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EFL Round 12 Player Roundup: Who Starred and Who Flopped?

With the international break this weekend, only clubs in League One and Two from the EFL were in action - even though four League One fixtures were postponed.

Here, we take a look at the three best and three worst players from the 18 EFL games played on Saturday.

The Best

Dom Ballard:

Having suffered three straight defeats and without a win in four games, Leyton Orient's home game against Doncaster Rovers was crucial for pulling clear of danger near the bottom of the table.

Orient got the dream start they were after, as Dom Ballard dribbled past two Doncaster defenders before finding the bottom corner in the second minute.

After Aaron Connolly's superb goal from 20 yards through a sea of bodies, Ballard bagged his brace by scoring into an open net, having nicked the ball past the 'keeper.

He sealed his hat-trick with a sliding finish from close range, off a cross delivered by Connolly to top off a perfect afternoon.

Hi @EASPORTSFC,

Any chance of giving Dom Ballard an Ultimate Team card?

Oh, and while you're at it... make it an in-form one, yeah x#LOFC #OneOrient pic.twitter.com/JSvWMu9HWx
— Leyton Orient FC (@leytonorientfc) October 12, 2025

Jake Beesley:

Burton Albion won at home for the first time since the opening day of the season to move out of the relegation zone, by hitting Bolton Wanderers for three.

Beesley netted his second goal of the season and opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 27th minute.

After Fabio Tavares doubled the lead at the start of the second half, Beesley's brace came in the 90+4th minute by rounding the goalkeeper, beating another defender and sticking the ball in the net from a yard out.

Burton Albion’s 3rd goal vs Bolton Wanderers courtesy of Jake Beesley

Where’s the Bolton defence?🤔#bafc #bwfc pic.twitter.com/gdXlv2zKJF
— AllAboutLeagueOne (@LeagueOne25) October 11, 2025

Laurence Maguire:

MK Dons battered Bristol Rovers 4-0 away from home to make it three league wins in a row.

Laurence Maguire put in a stellar performance from centre-back, scoring the insurance goal to put the Dons two-nil up in the 83rd minute.

The defender made one interception, eight clearances, and two ball recoveries, while also winning a ground duel and eight aerial duels.

The Worst

Alfie Kilgour:

On the opposite end of the Bristol Rovers vs MK Dons result was Alfie Kilgour, a Rovers centre-back.

He opened the scoring for the Dons with an own-goal in the eighth minute, as he couldn't get his feet sorted out whilst trying to clear the ball to safety.

He lost possession 13 times, only had a 55% pass accuracy within his own half and a 33% long ball accuracy.

What a terrible day at the office on your 100th league appearance for the Gas.

A special moment as Alfie Kilgour picks up his award for 100 league appearances for the Gas! 💙 #UTG ⛽️ pic.twitter.com/TUhmXZAo53
— Harvey Maggs (@HJ_Maggs) October 11, 2025

Max Conway:

Bolton's left-back had a nightmare of an afternoon in their 3-0 loss.

Despite winning 75% of his aerial duels and 1/1 tackle attempts, Conway only had a 66% pass accuracy rate and 38% long ball success rate.

Also, he only won half of his ground duels, committed three fouls and gave away possession 17 times.

Unsurprisingly, he is substituted off and replaced by Richard Taylor.

hall of shame performance 😭
— Dylan Morris (@Dyl__drfc) October 11, 2025

Jay McGrath:

McGrath committed an error leading to Orient's third goal of the afternoon by missing the ball when trying to kick it forward, allowing Ballard through on goal.

Aside from that, he lost possession 20 times and only had a 55% pass accuracy success in his own half.