Adelaide has dominated the AFL’s Team of the Week with a League-best four representatives included from Round 20.
Showdown Medallist Sam Jacobs was a certainty following his influential performance in the ruck on Sunday evening. The 202cm Crow won his important duel with Port Adelaide’s Paddy Ryder with 42 hit-outs, including 11 taps to advantage, six tackles and two goals.
It’s the fourth time ‘Sauce’ has featured in the AFL’s Team of the Week this season and his second start from the last three rounds.
Midfielder Rory Sloane was among the beneficiaries of Jacobs’ ruck dominance in Showdown XLIII.
The Crows vice-captain amassed 30 possessions, including 17 contested, along with an equal-game high nine clearances, seven tackles and a goal in a complete performance. The courageous onballer also had 10 inside 50ms – the most of any player in the competition for the round.
Sloane was named on the interchange bench in his eighth Team of the Week appearance this season.
Forwards Taylor Walker and Eddie Betts rounded out the Crows contingent in this week’s team.
Walker led from the front against the Power with 23 disposals and three goals. The skipper also claimed eight marks, including five contested, and had 11 score involvements.
The 27-year-old was named at centre half-forward for his fifth Team of the Week spot and his third of the past five rounds.
Teammate Betts was just as damaging in Sunday’s victory.
The two-time All Australian kicked four goals, including another Goal of the Year contender, and had a game-high 13 score involvements. Betts also took six marks all inside forward 50 and laid four tackles.
Appropriately, Betts was named in a forward pocket in the Round 20 Team of the Week.
Adelaide was the only club to have four players feature in this week’s side.
Richmond has three representatives ahead of Greater Western Sydney, Carlton, Essendon, Fremantle, St Kilda with two each. The Western Bulldogs, West Coast, Brisbane, Sydney and Collingwood had one player included.
See the AFL’s Team of the Week in full
CROWS IN AFL MEDIA’S TEAM OF THE WEEK
R1 v GWS: Rory Laird, Rory Atkins, Charlie Cameron
R2 v Hawthorn: Daniel Talia, Sam Jacobs, Rory Sloane
R3 v Port Adelaide: Kyle Hartigan, Rory Sloane, Taylor Walker
R4 v Essendon: Taylor Walker, Eddie Betts, Rory Sloane
R5 v Gold Coast: Rory Sloane, Matt Crouch
R6 v Richmond: Rory Laird, Sam Jacobs, Rory Sloane
R9 v Brisbane: Rory Laird, Tom Lynch, Eddie Betts
R10 v Fremantle: Andy Otten, Rory Sloane
R11 v Geelong: Tom Lynch
R12 v St Kilda: Jake Lever, Tom Lynch
R15 v Carlton: Brodie Smith, Matt Crouch
R16 v Western Bulldogs: Jake Lever, Rory Laird, Taylor Walker
R17 v Melbourne: Rory Laird, Tom Lynch, Taylor Walker
R18 v Geelong: Richard Douglas, Sam Jacobs, Rory Sloane
R19 v Collingwood: Brodie Smith, Matt Crouch
R20 v Port Adelaide: Sam Jacobs, Taylor Walker, Eddie Betts, Rory Sloane
