Only a handful of local exports graced the AFL stage last weekend, as injuries and mid-season byes saw players spend time on the sidelines.
Only five featured at the elite level, with three players featuring in wins for their sides.
On Sunday, Essendon’s Zach Merrett produced one of his best games of the season to lead the Bombers to a thrilling victory over North Melbourne.
The skipper collected a match-high 34 touches, eight clearances, seven inside 50s and laid six tackles alongside kicking two goals in a monster performance at Marvel Stadium.
A day earlier, Willem Drew was again involved in another victory for Port Adelaide, this time against Hawthorn at the Adelaide Oval.
The midfielder finished with 17 touches, five inside 50s, four clearances and laid a game-high nine tackles as the Power strolled to a 55 point triumph.
Two goals from Gary Rohan helped Geelong break a form slump against the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium.
Rohan made a return from injury and was influential across half-forward with eight touches and three tackles in the Cats win.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, who featured for the Bulldogs in the loss, finished the match with 14 possessions but was once again wayward in front of the sticks, kicking 1.3.
On Friday night, Sam Walsh was unable to lift Carlton over the line against Melbourne at the MCG.
The Blues midfielder was a bit quieter in terms of influence compared to previous weeks but still managed to rack up 22 possessions, four clearances and two inside 50s.
Meanwhile, Rowan Marshall and Hugh McCluggage did not feature due to byes for St Kilda and Brisbane respectively, while Fremantle’s Sean Darcy also enjoyed a week off and West Coast’s Jamaine Jones missed due to injury.
Josh Corbett collected eight touches and kicked a goal in the WAFL for Peel Thunder, while Ben Cunnington had 23 touches for North Melbourne’s VFL side.
