Round One of 2023 was absolutely massive, it couldn't have started better with the Tigers and Blues being caught in a draw and it finished excellently with the Saints getting over the Dockers in a close one.
But it's individual performances we are focusing on here after the Edge of the Crowd Aussie Rules team put their heads together to come up with their Team of the Week.
Full Backs
Lewis Young - Carlton
The first match of the season could have gone both better and worst for Calrton with a draw and ninth on the ladder being their fate. With 20 touches from the back pocket including 14 kicks and one clearance, he was the best of the worst position on the ground. His tackling game could use some work with just one on Thursday night.
Dane Rampe - Sydney
It was a massive win for the Grand Finalists on the Gold Coast to kick things off and Rampe picked up right where he left off. With 25 touches 13 kicks, and seven marks he seemed to always be right where he needed to be to get that intercept mark.
Luke Ryan - Fremantle
It was a disappointing loss for the Dockers who went into the match as favourites, but it certainly wasn't disappointing for Ryan who had a great game. With 37 touches, 30 kicks and 13 marks it would be impossible to leave him out. Also, a great week to have Ryan in your AFL Fantasy side, if you are so inclined, he was the top scorer with 156 points.
Half Backs
Daniel Rioli - Richomand
While Carlton was disappointed with the draw, Richmond would have been happy after looking like losing that match for much of the last quarter. Daniel Rioli also had a great game playing off half-back, he had 27 touches with 17 kicks to clear the ball. His 681 metres gained were key in keeping the low-scoring match moving.
Jeremy McGovern - West Coast
No surprise that the intercept-marking god Jeremy McGovern makes this team, and straight back to his preferred centre half-back position. McGovern's 10 marks and 15 kicks as part of a 22-disposal game was a massive part in keeping the Eagles in a match that they would go on to lose by five points.
Harry Sheezel - North Melbourne
The Alastair Clarkson era is over, we're now in the Sheezel era. His rising star nomination is evidence of a debut that saw the most disposals since the early 90s. 631 metres gained and 34 touches is a massive impact for anyone let alone a debutant. Sheezel is going to be a superstar for a long time.
Centres
Nick Daicos - Collingwood
Collingwood look like the form team at the moment after having beaten up the reigning premiers by 22 points. It was an emotional night for the Daicos boys, after having lost their grandfather but it didn't affect Nick's form. His 35 disposals and three clearances were incredible against the might of Geelong.
Chad Warner - Sydney
The Rampe to Warner combination will be key if the Swans are to go one further in 2023 and that's exactly what we saw on the weekend. 30 touches, eight tackles and three clearances showed just how good a game Warner had, perhaps the only thing to work on is his goal kicking after kicking three behinds without a major.
Darcy Parish - Essendon
It may have only been against the Hawks but the weekend saw the Dons come back in a way we just haven't seen from Essendon in a long time. Parish was a beat through the middle with 37 touches a massive 13 clearances and 575 metres gained. He could easily be a Brownlow smoky.
Half Forwards
Archie Perkins - Essendon
The two P's were great for the Essendon, that being Parish and Perkins and it's a combination that's going to last a very long time. Perkins kicked three goals along with his 20 disposals when moving further up the ground when required. With the ability to also play in the midfield, Perkins is a serious talent to watch.
Todd Marshall - Port Adelaide
The first Port player to get in this side after their big win over Brisbane on the weekend, Marshall was key to keeping the power in the game early. Marshall kicked four goals while also laying three key tackles in the forward half. If he can combine with Dixon all season then Port should go deep into September.
Jason Horne-Francis - Port Adelaide
No player got as much attention over the off-season as Horne-Francis. The good news is that he looks comfortable and happy under Hinkley. That comfort led him to kick an early goal before getting 25 disposals and seven clearances through the middle. Horne-Francis showed all the promise that made him the Number One pick just 18 months ago.
Full Forwards
Toby Greene - GWS
The Giants had a massive win to start the season on a crazy hot day in Sydney. With his comrades falling around him Green put the after-burners on kicking four goals and having 19 touches while leading from the front. If this is the new Captain Greene, then the Giants have certainly made the right decision.
Nick Larkey - North Melbourne
The win to kick off the Alastair Clarkson coaching era was the best result possible but just as good as a player-of-the-round performance by Larkey. He currently leads the Coleman race with six goals as well as a tackle when required in the front half. Moving into his prime, Larkey is one to keep an eye on.
Kysaiah Pickett - Melbourne
It's not often the small forwards get in the votes for goal kicking but in Melbourne's win Pickett was simply glorious. His athleticism and ability to find a target is second to none let alone the excitement he brings. With four goals and 19 touches, he played his position to perfection.
Rucks
Max Gawn - Melbourne
The first match with the big ruck combo of Gawn and Grundy didn't just see the Demons win but dominate through the middle. Gawn had 21 touches as well as 21 disposals and five clearances making him the clear leader on the ground.
Tom Green - GWS
While Toby Greene was getting everything done at the front end of the field it was Tom Green getting the ball down to him. The midfielder had a massive 37 touches with 6 marks, 4 tackles and 8 clearances to get him in the votes.
Jordan De Goey - Collingwood
De Goey was one of the stand out performers of the weekend on the field, carrying Collingwood through their runaway win over Geelong. He kicked three goals while up forward and had 25 touches with four clearances while also playing time in the middle.
Interchange
Jarrod Witts - Gold Coast, Mason Redman - Essendon, Callum Wilkie - St Kilda, Errol Gulden - Sydney.
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