The Undroppables. A category of footballer we made up.
The Definition: A fringe or developing AFL player who performed well enough to maintain their spot in the side for the following week.
Across the season, we will be keeping an eye on players who received their opportunity in a side and did enough to lock themselves in for the next round.
See our nominations from Round 10 below:
Joel Jeffrey (Gold Coast)
The Suns livewire had a breakout game against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday.
Jeffrey lit up Ballarat with a scintillating five-goal display in just his sixth career game.
The 20-year-old forward booted two miraculous goals over his head in an exciting sample of his potential.
Into his second season at the Suns, Jeffrey is sure to be given further opportunities to strut his stuff at senior level.
The North Territory product will be out to impress on Saturday night against Hawthorn in his hometown of Darwin.
Alex Zaia
Jake Soligo (Adelaide)
The Adelaide Crows youngster has hit his straps after coming back into the side in Round 9 and looks to have locked himself a spot for the near future.
Soligo played an outside role in the forward line against Richmond but was cracking in all night to end up with 19 disposals (eight contested), three tackles and a goal.
The 19-year-old also contributed with a 73 per cent disposal efficiency and was aided by four free kicks.
Soligo would be very unlucky to be dropped after being one of the Crows’ best.
Seb Mottram
James Peatling (GWS)
James Peatling had comfortably his best game at AFL level on Sunday, picking up 23 disposals and booting three goals in the win against West Coast.
In just his seventh AFL game, his outing could prove as a breakout performance, while he could genuinely find himself in the votes alongside the likes of Harry Perryman and Stephen Coniglio.
After more than a month of playing in the VFL, Peatling’s big game should see him keep his spot in the senior side for some time, particularly as it coincided with interim coach Mark McVeigh’s first game in charge.
Alongside Peatling, Giants debutant Jacob Wehr would find himself unlucky to be dropped after a strong one goal, 13-disposal first appearance.
Lachlan Geleit
Robbie Tarrant (Richmond)
Veteran defender Robbie Tarrant played his best game in a Richmond jumper in the Dreamtime win over Essendon.
He spent the majority of the night on Peter Wright and beat him comprehensively, holding the dangerous Bombers forward goalless for just the second time this season.
Tarrant had 15 disposals, took eight marks and had eight intercept possessions which further enhanced his tight defensive performance. He also banged home what would have been his first Tigers goal only for Tom Lynch to give away a free kick behind the line.
The former North Melbourne best and fairest was dropped after the Round 6 loss to Melbourne before missing a week with hip soreness and then spending two weeks in the VFL.
It had many questioning the club’s recruitment of the 33-year-old, but his early-season form can be excused given he started in an unfamiliar defensive system without experienced pair Dylan Grimes and Nick Vlastuin by his side for the most part.
With Noah Balta injured and a Friday night test against the Swans and Lance Franklin in Sydney next up, Tarrant has cemented his spot in the side for now.
Another Tiger in the mix is Jack Ross who has been in and out of the Richmond team across the last few seasons. He replaced Jack Graham (toe) and put in an assured showing with 19 touches and six tackles.
It was a performance worthy of another week in the ones, provided Damien Hardwick is prepared to play both he and Graham in the same side if the latter is fit.
Andrew Slevison
Logan McDonald (Sydney)
With Lance Franklin completely clamped by Jacob Weitering on Friday night, Logan McDonald stepped up and showed what he could one day be capable of.
The young second-year key forward kicked 3.3 and was unlucky not to finish with a bag against the Blues, showing off his skills above his head.
McDonald took 10 marks and got to all the right spots for the Swans, taking ownership of the forward line.
He has been in and out of the side a bit this season, but the top draft pick is surely locked in for an extended run at AFL level now.
Nic Negrepontis