Bone’s Adelaide Crows, Port Adelaide Power player ratings fast five and player ratings
ADVERTISER AFL expert Chris McDermott has run his eyes over Port Adelaide and Adelaide’s Round 9 efforts and come up with his key points and player ratings.
Chris McDermott
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ADVERTISER AFL expert Chris McDermott has run his eyes over Port Adelaide and Adelaide and come up with his key points and player ratings.
Port Adelaide fast five
1. Another tour and another success story for the Port Adelaide Football Club. The Power took home the four points and have a stranglehold on the game in Shanghai after a five-year sponsorshop extension from their backer. It nearly couldn’t have been any better. The only negative once again was the crowd at the game. The official number of ticket sales says one thing — as did claims of a sell-out — but the vision of so many empty seats leaves questions unanswered and work still to do.
2. Great leaders save their very best for the big occasions. The Power’s game against the Gold Coast in Shanghai is always a big occasion and there was no surprise Travis Boak stood tall as their best player. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, he leads and they follow. He sets the standard. Boak led with a team-high 29 possessions and eight clearances but also had six tackles, three rebounds and six inside 50s. That’s a game.
3. The Power’s best 22 is taking shape. It is not complete but it is slowly coming together. Jake Neade and Chad Wingard are looking more dangerous in attack while Dougal Howard and Darcy-Byrne Jones are doing similar work in defence. They are significant components to this team becoming a premiership contender.
4. Great performances again from Tom Rockliff and Sam Powell-Pepper make this team look better and more dangerous, if they could only kick straight like they promised at the season’s start. Both players have had a recent spell and have both come back in much better condition physically and mentally. It’s a piece of the puzzle not the complete puzzle but it’s a great sign of something building.
5. The most important part of the season has arrived for the Power. Back-to-back wins allows them to go into their week off full of confidence and full of momentum. Hawthorn is next. There can be no physical downtime for this team. Mental yes, but physical no. Hawthorn away, then Richmond, the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne all at Adelaide Oval await. Six wins, three losses must become 10 wins and three losses. It’s “Moving Day” not feet up week.
Adelaide Crows fast five
1. It was a matter of quality versus quantity in the early stages of this contest as the rain bucketed down and the Crows made every possession count. They had nine inside 50s for three goals, while the Bulldogs had 14 inside 50s for none. It wasn’t game over but in those conditions it was always going to be a long way back for the Dogs.
2. Darcy Fogarty is just an impressive young man. When he had his set shot on goal in the first term in wet and heavy conditions he was never going to miss. Fogarty hails from Lucindale in South Australia and they say you haven’t seen rain until you’ve spent a winter in Lucindale. Darcy would have spent a few and he hasn’t forgotten.
3. In wet weather, the cream comes to the top and there is no doubt Crows defender Rory Laird is cream of the very best kind. His first quarter in teeming rain was outstanding. Nine possessions when his team had only 80 was incredible. That’s over 10 per cent of possessions from one of 22 players.
4. The contact below the knees rule must be addressed. For me it must be removed from the game. But it won’t be. It’s a joke and the free against Daniel Talia in the second quarter was a horrendous. Talia was at the ball first and the Bulldogs player stumbled over him and milked the free. The umpire got sucked in and it cost the Crows a goal. Get rid of it.
5. Good luck or good management, call it what you like but the game has made a good decision. Out of nowhere the umpires are throwing the ball up much quicker and already congestion has reduced, even in the slog on Friday night. Suddenly the game looks a little better. Next!
Crows player ratings
Greenwood
His knowledge of the game improves each week as does his status as an emerging elite midfielder. In difficult conditions his ability to one take above his head or below his knees was outstanding. 8
Jenkins
Never going to be easy for a big fella but he contested as well as any and with Jacobs having his own challenges, Jenkins’ one goal and three score involvements was a handy effort. 4
Gibbs
Super game from the veteran, leading by example and winning the ball when and where it needed to be one. Strong defensive side to his game as well as he stood tall in the absence of some key players. 7
Seedsman
In conditions that certainly didn’t appear to suit, he thrived and carried the ball a game-high 634m. Without doubt in the best form of his career and looks to have more improvement in him. 7
Talia
Eleven intercept possessions the feature of another excellent performance for the key defender. 7
Mackay
Not the normal amount of possession we would expect from him but it was a night of exceptional quality from this man who exited the ball from defence with total class. 6
Betts
Showed his value to this group with four quality goals that only Eddie could kick. Dangerous all night and when many around him struggled he rose to the occasion and was the difference between the two teams. 8
Atkins
Put it down to a learning experience. Just found it near impossible to influence this game in any way but will have learned plenty from it. 4
Jacobs
After a big week for the big man he didn’t have a big night. He’s excused. The new father was strong at stoppage but had little influence elsewhere and played like he hadn’t slept much! 5
Douglas
Started slowly but got better and better the longer the game went and finished strongly. Ball use not at its usual level but his defensive pressure was as good as any. 6
Lynch
Adopted the captaincy responsibilities once again and produced another captain’s performance without being at his usual high level. 5
Ellis-Yolmen
Oh yes. Another challenge met and overcome. An excellent all-round performance with his six clearances, six intercepts, six tackles and 71 pressure acts. 7
Laird
What else would you expect from the Crows’ most consistent performer all season. Adapted to the conditions well and still had his regular strong rebounding game including an impressive 14 intercepts. 7
Doedee
Solid game again for the young defender and appeared unfazed by the difficulties the game presented. 5
Otten
Nice again. Typically understated, disciplined performance with a couple of good moments and quality intercepts. 5
Gallucci
Light frame and relative inexperience was always going to make this one difficult and it was. A couple of nice moments in a difficult night. 4
Kelly
Hardly needed all night and did his job without being a major contributor. 5
Poholke
Nice goal and worked hard to win some good contested footy in the conditions that didn’t suit him either. 4
Gibson
Began well before a quiet patch but gather himself at the long break to finish well in a good performance from the veteran to show he has something to offer this team when needed. 6
Hartigan
Another who did what he had to do in his return to the line up. Solid, reliable and will be better for the hit out against a more difficult opponent in Melbourne next week. 6
Murphy
Had some good moments after a very quiet start and could have been a better night had he kicked a little straighter. Continues to show good signs, just needs time. 4
Fogarty
Another yes and nod of approval for the strong forward. Looked comfortable in the conditions as we thought he would and looked dangerous without winning a big number of possessions. 5
Power player ratings
Boak
Come the moment, come the man. A true captain’s performance in every meaning of the word. He led, they followed and the game was won. 8
Powell-Pepper
Refer above. An inspired performance again from the youngster, with a couple of moments of rare brilliance including his goal of the year contender. 7
Neade
Not at his recent level but still made a contribution in one of the more challenging games of the entire AFL season. 5
Ebert
A surprisingly quiet game by this man’s high standards, with just the 12 possessions to his name. Nine tackles showed the defensive side of his game held up well. 5
Motlop
Another to find the challenges of this game and the conditions not quite to his liking, grabbing just six possessions despite more than 70 per cent of game time. 4
R. Gray
Kept in check for the majority of the first half but cut loose briefly after the long break with a move into the midfield to ignite his team to this strong and impressive victory despite his lack of scoreboard impact for a rare time. 5
Ryder
Great battle with Witts and despite breaking even at the hit-out count, was soundly beaten when the ball hit the ground. Witts managed 12 clearances of his own to Ryder’s one and gathered 20 possessions to Ryder’s six. Yet the Power won and that’s a good sign. 5
Wines
A typical Wines game. The better news being the suggestion his signature is getting closer and his future now all but certain to be at his HOME at Alberton. 6
Polec
A bit too mistake-ridden for he or his coaches’ liking but another 20-possession game with good ball in defence and into attack spoilt by an unusually low 55 per cent effective disposal. 5
Wingard
The signs are starting to show and the patience from all parties at the Power starting to be rewarded. 16 touches, 5 shots on goal for 2.3 is an indication a big haul is coming soon. 6
Dixon
Just keeps on doing what this team needs him to do. The goals will come soon. Contested numbers the standout of this game but his sense of team is as good as it gets. 5
Watts
Stuck in a period of OK football just not great. Like Dixon, his team-oriented stuff is good and his influence on this group must not be over-looked. Playing a role but needs to play a bigger individual one soon for his own benefit. 5
Bonner
Bit of a mixed bag from the young defender but still some rebound of note and some good defensive actions. His 58 per cent effective disposal count needs to be much better. 5
Howard
He’s a different man now back home in his rightful place in defence and once again led the way with 10 one per centers. 6
Byrne-Jones
Talk about finding your mo-jo and feeling at home this man has found consistency in recent weeks and its paying off big time. Efficiency can also improve but 6 rebounds from defence coupled with 8 inside 50’s , plus 4 clearances and 4 one percenters is a very handy game. 7
Westhoff
Another vintage role-playing performance from the veteran. Filling the gaps and doing the things this team relies on him to do. Seven hit outs, seven one percenters and seven inside 50s is a job well done. 6
Jonas
Spot the trend here in the player ratings and this man has led from defence all season. Another rock-solid, efficient performance in typical T. Jonas fashion. 7
Houston
A little quieter than we have become accustomed to in recent times but solid enough game. Always going to be challenged in a rare trip overseas but a great experience for him. 5
S. Gray
Showed his true value with a game we have come to expect from this man. Maintained his influence on the scoreboard and that’s all that can be asked. 6
Hombsch
Did what he had to do and when he had to do it but didn’t appear to extend himself but looks as comfortable and as at home as he has for some time. 5
Rockliff
Yes, Tommy, yes. The real Tom Rockliff has arrived as we knew he would and the Power is better for it. A true leaders game and the type of performance ths team recruited him for. His body looks sound and the results are obvious. 7
Clurey
Has returned in excellent fashion and looks comfortable in the new mix in defence. Good numbers across the board with 17 disposals, eight one percenters and four inside 50s. 6
Second chances rarely pay off for AFL coaches
History suggests strongly that if you miss out on a premiership at your first try as a coach, you should not get another chance — unless you’re Mick Malthouse or Malcolm Blight, writes Chris McDermott.
When two tribes go to war
It was the game that stopped a state — the first Showdown between the Crows and Power on April 20, 1997. Chris McDermott shares his memories for Part 1 of The Greatest Showdowns series.