IT WAS a shortened round that didn't have much for forwards, with midfielders featuring heavily in the round 11 Team of the Week brought to you by Accor Hotels.

In the six games that made up the first of the official bye rounds, there were no major bags of goals kicked with Port Adelaide's Charlie Dixon earning the full forward position with four majors.

After that, there were a few who managed three, with Toby Greene getting yet another forward pocket nod, but after that it was down to non-traditional forwards to fill the attacking structure.

Dustin Martin and Zac Williams fitted into that category, while Elliot Yeo and Jamie Elliott were unlucky to miss out.

Midfield competition ran hot as always with Gary Ablett, Ollie Wines, Lachie Whitfield, and Sam Mitchell stiff not to get a run. 

But, the heroics of Joel Selwood, Patrick Dangerfield, Josh Kelly and Pearce Hanley made it hard to wiggle in.

Hard-running half-backs were also a trend across the round with Hamish Hartlett, Phil Davis and Jarrod Harbrow exerting their creativity and finding their way into the side.

And, Scott Pendlebury's steering of Collingwood's ship over Fremantle in a game the Magpies simply had to win to stay in touch with the top eight saw him get the nod over Trent Cotchin in the social media fan vote.

ZACH TUOHY (Geelong): Played on Eddie Betts in the absence of Jed Bews and kept the superstar Crow to just one goal, while also picking up 27 possessions, five rebounds and eight marks. 

MICHAEL HURLEY (Essendon): Had 21 touches and took nine marks while playing on Jeremy Cameron, who kicked 1.3 with his only goal coming in the last quarter.

JEREMY HOWE (Collingwood): Had seven intercept possessions and was important at times in the last quarter. Also kicked the game's last goal late in the fourth quarter and gained 214m; the second-highest distance of any Pie.

HAMISH HARTLETT (Port Adelaide): Gave the Power plenty of run out of defence with 24 disposals at 95 per cent efficiency. Had nine intercept possessions and took eight marks. 

PHIL DAVIS (Greater Western Sydney): Ventured up the ground for most of his 11 touches, but also took six marks and stood tall against Essendon's in-form forward Joe Daniher, who only kicked one goal.

JARROD HARBROW (Gold Coast): As has been the case many times this season, the ex-Bulldog's ability to run off half-back was important for the Suns. Had 18 disposals and three rebounds.

BRAD EBERT (Port Adelaide): Celebrated his 200th game in style with 34 touches, 12 tackles and seven clearances in the Power's win over Hawthorn.

JOEL SELWOOD (Geelong): Typical warrior-like performance from the Cats captain that left him with a sizeable head gash and several stitches. Won 35 disposals (21 contested), nine clearances and kicked a goal.

PEARCE HANLEY (Gold Coast): Played on the wing and off half-back, where he made a big impact with 31 disposals. Used the ball well (77.4 per cent efficiency), and blitzed the Eagles with 600m gained.

ZAC WILLIAMS (Greater Western Sydney): Played through the midfield and up forward for a return of 25 disposals, three goals – including a crucial major in the last quarter – and six intercept possessions.

JACK RIEWOLDT (Richmond): Roamed at times and collected 21 disposals, 10 marks, seven inside 50s and two goals. Also drove the Tigers forward with 412m gained and was important in the game-breaking third quarter.

DUSTIN MARTIN (Richmond): Easily the round's best player. Smashed the Roos with 38 combative disposals – 15 contested – took eight marks, won nine clearances, laid six tackles, travelled 693m forward, took the ball inside 50 nine times and booted two goals. An all-round performance.

TOBY GREENE (Greater Western Sydney): Brilliant again with three goals and exceptional work in one-on-one situations. Has kicked 26 goals for the season to rank 10th in the League.

CHARLIE DIXON (Port Adelaide): Made up for his brain fade against Geelong last week with four goals and a strong performance in the air. Took eight marks, (five contested), and won 15 of his 20 possessions in contested situations.

TOM LYNCH (Adelaide): The Crows didn't have many winners but Lynch, playing as a high half-forward, kept them alive at times with his exceptional work rate. Finished with 2.2 and took six marks.

TOM BELLCHAMBERS (Essendon): The Bombers didn't win but Bellchambers pinched his personal battle with Shane Mumford. Had 40 hit-outs and 15 disposals at a rate of 80 per cent efficiency, and also kicked two goals.

PATRICK DANGERFIELD (Geelong): Typically influential against his former side. Played second banana to Selwood as far as the best player on the ground, but still managed 31 disposals, seven clearances, six inside 50s and three goals.

JOSH KELLY (Greater Western Sydney): Just keeps rising to the challenge despite the heavy speculation regarding his future at the Giants. Blew the Bombers away with a 22-disposal first half to end with a career-high 38 possessions at an impressive 86.8 per cent efficiency. Also kicked a goal and laid 10 tackles.

ADAM TRELOAR (Collingwood): Had 35 disposals as the Pies' most prolific ball-winner in their victory over the Dockers. Won five clearances – second to Taylor Adams' nine – but used the ball better with an efficiency rating of 68.6 per cent.

SCOTT SELWOOD (Geelong): Maintained his intensity in his third game back to keep Rory Sloane to 22 touches and little impact, while collecting 25 himself. Has brought a tough side to the Cats' midfield and laid 10 tackles, which takes his tally to 44 in three games.

DOM SHEED (West Coast): Second to Sam Mitchell in possessions with 30, he also took eight marks, laid six tackles and won five clearances in the Eagles' narrow loss to the Suns.

The fans' pick

Fan vote: SCOTT PENDLEBURY (Collingwood): It was his 30-possession, six-mark, five-clearance game – plus his leadership in the west – that saw Pendlebury sneak home over Richmond's Trent Cotchin with 53 per cent of the social media fan vote.