With the bye weeks beginning, Aflplayers.com.au found those who played an underrated hand in Round 11.
Port Adelaide: Sam Powell-Pepper
When the game was there to be won in the first half, young midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper was at the forefront. Collecting 18 touches — 12 of which were contested — six tackles, four inside 50s and a goal, the 19-year-old’s intensity was at fullmthrottle as the Power dismantled the Hawks and ended the contest before half-time.
Geelong: Scott Selwood
After collecting more tackles than disposals in his first two games of 2017, Scott Selwood put in his best performances in a Geelong jumper on Friday night. Registering 25 touches while still laying 10 tackles — taking his tally to 44 from his first three outings — Selwood has also collected three important scalps as a run-with player since returning to the Cats side.
Gold Coast: Peter Wright
The Suns needed a hero to win the unlikely clash against the sixth-placed Eagles and Peter Wright delivered in spades. Behind by four points with two minutes remaining, Wright marked and converted from long range to give Gold Coast the lead before marking from a similar distance again 40 seconds later. The 20-year-old mightn’t have scored a major the second time around but it was enough to secure a Suns victory.
Richmond: Kane Lambert
With Richmond’s top tier continuing to fire against North Melbourne, Kane Lambert added an extra dimension to the Tigers’ midfield on Saturday night. The former Williamstown midfielder finished with a season-high 25 disposals and his highest individual tally since Round 1 of last year. Lambert also made sure his presence was felt inside attacking 50, kicking two goals — one of which was at the midway point of the final term as the Tigers ended any hope the opposition may have had.
GWS: Zac Williams
Usually known for his dashing runs off half-back, Zac Williams became a threat at the opposite end of the ground against the Bombers. Williams impressed in his new role by amassing 25 disposals and kicking three goals while going at 80 per cent disposal efficiency. The 22-year-old also laid seven tackles, the second most of any Giants player.
Collingwood: Tyson Goldsack
Sunday’s victory over Fremantle proved to be a costly one for Collingwood with a number of players suffering injuries, and Tyson Goldsack was one of those. The 30-year-old, who injured his shoulder in the second term, sacrificed his body during a tough second half against the Dockers. Goldsack was willing to do just about anything for his teammates as he was swung forward in the absence of Jamie Elliot.