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Important SN update for SouthlandUnheralded: The players who deserve more credit for Round 16
Andrew Slevison, Lachlan Geleit & Jaiden Sciberras • June 30th, 2025 7:45 pm
We always know who the stars are in a particular game.
But what about those who played a pivotal defensive role or were influential without stuffing the stat sheet? They may have had an important assignment or have simply just flown under the radar.
These players might be spoken about amongst the supporters of their clubs, but not discussed as widely around the competition.
Below are the players we believe deserve more credit for their Round 16 performances.
Action Jackson
Hugh Jackson sparked the Power early in their 50-point win over Carlton last Thursday.
In just his fourth AFL appearance, the 22-year-old was on a mission in the opening term with nine disposals, five score involvements and a goal assist.
He finished with a career-high 17 touches plus seven score involvements, four inside 50s and two tackles in a crafty and creative performance.
Jackson’s attack on the ball early was fierce and his cleverness around forward 50 stood out as Port piled on five goals to none in the first quarter.
Andrew Slevison
Bramble, not Bambi
As fellow players fell down all around him on the shifting SCG turf, Lachie Bramble stood tall with sure feet.
The rebounding defender exploded after half-time with 15 of his 28 touches coming in the third term.
He was a constant source of recoil out of defensive 50 for the Dogs while also contributing in attack with six score involvements, five inside 50s, a goal assist and a third-quarter goal.
The stars of the Dogs were on show in the high-scoring Sydney affair but the lesser-known Bramble was crucial in the triumph.
It was one of his very best games in Dogs colours.
Andrew Slevison
Breakout Brady
Brady Hough enjoyed a career game in Saturday’s loss to Collingwood.
Starting the game playing on Nick Daicos at stoppages, Hough arguably had the better of the contest early on before going on to find plenty of the footy himself.
The 22-year-old had a career-high 27 disposals to go with six inside 50s, a big third-quarter goal and six clearances. He also went at 100% disposal efficiency, an impressive feat given how much ball he won.
Having played a variety of roles across his 67 AFL games so far, Hough proved he can be a long-term midfield mainstay and someone that coach Andrew McQualter can trust to at least put a body on a dangerous opponent at stoppages.
Perhaps this is the breakout game that will vault the youngster into being a genuine West Coast on-baller for the best part of the next decade.
Lachlan Geleit
Max damage
The Saints couldn’t quite get the job done, but the efforts of Max Hall cannot go unnoticed.
The 23-year-old mature aged recruit has been a mainstay in St Kilda’s side this season, however his performance against the Dockers was comfortably the best of his 15-game career.
21 disposals, 11 score involvements, six tackles, three intercepts, a goal assist and a goal, Hall did maximum damage with ball in hand, threatening every time he found the pill in the forward half.
He wasn’t the only Saint worth mentioning, with star rookie Alix Tauru dominating in the air with 14 spoils (equal club record) and Hugo Garcia showing exactly why he deserves to maintain a spot in Ross Lyon’s midfield.
Jaiden Sciberras
