Adelaide
Matt Crouch
The 2017 All-Australian was at his absolute best against the Giants.
Crouch amassed 38 disposals at 89.5% efficiency and his customary work rate was on show for all to see with nine tackles and five clearances.
Buoyed by the return of brother Brad, who had the ball 31 times, Crouch appears primed for an enormous 2019.
Wayne Milera
Milera picked up 29 touches, finding a teammate on 29 occasions.
He was a regular in the Crows 22 in 2018, enjoying a breakout season, but a performance such as this suggests he is now set to take the next step.
Provided plenty of drive off half-back along with Brodie Smith and managed to get himself forward and on the scoreboard.
Brisbane
Jarryd Lyons
Lyons is making a huge first impression on his new team after his incredibly strange exit from Gold Coast.
The midfielder kicked four goals against Melbourne while also gathering 26 disposals.
He’s set to add another element to this team in 2019.
Daniel McStay
McStay is a key piece of the puzzle for the Lions.
Eric Hipwood and Charlie Cameron provide a lot of firepower for this team, but if McStay can take the next step in 2019 and make it a three-pronged attack, it will go a long way towards Brisbane climbing the ladder.
He kicked two goals and took six marks against the Demons.
Carlton
Harry McKay
The young forward looked very promising throughout the entire match against the Pies, taking strong grabs, providing a contest at every opportunity, and kicking a respectable three goals.
Blues fans will be hoping the tall will be given more opportunity at senior level to develop his craft and prove himself in 2019.
Patrick Cripps
With 24 touches, seven clearances, five inside 50s and two goals, the co-captain was the best for the Blues and looks like he’ll have another incredible season.
They’re only pre-season matches, but the captaincy seems to suit Cripps. What more is there to say about one of the most exciting young players the game has ever seen?
Collingwood
Adam Treloar
The ball magnet missed JLT1 but burst back onto the scene with an incredible 42 possessions against Carlton in a tight and scrappy affair.
With seven inside 50s, six tackles, five clearances and a goal, Treloar was the clear Best On Ground.
A fit and firing Treloar only adds further firepower to Collingwood’s monster midfield.
Jordan Roughead
While the tall ex-Bulldog didn’t amass too many possessions - six contested, nine uncontested for a toal of 15 - he had 100% disposal efficiency coming out of defence, taking eight marks and producing five one-percenters.
The Pies coaching staff would be pleased with the acquisition, as the big man just seems to get his job done without much fuss.
Essendon
Dylan Shiel
Shiel showed why the Bombers went all-in chasing him during the trade period, gathering 25 disposals and giving them an explosion from stoppages they’ve lacked.
He also won six clearances and laid seven tackles against Geelong.
Aaron Francis
Francis didn’t have the biggest game against Geelong, but it’s very clear the intercept defender is ready for a massive 2019.
His ability to read the ball in the air and break up forays inside 50 will be vital, especially with Cale Hooker on the shelf for the start of the season. His kicking coming out of defence will be equally valuable.
Fremantle
Jesse Hogan
Hogan looked the player Fremantle has been desperate to recruit for a number of years now against the Eagles, gathering 20 disposals and kicking 1.2 in the loss.
The team struggled across the board, but Hogan provided a reliable target up forward and spent a lot of time further up the ground as well.
Andrew Brayshaw
Brayshaw was one of the few shining lights for the Dockers, gathering 22 disposals and laying six tackles in the loss to the Eagles.
The 19-year-old may have to pick up a lot of the slack left by Lachie Neale’s departure in 2019.
Geelong
Gary Rohan
Rohan impressed up forward for the Cats, kicking four goals from nine disposals in the win over Essendon.
It would appear Geelong wants to use Rohan as a specialist deep forward this year and simplifying his game might be the best thing for him after getting thrown around a bit with the Swans.
The Geelong midfield
Fellow recruit Luke Dahlhaus was equally impressive, kicking a goal, gathering 25 disposals and laying eight tackles against the Bombers.
Joel Selwood wasn’t treating it like a practice game, picking up 38 touches, while Paddy Dangerfield (30 disposals), Tim Kelly (28), Mitch Duncan (24) and Charlie Constable (17) all looked in great touch.
Gold Coast
Peter Wright
After an injury-interrupted 2018 campaign, Wright looks rejuvenated and ready to lead the Gold Coast in attack this season.
The 22-year-old booted two goals and clunked seven marks in the Suns’ final JLT match against the Swans on Sunday.
GWS Giants
Stephen Coniglio
No surprises here.
Coniglio was simply sublime in the loss to Adelaide, racking up the ball at will on his way to 37 touches.
He drove the ball into the Giants’ attack with frequency (nine inside 50s) and produced six clearances in a masterful performance against a silky Crows midfield.
Toby Greene
On restricted minutes after an interrupted pre-season (ankle surgery), Greene was quite brilliant early on.
He played less than half the game and although his efficiency with the ball was below par, his creativity and energy is undeniable.
The Giants will be desperately hoping he can return to full fitness and performance such is his importance to the team.
Hawthorn
James Worpel
The second-year midfielder keeps getting better and better.
Is becoming a bit of a clearance guru as evidenced by his ability to clear the congestion on nine occasions.
Pumped the ball inside 50 eight times as part of his 24 disposals in just 60% game time.
Worpel outworked veteran defender Bachar Houli deep in attack on one occasion before converting the goal, displaying his nous in the forward line.
Jarryd Roughead
Hard to go past the veteran’s efficient showing as a key forward.
Roughead kicked five goals made possible by fundamental footy smarts, simply by using his body to protect the area in front of him.
Did nothing extraordinary but put himself in the position to take a handful of marks inside 50 while finishing off well.
Melbourne
Joel Smith
The Demons will be hoping Sam Weideman can fill the Jesse Hogan void but they may have also unearthed another key forward.
Smith has spent most of time in defence but was thrown into attack and delivered in spades.
The 23-year-old kicked four goals, took six marks and put the ball inside 50 three times.
Aaron vandenBerg
Was a battering ram against the Lions with 16 tackles and four clearances.
Also picked up 18 possessions as the Demons changed it up slightly in the middle at times. If he can get his body right, he will be a vital member of this bullocking midfield.
North Melbourne
Jared Polec
Polec was very familiar with the Alberton Oval surroundings and while he was the subject of jeers from the crowd, he got the job done for North Melbourne.
The 26-year-old picked up 25 disposals and kicked a goal in the loss to the Power.
Bailey Scott
The 18-year-old father-son selection would have North Melbourne fans excited already after his two-goal performance against Port Adelaide on the weekend.
He gathered 19 disposals as well and while the Roos will likely give him time to develop, it’s clear he’s comfortable at the AFL standard.
Port Adelaide
Tom Rockliff
Wow. What a game.
Rockliff had the ball on a string against the Kangaroos, putting together a massive 41 touches (at 80%!) and pulling in a remarkable 16 marks.
Add to that nine clearances (six from the centre) and a pair of goals and it was basically the perfect midfield performance.
He may have had a 2018 season well below his best but this outing tells us that 2019 could be a different story.
Zak Butters
The first-year youngster was lively in a forward line role.
Fresh off a 25-possession performance in JLT1, Butters snagged three goals and provided two goal assists in the win over North Melbourne.
Showed cleverness and craft and proved he certainly has some strings to his bow.
Richmond
Jack Higgins
Higgins is perfectly executing his role as a link-up half-forward.
Presented well against the Hawks and was often the conduit between half-back and the forward 50.
Used the ball cleverly and was dangerous around goals, helping himself to three, including a clever snap with the outside of his boot when it was tight in the final term.
Ended up with 19 possessions, 10 of which were contested, as well as seven marks, three tackles and three inside 50s in what was a very mature performance.
Trent Cotchin
The skipper was quiet in the first half but proved the match-winner in the end.
Two final-quarter goals to go with 24 overall touches, five centre clearances and seven inside 50s is a top return.
Cotchin’s disposal efficiency of 58% was nothing to write home about but his willingness in the contest and attack on the ball was as aggressive as ever.
Sydney
Ryan Clarke
The recruit looks to be thriving at Sydney with a 29-disposal performance against Gold Coast.
Playing through the midfield, the 21-year-old starred in what could prove to be a shrewd piece of business for the Swans.
St Kilda
Rowan Marshall
The Saints big man pressed his claims for Round 1 selection with an impressive outing against the Western Bulldogs.
Marshall, 23, finished the game 18 disposals and 37 hit-outs as he looks to dislodge Billy Longer as St Kilda’s number one ruckman.
West Coast
Dom Sheed
Sheed has now gathered 79 disposals across the two JLT Series games in what is a clear indication the 23-year-old has gone to the next level.
If he can keep this form up during the regular season after a rollercoaster 2018, the Eagles will have another serious weapon alongside Luke Shuey, Elliot Yeo and Andrew Gaff.
Jack Petruccelle
Petruccelle will struggle to break into the reigning premiers’ side early on, but his speed is clearly an x-factor they could tap into.
He kicked two goals and gathered 16 disposals against the Dockers, but impressed with a few breakaway possessions that opened the game up.
Western Bulldogs
Aaron Naughton
The Bulldogs are searching for answers inside 50 and throwing key defender Naughton forward paid off immediately against St Kilda.
He kicked three goals and laid five tackles in the loss. Sam Lloyd with three and Josh Schache two should also excite Dogs fans.
Josh Dunkley
The Bulldogs boast one of the deepest midfields in the competition and while Dunkley isn’t the biggest name, the 22-year-old continues to improve.
He picked up 29 disposals and laid eight tackles against the Saints and should continue to be a key piece for this team in 2019.