The weekend's numerous upsets has resulted in a bevy of underdogs featuring in The Rushed Behind’s Round 3 Team of the Week.
A wide mix of youth and experience, flush with long-serving stalwarts and gun recruits, are present in this week's fresh line-up, with only five players from last week's side holding their spots.
ROWDY ROWELL TO CRAZY CAMERON: TRB's Round 2 Team of the Week
In a nutshell...
Port Adelaide were rewarded for their third consecutive win with a trio of rejuvenated players featuring in this week's line-up. The Suns' young brigade were similarly given plaudits, while Lachie Neale was handed the captaincy after a sterling performance against the Eagles.
After a trio of selections last week, St Kilda had zero representation for Round 3, with Adelaide, Essendon, Geelong, GWS and Melbourne following suit.
The Eagles and Bulldogs earned their first selections following the season restart, while GWS and Adelaide are yet to get on the board.
The unlucky omissions...
Fremantle’s Michael Walters once again sat on the precipice of selection for his vibrant game on Sunday night. Sam Docherty’s strong match off half-back came very close to giving him a gig on a flank, but Jack Crisp and Caleb Daniel’s high-possession games full of superb ball usage secured their spots.
Sydney’s Josh Kennedy couldn’t squeeze into a rock-solid midfield after winding back the clock against the Roos, while Tom Papley and Jack Martin should feature in the forward line in the coming rounds if they continue their form.
Trio Bradley Hill, Jacob Weitering and Darcy Moore were all shortlisted for the back line, but were unable to break into the starting line-up.
The breakdown...
The Team of the Week differed remarkably compared to last round’s side. Nic Naitanui took the rucking reins, narrowly edging out Collingwood’s Brodie Grundy after a wonderful one-man effort in a losing cause.
But amidst all of this change was some stability. Matt Rowell, Travis Boak, Bachar Houli, Nat Fyfe and Lachie Neale all received selection for a second consecutive week after yet another whirlwind weekend of quality.
Hawthorn pair Isaac Smith and Jaeger O’Meara were welcomed into the middle of the ground after destroying the reigning premiers on Thursday night.
In fact, the entire spine of the team changed; Ben McEvoy went from villain to hero in defence, while Alex Keath’s blanket job on Jeremy Cameron deserved selection. Up forward, Charlie Dixon and Ben King both worked their way into the team after strong showings at Metricon Stadium on Sunday.
Rowell can consider himself stiff to not be captain for a second consecutive week, but it was. Lachie Neale’s match-winning effort against the Eagles that deserved the main role.
Eddie Betts was named vice-captain, because everybody simply loves Eddie... and his virtuoso performance in Carlton’s nail-biting win was an absolute masterclass.
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