Three Crows have been included in the AFL’s Team of the Week for Round One.
Rory Laird was among the first picked in defence after a stunning display against the Giants on Sunday.
The 23-year-old collected a career-high 40 possessions and was the No.1 ranked backman in the AFL for the round according to Champion Data’s player rankings. Laird also topped the comp for intercept possessions (13), effective kicks (19) and was second for handball receives (21) as he set Adelaide up across half-back.
He earned a perfect 10 votes to be joint leader in the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year award after the opening round.
Laird earned the most appearances of any Crow last year in the AFL’s Team of the Week, despite missing five games to injury.
The former rookie has been named on a half-back flank in the AFL’s Round One team.
Fellow young guns Rory Atkins and Charlie Cameron were also recognised after their stellar start to the season.
Atkins, 22, kicked a career-best three goals from 19 possessions to be one of the most influential players on the ground. The left-footer led the comp for the most metres gained per possession in the opening round, evidenced by a match-high 10 inside 50ms against Greater Western Sydney on Sunday.
The AFL Media team selected him at half-forward next to Sydney’s Lance Franklin and Richmond midfielder Dustin Martin.
Cameron also registered career-best numbers in his 50th game against the Giants.
The speedster had 23 possessions, 14 contested possessions and eight clearances – all career-highs. He also booted two goals and received a Mark of the Year nomination for a high-flying grab early in the second term.
Cameron was named in a forward pocket in the first AFL Team of the Week of 2017.
Adelaide, Essendon and Brisbane had the equal-highest number of representatives in the Round One Team of the Week with three players each. Geelong, Collingwood, Port Adelaide, West Coast, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs all had two players included, while Richmond had one representative.
Click here to see the AFL Team of the Week for Round One in full
CROWS IN AFL MEDIA’S TEAM OF THE WEEK
R1 v GWS: Rory Laird, Rory Atkins, Charlie Cameron
