THREE wins on the trot and flying high, the Western Jets are the big winners in this week’s AFL Draft Central TAC Cup Team of the Week for Round 7. The Jets and the Gippsland Power are the only sides with three nominees, as the best 22 is split evenly across the competition. Every other winning side, as well as Calder Cannons and Murray Bushrangers have two nominees, while the Bendigo Pioneers, Geelong Falcons, Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels and Oakleigh Chargers have a sole nominee in the team.

It is undoubtedly the tallest Team of the Week so far, and one we would probably not take into a wet weather game, but such was the results on the weekend with a number of key position players earning their spots with impressive performances. Up forward, the front six have combined for a massive 30 goals to show some serious firepower, with just the one genuine crumbing player, as well as a mix of key position and lead-up players.

The Jets’ three nominees are defender Buku Khamis – who was best on ground in the Jets’ win over Oakleigh Chargers – as well as midfielders Xavier O’Halloran and Zak Butters. O’Halloran has been a regular in the Team of the Week this season, with fellow captain Xavier Duursma another who has had his fair share of nominations. The Gippsland leaders makes the team on the wing, along with Sam Flanders who booted another four goals on the weekend, and Kyle Reid who was monumental in defence. In the centre, Braedyn Gillard slots in once again, joined by teammate Adam Carafa for the first time. The other midfield spot is taken by overager Kai Owens who stood up in Sandringham’s victory over Geelong Falcons on Sunday. Owens is joined in the Team of the Week by forward Harry Bede who also booted four goals.

The three-pronged tall attack of Murray Bushrangers’ Hudson Garoni, Dandenong Stingrays’ Corey Ellison and Eastern Ranges’ Jamieson Rossiter piled on a massive 19 goals between them and were walk-up starts in this week’s team. They are not the only talls from their teams with Bailey Williams (Dandenong) and Jordon Butts (Murray) making the side, while Ben Cardamone‘s work from defence earned him another place in the back pocket after a good start in the opening few rounds. Alongside him at centre half-back is Calder Cannons switchman Daniel Hanna, who is one of two Cannons in the team – Curtis Taylor makes the side as well.

Up forward, GWV half-forward Charlie Wilson – who finished with three majors in the Rebels’ loss to Gippsland Power – also made the team once again. The final spots in the team were taken up by the three sole members for their respective teams, half-back Trent Bianco (Oakleigh Chargers), full-back Dane Hollenkamp (Geelong Falcons) and ruck Daniel Keating (Bendigo Pioneers). Others considered for the team but just missed out due to the strength in their relative positions were Eastern’s Mitch Mellis, Murray’s Ben Kelly, GWV’s Matt Schnerring, Gippsland’s Bailey Beck and Geelong’s Oscar Brownless.