AFTER the action-packed first round of TAC Cup action, it is hard to reduce the best players from the round down into a single best 22. But that is what we will be doing each week to create the AFL Draft Central TAC Cup Team of the Week.

Every team earned a representative in the best 22, with a remarkable spread of players. Of the 12 teams, 10 had two representatives each, while Murray Bushrangers’ Lachlan Ash and Northern Knights’ Tom McKenzie were the sole inclusions for their respective sides.

Eastern Ranges were under siege at times from a ruthless Oakleigh Chargers outfit, so it is no surprise that their two representatives hail in defence. The Ranges best on the day was Ben Cardamone, while James Blanck stood out as a key position defender. Up the other end of the field that day, Isaac Quaynor was having an impact off half-back, joined in the Team of the Week by Jack Ross.

Calder Cannons’ Jack Evans will come off the bench, while the versatile Mitch Podhajski was named at half-forward. Podhajski played predominantly midfield on the weekend, but did sneak forward and kick a goal, and is more than capable of performing inside the forward 50.

Also in defence is potential top 10 pick Ben King holding down the other key position post. He will join star midfielder and Sandringham Dragons teammate Bailey Smith who was unstoppable of the weekend. The midfield is beefed up with clearance guns Ed McHenry (Geelong Falcons) and Xavier O’Halloran (Western Jets) joining Smith in the middle. McHenry’s teammate Charlie Sprague was the Falcons only multiple goal kicker so he earns a spot in the side, while Aaron Clarke also booted three goals for the Jets and showed some great athleticism for a taller player on Friday night.

The last spot in defence went to over-ager Matthew McGannon who had the ball on a string against the Murray Bushrangers. McGannon joins teammate and captain Xavier Duursma who made it onto the interchange bench. A midfielder who made it onto the field was Scott Carlin (GWV Rebels) after a sensational game covering all areas of the ground. He and exciting forward Charlie Wilson represent the Rebels in the Team of the Week.

Moving up forward, key position forward/ruck Riley Bowman will straighten up the team, representing the Dandenong Stingrays with Campbell Hustwaite who squeezed onto the bench. Bendigo Pioneers have had a trouble finding key position players in the past, but undersized KPP Will Holt (full-forward) and Daniel Keating (ruck) were outstanding on the weekend.

Naturally there were plenty of unlucky players to miss out. Among them were the likes of Lachlan Sholl (Calder Cannons), Stefan Radovanovic (Western Jets), Oakleigh trio Noah Anderson, Xavier O’Neill and Riley Collier-Dawkins, Northern Knights captain Braedyn Gillard and defender Lachlan Potter, Murray Bushrangers Ely Smith, Bendigo Pioneers’ Noah Wheeler and Geelong Falcons’ Sam Walsh.