AFL Grand Final 2020: Every Richmond and Geelong player rated
The Grand Final was billed as a battle of two superstars — Dustin Martin and Patrick Dangerfield — but ultimately only one had a telling influence when it mattered most. Every player rated.
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
While Dustin Martin was the standout, it took a team to get the job done against a gallant Geelong.
The News Corp AFL team rates every player from the 2020 AFL Grand Final.
GET YOUR 24-PAGE WRAP SOUVENIR EDITION OF THE SUNDAY HERALD SUN
RICHMOND
1. Nick Vlastuin (no rating): His Grand Final lasted just five minutes. He was concussed after copping an elbow from Dangerfield and was stretchered off. They missed his intercept possessions off halfback.
2. Dylan Grimes (6): Didn’t get a kick in the first half and finished with just four disposals. Although he kept Gary Rohan goal less and very quiet.
3. Dion Prestia (7): What a comeback this season. The human meatball broke the deadlock in the first term to kick the all-important first goal. Also kicked the first of the last.
4. Dustin Martin (9.5): To borrow a line from Sandy Roberts: What more can you say? This guy is an unstoppable finals freak. Now has 10 goals from three Grand Finals. Wow.
7. Liam Baker (6.5): Had 14 disposals off halfback. His intercept marking was especially important after Vlastuin went down in the first five minutes.
8. Jack Riewoldt (6): The five-goal star of the 2019 Grand Final was a non-event in the first half, blanketed by Lachie Henderson. But he was much more lively in the second half, getting the revival going with the first goal of the third quarter and threading one from a tight angle to put some icing on the cake in the last.
Kayo is your ticket to the best sport streaming Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
9. Trent Cotchin (7): Now sits in an exclusive club as a three-time premiership skipper. Not his biggest game, finishing with 19 disposals, but was a typically strong showing.
10. Shane Edwards (8.5): Tigers will be thanking their lucky stars his baby arrived when it did and Edwards got back to Queensland. It’s been some campaign since.
11. Jason Castagna (6): Missed out on the Grand Final goal-fest in 2019 as he kicked 0.5, but took his opportunity when it came with a nice third quarter goal from 50m.
12. David Astbury (6.5): Spent a lot of time on Tom Hawkins and helped keep the Cats spearhead to just one goal. Forever underrated but, as always, did his job with little fuss. The spoil king.
14. Bachar Houli (5): If a bloke called Dustin Martin didn’t exist, he may have had two Norm Smith Medals heading into last night. Was uncharacteristically quiet given his reputation on the big day.
15. Jayden Short (8): One of the Tigers’ very best behind Dusty and Shane Edwards. Was second behind only Mitch Duncan for possessions in the first half and finished with 25 disposals and six tackles.
17. Daniel Rioli (3): A quiet Grand Final which largely sums up a difficult year. Didn’t have a kick until the final minutes, but worked hard to apply some pressure.
19. Tom Lynch (4): Plenty of opposition fans were pleased when the villain of 2020 entered halftime with -2 ranking points. But lifted in the second half and kicked a final-term goal.
21. Noah Balta (7): Was expected to play solely on Tom Hawkins but spent time on the ball as a ruck chop out. The only Richmond player who went into the game without a premiership medal already to his name.
23. Kane Lambert (7): Mr Efficient. Only had 13 disposals playing mostly forward, but logged five score involvements from them. Three flags not bad for pick 46 in the 2015 rookie draft.
25. Toby Nankervis (7.5): Lion-hearted performance in the ruck by the big Nank. Also spent some time forward when he needed a rest.
29. Shai Bolton (8): Doesn’t need to have a lot of the ball to have an impact. Missed his only shot on goal, but often does things others can’t.
33. Kamdyn McIntosh (7): Trying to trade his way up from a paperclip to a Ferrari. But he’s already got some wheels on a wing and his game was held together by a first-quarter goal.
34. Jack Graham (8): Why would you even consider going to Carlton? Still just 22 years old and now has two flags, just weeks after fending off other offers to pen a new deal.
35. Nathan Broad (7): Went to Ablett after the Little Master came back on with a shoulder injury. Also spent some time on Dangerfield and did it well.
50. Marlion Pickett (6): Someone should write a book about this bloke. Oh wait, they have. Some story, with two flags inside 20 AFL games and two strong Grand Final performances.
GEELONG
1. Rhys Stanley (6.5): The boy from Berri more than held his own against Nankervis in the battle of two Clydesdales. Can be satisfied with his efforts although he gave Martin his fourth goal.
2. Zach Tuohy (5.5): The pubs had to be closed at Portlaoise and the Irishman gave his home town little to celebrate. Quiet performance by the veteran.
3. Brandan Parfitt (6): Tore around the field like a maniac throughout but couldn’t get his hands on the ball as much as he would have liked. Had seven tackles though.
4. Gary Ablett (6): The son of ‘God’ produced a resurrection for the ages in his final game but couldn’t go out with the fairytale finish. Clearly felt his shoulder when he returned.
7. Harry Taylor (7): Definitely deserved a post-match cognac after his effort on Lynch, keeping the Tiger disposal-less in the first half before the dam wall broke. Saved a certain goal in the third.
8. Jake Kolodjashnij (5): Had the tough job on Martin whenever the Tigers superstar went forward. Wasn’t at fault for any of Dusty’s goals but tough day at the office.
14. Joel Selwood (8): Put in a true captain’s performance. Brave and classy and fought to the end for the Cats but doesn’t have the premiership as skipper he and Geelong fans crave.
22. Mitch Duncan: (8.5) Prolific around the ball for the Cats again, and has probably been Geelong’s player of the finals series. Arguably the best player of the first half.
23. Gary Rohan: (5) Didn’t have the impact with the ball but did make Richmond’s defence uncomfortable for much of the night. Still Cats would have expected more.
24. Jed Bews (5): Joins dad Andrew in playing in a losing Geelong side in a Grand Final. Tough night to be a small defender especially in the second half.
25. Lachie Henderson: (6) The veteran ‘rookie’ kept Riewoldt quiet in the first half. But like the rest of the Cats defence found it tough in the second when Richmond got going.
26. Tom Hawkins (5): Not his night. Missed a good chance to kick the game’s first goal and finished with 1.2. Too snap-happy from places he does not need to snap at times.
27. Sam Menegola (6): Kicked a massive goal – his second for the game – in the last quarter which looked like giving the Cats a late sniff. Not a huge possession night, but had his moments.
29. Cam Guthrie (7): Kicked Geelong’s first goal and flew for a nice mark – one of the game’s best – in the third term. Lively early but, like a lot of Cats, faded late.
32. Gryan Miers (6): Rushed a huge opportunity to give Geelong a 13-point lead in the second term but kicked a crucial major against the tide in the third. Brilliant tackle to earn a holding the ball free kick.
35. Patrick Dangerfield (5.5): The superstar’s wait for a flag continues and his influence was limited. Crunched Nick Vlastuin early, knocking out the Tiger, and kicked first of second quarter but not at his typically brilliant best.
37. Sam Simpson (5.5): The Peter Riccardi lookalike was zippy in patches but finished the game concussed after friendly fire from a Sam Menegola mark. Promising player for the future.
38. Jack Henry (6): Symptomatic of the Cats’ jitters at times, but took a courageous mark during the third term. Even though he can look ungainly, he was able to play his role in defence.
40. Luke Dahlhaus (6): Quietish early when the Cats were on but the premiership-winning Bulldog impressed in the third term when his pressure lifted and had a great smother.
42. Mark O’Connor (6.5): Encouraging performance with a handful of brilliant defensive plays. An underrated player for Geelong this season.
44. Tom Stewart (8.5): Mopped up everything in defence and was one of the best on ground. Either he or the streakers saved a certain Richmond goal late in the first term.
46. Mark Blicavs (5): His awareness was not great and got caught holding the ball twice. Toiled hard and supported Rhys Stanley in ruck but not influential.
MORE GRAND FINAL NEWS
AFL Grand Final 2020: Patrick Dangerfield cleared after brutal collision with Nick Vlastuin
‘Shame’: AFL fans slam Grand Final entertainment
Originally published as AFL Grand Final 2020: Every Richmond and Geelong player rated