Goodbye Patrick Dangerfield, hello Harry Perryman. It’s been fun Jeremy McGovern, but Jacob Weitering is the new kid in town.

Despite being conducted in the most surreal of circumstances, the AFL’s Round One won’t be forgotten easily. 

Just what the round means in the context of any actual season remains understandably unclear, however thanks to Stats Insider’s recently released AFL Player Ratings data, we are able to drill down even further upon last weekend’s matches to deliver a ‘team of the week’. 

While you might've read about some of the stats and trends which defined Round One from a club perspective, let’s take at look at our inaugural best-22 or 'Team of the Week', which, considering the circumstances, might actually make for something of a collector’s item in years to come.

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BACKLINE

JEREMY HOWE - COLLINGWOOD

The Bulldogs produced just 22 inside 50’s and a measly 34 points in their loss to the Magpies. The ‘Great Wall of Howe’ was a big reason why, chipping in with 12 intercept possessions and 4 intercept marks.

HARRIS ANDREWS - BRISBANE

There’s a strong case to be made that Harris Andrews is the league’s very best key defender. His 13 intercept possessions led the round, while his 6 spoils and 5 pressure acts are the kind of numbers Andrews’ fans have become accustomed to in recent seasons.

ADAM SAAD - ESSENDON

484 metres gained and 22 uncontested possessions while also contributing strongly on the defensive side with 11 defensive half pressure acts. The West Coburg kid is a vital part of what Essendon want to do going forward, and he dutifully delivered in their Round One win.

SHANNON HURN - WEST COAST

The Eagles two-time All-Australian and Premiership captain had 22 touches at a typically stupendous, game-high 95.7% disposal efficiency. On the defensive side of the ball, Hurn produced a team-high 8 intercept possessions as well as 5 one percenters. 

JACOB WEITERING - CARLTON

Not much went right for the Blues in their opening loss to Richmond, though it perhaps could have been worse if not for their former #1 overall pick. 10 one percenters, 8 intercept possessions, 9 spoils and a round-high 8 defensive one on ones in a octopus-like performance from their emerging star.

WAYNE MILERA - ADELAIDE

Only Jack Viney and Darcy Bryne-Jones amassed at least 350 metres gained over the weekend, double digit pressure acts and 7 intercept possessions. Sure, it was in yet another Adelaide loss, however Wayne Milera’s star is certainly starting to burn bright.

MIDFIELDERS

BRODIE GRUNDY - COLLINGWOOD

That was the 34th occasion Stats Insider’s number one overall player has had at least 19 touches to go along with 37 hit-outs. Max Gawn and Nic Naitanui have incidentally combined for just 13 such matches over their career.

HARRY PERRYMAN - GWS GIANTS

Prior to Saturday’s match, the former first round pick had never had a multi-goal game in his 36 game career. He kicked 4 goals against the Cats, to go along with 20 possessions, which are the kind of numbers which would routinely get him into our team of the week.

DYLAN SHIEL - ESSENDON

A round-high in both total disposals (35) and effective disposals (27), the former Giant also chipped in with a vital 6 centre clearances for the Bombers which was the second highest figure of the week. 

BEN CUNNINGTON - NORTH MELBOURNE

The list of players in Round One to have registered at least 25 pressure acts, 25 disposals, seven tackles and 6 clearances includes… Ben Cunnington. 

TRAVIS BOAK - PORT ADELAIDE

Port’s reigning Best and Fairest winner has had double-digit contested possessions in 24 of his last 25 games. Saturday’s performance was also accompanied by 7 clearances.

JACK VINEY - MELBOURNE

The ‘Lone Solider’ award of the week simply has to go to Melbourne’s Jack Viney. The 25-year old was sensational registering a team-high in disposals (34), clearances (7) tackles (6) and score involvements (5) in what was an otherwise dreadful first-up performance by his under pressure Demon’s team.

FORWARDS

CHAD WINGARD - HAWTHORN 

Lost amid Hawthorn’s struggles over the last few season is the brilliant job Alistair Clarkson has done with Chad Wingard since crossing from Port Adelaide. Sure, Wingard was a two-time All-Australian with Port before he even turned 22, yet under Clarkson he has added a much more diversified element to his game. In fact, that’s seven straight matches with at least 20 touches (career high) while he continues to be a prolific goal scorer adding 3 goals over the weekend. 

BRODY MIHOCEK - COLLINGWOOD

3 goals, 4 marks insider 50, 8 score involvements and a ludicrous 15 pressure acts. At 27-years of age, this guy’s career is truly starting to take off, while his value to the function of the Collingwood forward line is at an all-time high.

ISAAC HEENEY - SYDNEY

At least 15 touches in 23 of his last 25 games along with 13 goals form his last 6 matches. Just quietly, Isaac Heeney is becoming a superstar.

TOBY GREENE - GWS GIANTS

Thats’s now 27 career games with at least 3 goals for Greene who has emerged as perhaps the competitions’s most dangerous small forward. All 27 of those games have been accompanied by at least 15 disposals.

ERIC HIPWOOD - BRISBANE

3 goals, 360 metres gained, eight score involvements, 16 disposals and a team-high 7 inside 50’s. It might have been a disappointing opening round loss for the Lions however Hipwood was immense, showcasing the kind of form which could take his career to some dizzying new heights going forward.

JACOB TOWNSEND - ESSENDON

Just nine touches for the day, but the former Giant and premiership Tiger came up with 3 goals and 6 score involvements, all of which proved crucial in such a low scoring match.

INTERCHANGE

LUKE PARKER - SYDNEY

The Swans returned to their infamous blue collar style in their win against the Crows. Parker lead the way with a team-high in possessions (30), clearances (12) and tackles (6) in what was a monster performance by the two-time Swans Best and Fairest Winner.

DION PRESTIA - RICHMOND

One of Richmond's continually unsung heroes, who's played an immense role in both Tiger premierships. The Lalor boy was once again brilliant against Carlton gathering 26 touches, producing a team-high 546 metres gained, a round high 9 inside 50's along with 8 score involvements.

JACK MARTIN - CARLTON

17 touches and 4 goals on debut for the Blues in a brilliant showing. Sure it was yet another demoralising opener for Carlton however the Martin acquisition already appears to be an inspired one.

CONNOR ROZEE - PORT ADELAIDE

There are few young players in the competition as exciting as Connor Rozee, while he started his sophomore campaign in style and was the driving force behind so much of what Port did in their 47-point evisceration of the Suns. 21 touches, 8 inside 50, 8 score involvements and over 300 metres gained for the fourth time in his last 6 games. He's got super-star written all over him.

CHECK OUT OUR BRAND NEW STATS INSIDER AFL PLAYER RATINGS

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