Bone’s Crows, Power player ratings: One to forget
ADVERTISER AFL expert Chris ‘Bone’ McDermott has run his eyes over Adelaide and Port’s weekend matches and didn’t like what he saw, for completely different reasons. See his fast five and player ratings for Round 22 here.
CHRIS ‘Bone’ McDermott has run his eyes over Adelaide and Port’s Round 22 matches and didn’t like what he saw, for completely different reasons. See his fast five and player ratings here.
Crows fast five
1. Thank goodness that game is over.
2. Get rid of the exclusion zone. The rules that govern this game must be overhauled at seasons end and while the “exclusion zone” wont be the first rule addressed it must be either rewritten or eliminated. The free kick against Rory Laird in the first quarter was a joke. Im not sure the men in white actually know what this rule is.
3. The umpires were beyond poor in this game and maybe they should be excused given the players weren’t overly interested either but something must be done as soon as this season is over or more fans will walk from the game. In this match it was the errors that was the problem and the lack of feel for the game. This is near crisis point for the AFL.
4. Mitch McGovern’s future is of great interest. With Taylor Walker missing it was a great opportunity for him to enjoy being a focal point in attack. He didn’t. His game did little to silence the doubters on where his football career may be next season. He is such a talent but for some reason he is not using it as he should.
5. Hugh Greenwood as a pressure forward. Mitch McGovern as a drop off defender like his brother and like Majak Daw. Jordan Gallucci has got something to offer the Crows and Andy Otten still has something to offer.
Port fast five
1. What has happened to the Port Adelaide Football Club? Not so long ago a premiership contender, now almost resigned to being a September spectator. Everything that had made them great has gone. There is no run and gun, no speed of ball movement, no brutal attack on the ball and body, no sense of team spirit, no traditional, non-negotiable Port Adelaide effort. A dark cloud has come over this football club and no-one must be spared.
2. And I say again. Play without a ruckman and you get what you deserve, especially when it is against the best ruckman in the competition in Brody Grundy. Patty Ryder couldn’t ruck, he played as a key forward and did as good as he physically could but the Power’s refusal to play a ruckmen has cost them a preliminary final appearance, perhaps even a premiership. Questions must be asked.
3. The Power’s decision to go into this game with Dougal Howard, Jack Hombsch and Tom Jonas in defence was not horses for courses. Collingwood played one tall, Mason Cox, and five smaller, mobile players. In wet conditions the Power were always top heavy. Their defence appeared to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders and looked too slow, too clumsy and were beaten to a man.
4. Where was Sam Powell-Pepper? Anyone?
5. Five losses and just one win in their last six games and that victory was over an undermanned and out of form Western Bulldogs in Ballarat. What has gone wrong with this team since their win in round 16 over St Kilda? On that day they had 67 inside 50s and won the contested possession count by plus 20. Against Collingwood they had a dismal 39 inside 50s and lost the contested possession count by minus 30. Dare I say any more.
Crows player ratings
Jenkins 5
Got the Crows first of the afternoon courtesy of a very soft free kick in the goal square from Tarrant and looked the most dangerous forward on the ground in the first half. Dropped right out of the game after half time but marked and goaled late for his third to put the result beyond doubt.
Knight 4
Played enough game time (81 per cent) to get a much better return than the 13 disposals he won. Needs a better end to this season than this game.
Greenwood 5
Marked well and goaled late in the first term and again looked comfortable with his new role in attack. Made it two with a nice stoppage goal as the Crows took complete control. Solid game.
M. Crouch 8
Had the ball on a string from the first bounce with 24 disposals, 20 of them by hand in the first half. Maintained the form through the entire game in one of his best performances of the season.
Gibbs 6
All class again and did what he needed to do in a game that meant little. Gathered 27 possessions but hardly broke a sweat.
Gallucci 5
Worked hard and maintained pressure to grab an opportunist goal midway through the second term for the Crows 6th major in a row, then had a chance for another soon after but pulled it left. Had a couple of really good quality moments and showed a commitment to ball and body we have been waiting to see.
Kelly 5
Numbers were good again after his late call up to replace the injured Brodie Smith but just needs to add something more to his game to guarantee a long successful career.
Sloane 7
Plenty of ball from the midfielder as he adopted the captains duties in Walkers absence Stoppage and contested work once again better than any and led this team well in what many may consider to be a glimpse of the future.
Seedsman 6
Nearly took the mark of the century late in the second term with a massive leap onto the shoulders of Majak Daw but he dropped a sitter when he was up there but his night was pretty good despite that missed opportunity.
Mackay 5
Copped a heavy shirt front in the second term then a knee in the back soon after making life difficult for the veteran but showed some impressive resilience to recover quickly and finish this game in pretty good fashion.
Brown 5
Just the 12 disposals for the defender but another solid game where he kept tight control over a range of forwards he rotated through.
Betts 4
Great work rate and pressure from the small forward and while he didn’t kick a goal in the first half and only had one kick he created several. Saved his absolute best for last when he took a big mark close to goal to kick his first and end the game on the perfect note.
Atkins 6
Good amount of ball and solid performance from the hard running wingman. Tried to take the opposition on several times without success but there was much to like about his intent in this game.
Jacobs 5
Started slowly but worked his way into the game. In a great ruck duel with Goldstein before the Kangas big man got on top in the second half. Call this battle a draw.
Cheney 5
Had the role on Waite for much of the game and after doing a pretty solid job, let him off the leash late to allow him to kick two goals and give the Roos a chance at victory.
Douglas 5
Unsighted in the first two quarters but responded well in the second half to end up with 20 possessions and four valuable inside 50s. Not a great afternoon but did what was needed.
Lynch 6
At his hard-working best in the first half and set a great example working hard despite the game counting for nothing. Seven inside 50s, two goal assists and eight marks was indication of “The Connector” at his best.
Laird 7
Plenty of footy again for the rebounding defender, dining out on some rare freedom in the second half of this season to gather 41 possessions at an excellent 73 per cent effective disposal.
Otten 7
Handed the duties on Kangaroos key forward Ben Brown in the absence of Talia and Keath and did it outstandingly well all game to hold the Coleman medal contender to just four kicks and no goals while gathering 19 disposals himself.
Milera 7
Off to a flying start putting his creativity and evasive skills to great use. Has given the Crows something very special at times from defence and showing signs of maturity with seven one per-centers and 8 rebounds from D50 to go with his 23 possessions.
Doedee 6
Had the job on Waite and conceded and early mark and goal in the first minute of play. Relatively quiet by his standards and involved in a big hard-but-fair collision late in the third term that ended his night and his season.
McGovern 5
Considering the Crows had so much ball in their front half early, the key forward just didn’t present enough. Did kick two goals then went into defence late and marked strongly on 4 occasions as the Kangaroos pressed. A role in defence full-time must be explored IF he stays.
Port player ratings
Boak 7
Kicked his second goal of the game midway through the second term to narrow the margin to eight points as Collingwood threatened to run away with the game. At his hard-working, ball-winning, team-oriented best for much of this game but could do no more to inspire his troops.
Ryder 6
Pushed forward early as expected and kicked an early goal after drawing a free kick then got another midway through the second as the Power recovered after a mild slump. Made it three early in the third after a strong mark at the top of the square but struggled to make any impact in ruck against Grundy.
Ebert 6
As he has for much of the last half of this season appeared stuck in third gear and could never really get going. Tried hard and solid in close but none of the explosive outside run we have become use to seeing.
R Gray 6
Started in the goal square as a full forward in the absence of Dixon and was bust without hitting the scoreboard until early in the third to narrow the margin to just 11 points. Missed one from 40m out to put the Power in front late in the third term. Tried hard but given no freedom or space to do his thing.
Motlop 8
Started in sensational style in the centre square and around the ground gathering 17 possessions in the first half but gave away a free, albeit a disgraceful decision that must be looked at in the third to gift Collingwood a big goal against the run of play. It was to be a pivotal moment in the game and put a slight blemish on an otherwise outstanding game.
Rockliff 4
Very quiet first half with just six disposals but started to make an impact in the third before being beaten twice in crucial one-on-one contests early in the last. Lacked the spark and quality ball use that has been a feature of his second half of the season and, like several of his team mates, just looked a little flat.
Wines 6
Busy enough early but struggled again in front of goal in conditions made to suit the strong bodied midfielder. Another of the Powers midfield that was good in close but poor out in open space and could do nothing to genuinely impact this game.
Wingard 5
Relatively quiet start due to a very close and effective tag from Lev Greenwood and dropped completely out of the game from midway through the second term. Numbers look much better than his game was and largely ineffective for most of the contest.
Watts 5
The third of the Power tall forwards to kick a goal in just the first five minutes of play as the Pies looked vulnerable for height in defence. Battled hard all day and had some impact as a key forward but as has been his problem all year he dropped in and out of the game far too often.
Polec 6
Fumble on the goal line at the start of the second quarter proved costly and allowed the Pies another goal but made amends soon after with brilliant running goal to get the; power back on track. The only player to try and spark this team with his run and carry but had limited effect. Sounds like he’s going but this team cannot afford that loss.
Farrell 4
Found the step up in game on the big stage difficult to adapt to and while his touches were OK he just didn’t get involved anywhere near enough
Pittard 4
Conditions didn’t suit or help the rebounding defender and he was forced to play a much more defensive game than usual. Appeared hesitant and uncertain what to do every time he touched the ball and although his efficiency was good his impact was not.
Johnson 4
Just the four disposals and very little influence in the first three quarters and all but completely unsighted in the last term when the team needed a spark desperately.
Howard 6
Eleven one percenters and 10 marks were the feature of his game but Cox always looked dangerous and ultimately very effective as Collingwood’s go-to forward. Solid game and did well given the injury he was forced to play with.
Byrne-Jones 4
Had the job on Sidebottom and kept him quiet in the first before he the Collingwood midfielder broke free in the second term to play a part in 3 quick goals and give Collingwood a 20 point lead. Clumsy tackle early in the last quarter luckily went unpunished and could do little offensively to make a difference.
Westhoff 6
Brilliant tackle on Stephenson late in the first term saved a certain goal but Collingwood still went to the break 1 point in front. Fought a losing battle in ruck but did OK around the ground and was a tackling machine with a game-high 10 of them.
Lienert 5
Another very solid performance from the rookie defender highlighted by his penetrating leg from defence but did appear to tire late in the game as his influence lessened.
Jonas 5
Had the big job on Collingwood star Jordan De Goey and knew he was in for a tough day after 45 seconds when De Goey kicked his first. Never appeared comfortable on any opponent and conceded a vital goal in the last that put the Pies on course for victory.
Houston 5
Great recovery from his heavy knock last weekend to provide some excellent rebound and solid defence in this big game. Ended the day with 19 possessions at just under 79 per cent efficiency in a game he played well.
S Gray 5
Busy at ground level and had some moments on the dangerous Sidebottom to quieten him down but looked sluggish for most of the day and none of the quality we are used to him producing.
Hombsch 4
Just not enough from this man who has so much more to give this team and he never looked comfortable or in control of his game.
Bonner 4
Found wanting early with some indecision and skill errors proving costly and like several of the younger defenders he was slightly exposed on the big stage.
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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.
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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.