicked the first goal of the night for the Dogs in a sparkling display. Lions midfielder Jarryd Lyons did it all in Hobart; 36 disposals and 12 tackles were the numbers of a dominant performance.
Jake Stringer produced one of the best individual performances of the season – four goals from his 29 disposals got the Bombers over the line in Launceston. He was aided by 20-year-old Harry Jones, who is emerging as one of the best young forwards in the league with five contested grabs, two goals and a game-high 15.9 kilometres covered. Marcus Bontempelli did all he could for his Dogs, but couldn’t drag them over the line with 30 disposals, nine score involvements and a goal.
Steven Motlop is having an underrated season for the Power and continued that with 26 disposals, two goals and 12 pressure acts. Jeremy Finlayson has also continued his run of good form, kicking five goals in a clinical forwards display. The Giants have relied on Toby Greene forward of the ball all year and he delivered once again with four goals, including an incredible torpedo from 60-plus metres out.
Nick Hind broke a steely game open on several occasions with his run and dash, and kicked one of the goals of the years as he streamed through the middle of the ground. Lachie Whitfield returned to his best against the Blues, cutting them open with 2his 26 disposals and eight score involvements. Tom Mitchell was as prolific as ever, collecting 36 disposals and hitting the scoreboard. Fellow Hawk Luke Breust was clinical with his three goals, and also applied three tackles inside 50.
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