Chris McDermott’s Round 4 AFL Team of the Week: Crows and Power fail to make the grade

ROUND 4 was always going to be a pivotal moment in the 2018 AFL season and it didn’t let us down. Unless, of course, you are a Crows or Power supporter. Did any of their players do enough in losing teams to make Chris McDermott’s Team of the Week?

Brodie Grundy celebrates a goal against the Crows. Picture: AAP Image/Sam Wundke

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ROUND 4 was always going to be a pivotal moment in the 2018 AFL season and it didn’t let us down. Unless, of course, you are a Crows or Power supporter.

Both South Australian teams had games to forget and have plenty of work to do to get back on track.

It may come as little surprise that neither team had a player make the TOTW, though Crows defender Rory Laird was unlucky to continue his run.

He gathered another 37 disposals against Collingwood but they were not at his customary high standard and he just missed out on a berth on a back flank, while the Power’s Robbie Gray put forward a similar case, winning a game-high 39 possessions at 84 per cent efficiency but the Power were never in the hunt and many of Gray’s disposals were in traffic and under immense pressure.

Brodie Grundy, middle, tackles Crows ruckman Sam Jacobs with Rory Sloane and Steele Sidebottom, left, waiting for the crumbs. Picture: AAP Image/Sam Wundke

The same could not be said for their opposition.

Collingwood dominated this week’s team, none more so than ruckman Brodie Grundy who continued his outstanding start to the 2018 season with a best-on-ground performance that included 33 possessions, 23 contested, 40 hit outs and 12 clearances.

Teammate Steele Sidebottom (26 contested possessions) was a walk-up start in the midfield after not only putting the clamp on Crows gun Rory Sloane but gathering 43 disposals himself.

Young forward Jaidyn Stephenson made it three for the Pies, earning his debut in the TOTW with a very impressive five-goal outing on Crows defender Luke Brown.

The Bombers had their stars in the win over the Power. Skipper Dyson Heppell led from the front despite a disposal efficiency of just 54 per cent.

His work ethic, leadership and desire for the ball set a great example for his team to follow.

Sometimes leadership really matters and it did on this day and in this game.

Michael Hurley was impassable in defence to secure yet another berth for the star while Jake Stringer returned to somewhere near his best form putting on a show for the crowd and kicking four important goals.

Dyson Heppell leads by example against Port Adelaide. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images)

After a lean week in Round 3 the forwards were back on song and none more than Richmond superstar Dustin Martin.

It may have only been against Brisbane but Dusty starred in attack kicking six majors.

Josh Kennedy was back for his first game for the West Coast and kicked five in their thrashing of the Gold Coast while big Ben Brown flew the flag once again for the Kangaroos down in Tasmania with five goals of his own, including five big marks inside 50 metres.

Defence reigned supreme in several games.

The Eagles’ Jeremy McGovern was back to his contested marking and courageous best. Alex Rance was back to his best while the Bulldogs Matt Suckling and the Giants Nick Haynes win spots on the back flanks after strong rebounding efforts.

Bone's Team of the Week Round 4