The duel between Fremantle superstar Nat Fyfe and gun Port Adelaide onballer Travis Boak was brilliant, with both demanding selection in the round 13 Team of the Week, brought to you by AccorHotels.
If they need to be split, the points went to Fyfe, with Fremantle pulling away in the final term of what was a hotly contested match between two finals aspirants.
As outstanding as they were, no-one on the ground was better than Michael Walters.
He bagged six goals, including two in the last quarter, to go along with 25 disposals in one of the best individual performances of the season.
Read: Fitz & Chips - A bizarre present
Alex Pearce's season-ending ankle injury might end up highlighting Luke Ryan's contributions – he's having a fantastic campaign. Michael Hurley is in a nice run of form and continually repelled Hawthorn. Rookie sensation Sydney Stack wasn't intimidated by a parochial Adelaide crowd on Thursday night. One of the few Hawks to stand up in the loss to Essendon was Jarman Impey. There aren't any locks at this stage for a key defensive spot in the Virgin Australia All Australian team but Robbie Tarrant is making a fair case. The sheer speed and footwork of Lachie Weller had to be admired as Gold Coast was overrun by St Kilda.
The trip to Tasmania is never easy for visiting teams but Josh Kelly's performance helped Greater Western Sydney ensure victory over North Melbourne. Western Bulldogs midfielder Josh Dunkley racked up big numbers again, while Jack Billings was sensational for the Saints. Adelaide ruckman Reilly O'Brien did what he needed to do in thumping Richmond's third-string ruckmen. Fyfe and Boak finished with 37 and 36 disposals respectively.
The Dogs have unearthed a good one in Patrick Lipinski. For the opposition, Charlie Curnow booted seven goals in what was easily his best performance of the year. Dockers spearhead Jesse Hogan is another who has been underwhelming but the former Demon was excellent. The Tigers might have lost to Adelaide but no blame can be placed upon Dustin Martin, who was magnificent. Toby Greene is among the premier matchwinners in the competition. Sitting on top of that list at the moment might be Walters.
Crows tough nut Brad Crouch did plenty in helping his side overcome a gallant Richmond, Stephen Coniglio continued to inflate his worth as he heads into restricted free agency, Zach Merrett led a midfield division that outplayed Hawthorn's and Jackson Macrae helped dampen Patrick Cripps' influence while racking up plenty of the football himself.
