The state of the game may have been coined as "disgraceful" throughout the week, but it hasn't stopped us from lauding the best players from the week just gone for The Rushed Behind's Round 4 Team of the Week.
This week’s fresh-faced line-up is chocked full of pace and dash through the defence and midfield, while towering talls up forward reigned supreme at the selection table.
IN A NUTSHELL…
This week’s line-up features a very even spread of representation, with 15 teams flying their flag under the TRB banner.
Carlton were the big winners, with their one-point victory over Essendon seeing three 'Baggers slot into the best 22. North Melbourne, GWS, Hawthorn and Brisbane all saw two players selected.
Charlie Dixon put in a captain’s effort on Saturday with six goals and a dominant contested marking display against the Eagles.
Toby Greene’s match-clinching three goals and Marcus Bontempelli’s stellar Thursday night performance leaves the pair with shared vice-captaincy honours.
Adelaide, Essendon and Melbourne’s losses were punished at the selection table, while GWS earned its first Team of the Week inductees through Toby Greene and Nick Haynes.
The Crows now remain as the only team yet to snare a selection in 2020.
THE UNLUCKY OMISSIONS…
Carlton came very close to having a fourth player make the cut, but there was no room for Michael Gibbons after his influential 25 touches on Saturday night.
Gold Coast’s Brandon Ellis deserved recognition for his 20-disposal game on the wing, and Bailey Smith’s change to the midfield nearly saw him snag a coveted on-ball spot.
Max Gawn’s lone hand in the ruck was eye-catching, but didn’t live up to the efforts of Toby Nankervis and Brodie Grundy.
Charlie Cameron’s electric Sunday couldn’t find a spot in the packed line-up, while Collingwood pair Scott Pendlebury and Darcy Moore circled selection despite their loss to the Giants.
THE BREAKDOWN…
Only four players (Ben McEvoy, Matt Rowell, Charlie Dixon and Lachie Neale) kept their spots from the Round 3 Team of the Week as they continue to put together All-Australian seasons.
TWIN SUNS AND AN EVERGREEN NEALE: TRB's Round 3 Team of the Week
The team is much taller than last week’s, warranting the debatable dual-ruck line-up.
Rucking pair Toby Nankervis and Brodie Grundy controlled the middle in their respective matches to amass a combined 70 hit-outs and 36 touches, while Bontempelli (19 disposals, eight tackles, two goals), Neale (31 disposals) and Rowell (20 disposals, two goals) led their midfields from the opening bounce.
Jack Lukosius, Nick Haynes, Robbie Tarrant and McEvoy showed their intercepting prowess over the weekend, while the youthful Hayden Young and experienced Sam Docherty were prolific bouncing off half-back.
Docherty in particular was pivotal in his side's victory, chalking up 32 disposals and eight disposals to springboard the Blues into attack.
Hugh McCluggage and Chad Wingard highlighted both their versatility along the wings and ability to impact the scoreboard, while Charlie Dixon, Josh Kennedy and Levi Casboult clunked anything that came their way.
Tom Papley emphasised his danger in front of goal by booting four of the Swans' five majors on Thursday night, while match-winning three-goal bags from Toby Greene and Dan Butler added to their sensational season restarts.
Impressive midfielders in Shaun Higgins, David Cuningham and Sam Menegola may have been picked on the bench for this week's line-up, but their added grunt and class could see them force their way onto the field in the coming weeks.
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