Unheralded: Legacy performance from emerging Don

We always know who the stars are in a particular game.

But what about those who played a pivotal defensive role or were influential without stuffing the stat sheet? They may have had an important assignment or have simply just flown under the radar.

These players might be spoken about amongst the supporters of their clubs, but not discussed as widely around the competition.

Gutsy Atkins digs deep

When the chips were down for the Cats on Thursday night, Tom Atkins dug deep.

He had his hands busy with a key role on Izak Rankine and while the dangerous Crow finished with 25 and 2, it was the influence of Geelong's gutsy midfielder that won back the momentum.

Atkins is as tough as they come and he hung in there when the home side was getting right on top prior to the main break.

Patrick Dangerfield, Bailey Smith, Max Holmes and Jeremy Cameron were the stars, but Atkins’ efforts cannot be undersold with a workmanlike 23 touches, 15 contested possessions, nine clearances, eight score involvements and five tackles.

His intent is indelible and his effortless endeavours often keep the Cats afloat.

Unassuming Ah Chee

Callum Ah Chee is forever an unheralded footballer when you consider the star-studded side he plays in.

He is an unassuming operator who rarely gets flustered and more often than not makes something happen when he has ball in hand.

That was the case yet again on the weekend as the Lions recovered from a 33-point half-time deficit to run over the top of the Western Bulldogs.

Ah Chee held his nerve with two crucial goals in the fourth quarter and finished with 22 disposals, seven score involvements and three goal assists.

Lions fans would be used to his work but the rest of us probably don’t hear about it enough.

Run, carry and dash from Ash

While Lachie Ash’s 33-disposal outing against the Saints will receive apt plaudits, perhaps his season to date has flown under the radar.

Now in his sixth campaign, Ash has made himself an integral part of Adam Kingsley’s Giants side with his run, carry and dash off half-back.

He was one of the Giants’ very best on the weekend, and might even nick some coaches votes for his efforts, but it’s his work over five games that must be recognised.

Ash has had 137 touches (at 27.4 per game) which ranks third at GWS and 15th in the AFL, and has produced 28 rebound 50s (at 5.6 per game) which is second at his club and ninth in the competition. His average of 500.4 metres gained rates 14th in the AFL.

There are stars everywhere you look at the Giants. Ash is not normally considered one of them, but he is well on his way.

Mercedes Menz

The Bombers turned to an unlikely source to spearhead their first-half charge, piling on an insurmountable five-goal lead over the Demons at the main break.

Jye Menzie has been such a regular feature for the Bombers, it’s easy to forget that at just 22 years of age the small forward is far from his best football.

However, if his three-goal first half is any indication, Essendon fans have plenty to look forward to. Finishing up with 15 touches, eight marks and four goals, Menzie pieced together a legacy performance to elevate the Dons to two wins on the season.

Ticking off his 40th senior appearance since his debut in 2022, the small forward will look to build on his top tier performance to fill an Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti shaped hole the Dons are yet to patch.

Beyond Menzie, Will Setterfield returned to the senior side with a bang, collecting 21 touches and a side-lifting 10 tackles, while Archie Roberts’ 28 at high efficiency spiflicated the Dees on Saturday night.

If Essendon's role players continue to perform, wins like these may not be so infrequent.

Unlikely Pies have a huge say

While Collingwood were in some good form heading into their clash against Sydney, they were struck down at selection, losing Lachie Schultz and Jordan De Goey to injury as well as Dan Houston to suspension.

With those three stars out, the Magpies brought up Will Hoskin-Elliott and Lachie Sullivan from the VFL, while promoting Ned Long to the starting line-up after serving as the sub in Round 4.

Even though they were replacing bigger names, all three of those inclusions shone, none more so than Long who was enormous on-ball with 29 disposals, 10 score involvements and nine clearances.

Standing at 194cm with a real ball-winning ability, Long served as a brilliant foil to Nick Daicos, fishing the ball out to the superstar and his fellow midfield teammates. If he can keep that up, the Magpies will have filled a huge hole that’s been left by an injured Tom Mitchell since the end of the 2023 season.

Sullivan filled Schultz’s role up forward and was incredibly clean with 15 touches and a goal, while Hoskin-Elliott was also quality with 13 disposals at 100 per cent efficiency as well as a goal.

The Magpies are building some brilliant depth and this trio was proof of that on Friday night.