SOME unexpected names and unheralded heroes feature in the round 18 Team of the Week, brought to you by Accor Hotels.

In particular, the backline had a number of fresh faces in for the first time this season. Jed Bews was excellent in keeping Adelaide superstar Eddie Betts to goalless, Lewis Melican did the job on Nick Riewoldt and Nick Vlastuin was superb against Greater Western Sydney.

It's hard to imagine Jack Gunston will feature across half-back too often but he was brilliant against Fremantle.

Callum Sinclair and Jordan De Goey both played the game of their careers to help Sydney and Collingwood to victory respectively, while Liam Picken bobbed up with a career-high six goals against the Suns.

In the battle of the captains, Jack Viney won 59 per cent of the fan vote to beat Richmond's Trent Cotchin.

• Nine things we learned from round 18

JED BEWS (Geelong): Kept Eddie Betts scoreless and made an impact with his intercept marking and dashing speed off half-back. His performance was particularly impressive considering the Crows dominated for much of the night.

PHIL DAVIS (Greater Western Sydney): Held Jack Riewoldt to two goals while collecting 23 disposals, a match-high 17 intercept possessions, and 13 contested possessions in the wet.

NICK VLASTUIN (Richmond): A week after a rusty return from a shoulder injury, the tough Tiger was composed and cut off plenty of the Giants' forays forward. Picked up 21 disposals and a team-high 13 intercept possessions.

JACK GUNSTON (Hawthorn): Criticism came Alastair Clarkson's way earlier in the season for moving the gun forward from attack, but the 35 disposals, 10 score involvements and 535m gained were instrumental in the Hawks' victory over Freo.

LEWIS MELICAN (Sydney): Nick Riewoldt is one of the most important players at St Kilda, so for the Swan to keep the champion to just 10 disposals and one goal was no mean feat.

MICHAEL HIBBERD (Melbourne): Another outstanding effort in what has been an outstanding first season at the Demons. Racked up 36 disposals, 12 intercept possessions and a massive 817m gained in the win over Port Adelaide.

DAYNE ZORKO (Brisbane Lions): Bounced back after a rare down week with a standout first half before finishing with 26 disposals, 12 contested possessions, three goals and 665m gained.

DUSTIN MARTIN (Richmond): Pay the man whatever he wants. Quiet in the first quarter but led the charge in the second and ended up with 31 disposals, 11 clearances, 10 inside-50s and a goal.

ZACH MERRETT (Essendon): Notched up 33 disposals, 14 contested possessions and nine clearances against a highly competitive North Melbourne. Contributed well while most of his team was uninspiring.

RICHARD DOUGLAS (Adelaide): The experienced Crow picked up 20 disposals and slotted a career-high four goals to help down Geelong in the top-of-the-ladder clash.

After finding himself on the cover of the @AFLrecord this week, Richard Douglas kicks a personal best four goals. pic.twitter.com/AsTJqXfx6E — AFL (@AFL) July 21, 2017

JOSH KENNEDY (West Coast): A third-straight Coleman Medal isn't out of the question after a six-goal haul helped give the Eagles a 24-point lead against Collingwood before their final-term capitulation.

WATCH: Kennedy's killer bag

JORDAN DE GOEY (Collingwood): A magnificent display. Four second-half goals and a desperate late tackle on Liam Duggan were instrumental in the comeback victory.

WATCH: De Goey's second-half heroics

BEN BROWN (North Melbourne): Has crept up on most pundits to sit equal-second (with Joe Daniher) in the Coleman Medal race. Snagged six against the Bombers to help his side stay in the contest.

CALLUM SINCLAIR (Sydney): It's unlikely many people saw this one coming. Recalled from the NEAFL to slot five goals. His aerial presence was formidable, with eight contested marks.

WATCH: Big Swans snags a bag

LIAM PICKEN (Western Bulldogs): Booted a career-high six goals to keep the Dogs' premiership defence alive. The biggest bag anyone has ever kicked in Cairns.

WATCH: Rich Pickens for record-breaker

SAM JACOBS (Adelaide): Clearly won the ruck battle against Rhys Stanley and Zac Smith and was a key reason the Crows won clearances 47-27.

ADAM TRELOAR (Collingwood): Enormous in the last quarter as the Eagles wilted, when he had 12 of his 34 disposals. After a subdued opening term, his run was important.

RORY SLOANE (Adelaide): A rare game that saw the star Crow without a tagger and he excelled, collecting 28 disposals, 15 contested possessions, three goals and 581m gained.

TOM ROCKLIFF (Brisbane Lions): Tagging was the duty for Rockliff and he limited one of the few Blues midfielders left standing, holding Bryce Gibbs to one first-half disposal and just eight for the match.

ROBBIE GRAY (Port Adelaide): Brought the Power back into the game with a phenomenal third quarter. Notched up 31 disposals, 19 contested possessions and nine clearances.

CALLAN WARD (Greater Western Sydney): Both Giants captains were rewarded for their efforts. In Ward's case, 37 disposals, 16 contested possessions, nine clearances and a goal was hard to deny.

The fans' pick

JACK VINEY (Melbourne): Foot surgery took only 19 days for the tough skipper to recover from. Instrumental in helping set up victory in the opening quarter and beat Richmond's Trent Cotchin with 59 per cent of the Twitter fan vote.

Trent Cotchin or Jack Viney?



Vote now on who makes the final spot in the round 18 Team of the Week, thanks to @Accorhotels. — AFL (@AFL) July 24, 2017

• Check out the best 22 from previous rounds