This team consists of players that achieved more than I thought they would, which is why I chose them in my team of surprise packets for round 18 in the AFL.
AFL Round 18 My Team of Suprise Packets
B: Jayden Short (Tigers), Aliir Aliir (Swans), Matt Dea (Bombers)
HB: Zac Tuohy (Cats), Tom Cutler (Lions), Tom Stewart (Cats)
C: James Worpel (Hawks), Touk Miller (Suns), Jared Polec (Power)
HF: Josh Thomas (Magpies), Bailey Banfield (Dockers), Alex Sexton (Suns)
FF: Jade Gresham (Saints), Mitch Brown (Bombers), Josh Daicos (Magpies)
Foll: Dawson Simpson (Giants), Jarrod Berry (Lions), Will Brodie (Suns)
Int: Matthew Lobbe (Blues), Ollie Wines (Power), Heath Shaw (Giants), Ryan Clarke (Kangaroos)
Backs
The three players on the full back line exceeded my expectations of them with their performance in round 18 were Jayden Short, Aliir Aliir and Matt Dea. Zac Tuohy summed up why he deserved a spot in my team of surprise packets for round 18 with the last kick of the game where he managed to kick the winning goal and despite being a defender he even managed to hit the scoreboard on two occasions. Tom Cutler was a good player for the Lions last Saturday night. One of the reasons why the Cats managed a come from behind victory over the Demons in round 18 was the performance of Tom Stewart in defence.
Midfielders
James Worpel is a player that I had little knowledge of prior to his output in round 18. Touk Miller was one of the best players for the Suns last Saturday. A positive to take out of the game last Sunday for the Power was that Jared Polec was a solid performer.
Forwards
Josh Thomas gathered season high twenty-four possessions last Saturday. Another player who had his best game statistically for the year was Baily Banfield who managed to win a lot of the ball. Alex Sexton was instrumental in the Suns upsetting the Swans with three goals. Despite being obliterated by the Tigers last Friday night, Jade Gresham of the Saints was a player that can hold his head high. One player who equalled his season best goal tally with regards to goals was Mitch Brown with three goals. Notwithstanding being a late in for the Magpies, Josh Daicos amassed over twenty disposals for the first time this season.
Followers
One player that produced a breakout game was Dawson Simpson. Simpson managed his highest number of hitouts for the season with forty-six. Two players that proved that they may well be permanent fixtures in the midfield for their respective teams are Jarrod Berry and Will Brodie
Interchange
Former Power ruckman Matthew Lobbe hasn’t played at the highest level for a while. Lobbe proved that he is a player of AFL standard last Sunday with thirty-seven hitouts. One of the key players for the Power on the weekend was Ollie Wines. Possibly the best player for the Giants on the weekend was Heath Shaw. Ryan Clarke had his equal best game for the season from a possession perspective with twenty-seven.