Bone’s Crows, Power Round 21 player ratings
PORT Adelaide stopped attacking and paid the price, while Adelaide’s season-ending loss highlighted the changes that are required during the off-season. See Bone’s five things from each game and his player ratings.
- Power Rankings: Why Port will embrace underdog status
- Port’s finals dream hinges on power of positivity
- Dixon’s done, Ryder on watch list
- Tight-game complex tearing Power apart
- Power’s horror day as finals hopes fade
PORT Adelaide stopped attacking and paid the price, while Adelaide’s season-ending loss highlighted the changes that are required during the off-season. See Bone’s five things from each game and his player ratings.
Port fast five
1. The Power needed to start well and extinguish any spark the West Coast may have had and boy did they ever. Ryder’s big mark early was the first sign. Robbie Gray’s goal the second. Aidyn Johnson’s work in attack, Tom Jonas in defence, Ollie Wines getting an early touch. But a game is never over at quarter-time. They stopped attacking. Stopped playing brave football and it proved very costly once again.
2. Aidyn Johnson as a defensive forward. Who would have thought? Boy did it work. To kick three on Jeremy McGovern while holding the champion defender ineffective was a brilliant performance by the young man and a brilliant move by Ken Hinkley but to McGovern’s credit, he recovered and took ownership of his moment. It was sensational.
3. With two minutes and 53 seconds left in the third term and with Ryder already off injured, Charlie Dixon and Dan Houston were assisted from the ground with their night over as well. Was this the moment the Power’s season came to an abrupt and disappointing end?
4. Robbie Gray had two chances from set shots in the last term to win this game for the Power. There is no-one better in the Power line-up to have the ball in their hands, kicking to win you a game. He missed to the left once, he missed to the left twice and it was one miss too many. Ouch!
5. Memo: Port Adelaide selection panel. Can you play Peter Frampton now! Too late she cried.
Crows fast five
1. The Crows’ once potent forward line is in need of an urgent overhaul over the summer. Most of the names may remain but their roles must change. Taylor Walker must go back to the square as Jack Riewoldt has done at Richmond. Josh Jenkins must ruck more often. Eddie Betts needs some time off and to refresh his mind and his body for one final fling and Tom Lynch just needs some game time that has been interrupted too often in 2018. Mitch McGovern needs to make a decision on his future and some more pace is a must.
2. Change to the Crows coaching structure must also be an off-season priority and with a couple reportedly moving on some fresh intel would be handy. Peter Sumich’s name continues to be mentioned but the clock may have ticked past his time. Someone fresh out of the game from a winning culture at Hawthorn or Geelong would be handy.
3. Mitch McGovern must make an immediate announcement on his future at West Lakes. Is he committed to staying or does he want to go? There is no longer a need for silence or speculation. He is a must keep for the Crows and an important cog in their best 22 but if his heart is not in it a deal must be struck as soon as possible.
4. Taylor Walker is in a similar boat but this is not a decision for him but for the club. Endorse him as captain now. Forgive him for a difficult and poor season by his standards but if he is the right man for the job, recommit to him and make it clear to all who is captain of this team. Clarity is a must at West Lakes from this moment on.
5. It is season over for the Adelaide Football Club and a season that the club must learn from, not forget. This group of players must accept their part in this disaster and commit to making immediate amends. Many others inside the club have made mistakes but the buck always stops with the players.
Port player ratings
Boak
Solid first half but injured his shoulder early in the third term in a clash with Robbie Gray that appeared to take the edge off him. Efficiency well below his normal level and a return to a key role in the midfield is a must to keep their finals dreams alive. 5
Ryder
Great mark early in an encouraging sign for his team and looked good until injured in the third term ending his game and putting the Power’s finals campaign in trouble. If he can’t recover they can’t go far. 4
Motlop
Plenty of ball early and while not at his cleanest it was a much better start than in recent weeks. Unfortunately his form didn’t continue after the main break and the gulf between his best and his worst is far too great. 5
Ebert
Continued his good form from last week with a strong, competitive performance in the midfield but for a player so good by foot he is going by hand far too often. His lack of a regular and consistent role is the root of his inconsistency this season. 6
R Gray
Repeated his effort from last week’s Showdown with a clever goal from the pocket to get the Power on the board, then missed one before kicking his second as the Power seized control. Had the game-winning kick from just inside 50m but pulled it left to keep the Eagles in it then got another chance with three minutes to play but missed again. Costly. 6
Rockliff
Appeared to pop his shoulder in a tackle late in the first term but it proved to be a “stinger” and he returned after the first break. Was competitive and a presence at stoppages but found it difficult to get any regular clean air and quality disposal. 5
Wines
Bounced back well from the disappointment of last week to gather plenty of the ball and be one of the better performers in the midfield but he lacked assistance and his usual impact suffered. 6
Clurey
Had the job on Jack Darling and adopted a very defensive role on the key forward but did it to near perfection reducing Darling to just four kicks, one point and almost no influence on the game. The Power’s best by far. 8
Wingard
Plenty to like about his first term with a noticeable strong attack on the ball and a nice goal but disappeared after that first term and not sighted at all for the next two. Outstanding contested mark late could have been match winning and game saving but … we know the story. 5
Polec
Quiet start but found his best in the second term with an impressive 12 possessions. Unfortunately the Eagles shut him down after the break and restricted him to just 7 possessions in the second half and almost no influence. 6
Dixon
Another to shake off the disappointment of last week and get on the board early with a strong pack mark and goal but just after Ryder was hurt Charlie went down with a broken leg. He got to his feet but with a quarter and three minutes to go the season was unravelling for the Power and his year was over. 4
Watts
Started well and his football smarts gave Dixon his first goal and the Power their fifth. So creative and clean with his possessions but like many his output declined in the second half and he could do little to change the result. 5
Farrell
The kid knows where the goals are and kicked his first for the day after a great pass from Motlop. Not a lot of ball but he looks to have some genuine talents that will be useful in the years to come. 4
Pittard
Began well and plenty of ball to his name but made a bad mistake in the last term that fortunately went unpunished. Still drops in and out of the game too much and his creativity and risk taking appears to be lost at the moment. 6
Johnson
Started with a defensive forward role on McGovern and did it well early with a poachers goal and great tackle. Dropped out of it in the second but bounced back quickly after the long break with his second and third goals in quick succession to steady the ship. Liked it! 6
Howard
Back to his strong-spoiling best after two weeks off with a broken hand and much to like about his all-round game with 16 possessions and 13 one percenters. Didn’t have a match-up all night and had some freedom in defence that he put to good use. 6
Byrne-Jones
Another impressive performance in tough conditions for the ever improving defender. Learning how to win possession in good number while not compromising his defensive role. 6
Westhoff
Pretty unobtrusive first half but thrown into the ruck in the third with Ryder gone and Dixon soon to follow but could not stem the tide against the much bigger Lycett and Vardy. Tried hard but he was always fighting a losing battle. 5
Lienert
Bit quieter this game after a very impressive start to his AFL career but continues to use the ball with great efficiency and make every possession count. 5
Jonas
At his intercepting best early, picking off the Eagles forward entries at will and had the ball on a string for the first three quarters. 30 possessions and over 500 metres gained is a great night’s work in anyone’s language. 8
Houston
The youngster was on song from the start in this one but still had a defensive role on Jamie Cripps that proved challenging at times. Suffered a head knock and stretchered from the ground as Dixon was taken off ending his night. 5
S Gray
Quiet return after a few weeks in the SANFL and couldn’t influence the scoreboard at all when needed most. 4
Crows player ratings
Greenwood
At his best in congestion and at stoppage in the opening half but little ball in general play and appeared to tire the longer the game went and his influence decreased. Good again but looks to be tiring after a long year. 5
Jenkins
Got his night off to a flying start with a “no hands” goal in the first 10 seconds of action then gave one away to Tom Lynch moments after to pose a serious treat early on. Dropped out of it for long periods before cranking up again late to make it three majors for the night. 5
M. Crouch
Unusually quiet opening before working himself slowly into the game and while again he gathered plenty of ball and ended up with good numbers he was well off the quality we have seen. 6
Gibbs
Won his share of ball in the first half but most of it was unusually scrappy and of limited impact until back to back goals in the third term gave the Crows some hope of an upset victory. 6
Gallucci
Quiet start again for the young forward/midfielder and again struggled to make enough impact in this big game to secure a berth next week. 4
Sloane
Gave the Crows a great advantage at stoppage with six clearances in the first half alone and battled hard all night to be a constant source of influence for his team. Not at his hard-running best but good enough. 7
Walker
Unsighted early and went without a possession in the first term as he was completely blanketed by Giants defender Phil Davis and Lachie Keefe. Struggled all night and ‘sling tackle’ on Josh Kelly that ended his night is likely to cost Tex some game time as well. 4
Mackay
Game number 200 got off to a quiet start and best moment for the veteran came just before three-quarter time with his first goal keeping the Crows within reach. Pace looked good and a couple of nice possessions but again, not enough. 5
Brown
Had the duties on Ryan Griffen and applied his defensive lock as per usual. Griffen had a nice moment or two but Brown clearly got the better of this duel. 6
Betts
Very quiet first quarter but got on the board early in the second sharking a horror spoil from the Giants defence for a walk-in goal. Not a night Eddie will want to remember with just the 6 kicks and a single goal. 4
Atkins
Another to have a very, very quiet night. Just 10 disposals at a poor 50 per cent efficiency and there was none of the run or energy we have seen from this man for most of this season. 4
Jacobs
Battled hard in ruck all night and dominated hit outs with 55 of them on his own.as the Crows broke even at stoppage. Bit better in general play and had some important ball wins but dies look tired and must get some help one day. 6
Cheney
Marked well in defence in the opening term with three strong marks to repel the Giants attack but gave away crucial free just before three-quarter time that gifted the Giants their 10th goal and a 13-point lead. Looked as good as he has in a Crows jumper. 6
Douglas
Another of the key players to really struggle in the cold conditions in Canberra. Just the 9 kicks and 16 disposals in a game he needs to be much better in. 5
L ynch
Got his night off to a flyer with plenty of ball and a nice goal from a very tight angle. Then made it two with a beauty from long range. Looked sharp and in good form all game and was the Crows best forward with two goals and two goal assists. 7
Ellis-Yolmen
Very quiet game in his return and while he spend plenty of minutes in the midfield he could not get his hands on the ball with any regularity. Must make the most of the opportunities he is given. 4
Laird
Had a defensive forward on him to quieten his influence but persevered as per usual to have another great influence on this game on what is surely an All Australian season from this man. 7
Milera
Strong form continued with an excellent first quarter and some great use of the ball from half back. One of the better four-quarter performers for the Crows and with Smith and Laird back there its potentially a very good back six. 7
Smith
Looked much better second up and found plenty of ball early and showed a little bit of his important run and carry. Much to like about the look of this man and the Crows will be a better side for his return. 7
Keath
Had the big job on Jeremy Cameron and kept him very quiet for much of the first half until beaten for speed by Cameron for his first just before the siren. Cameron made it two with a freak soccer to all but seal the win but Keath won this very Important battle on the night. 7
Doedee
Mixed bag to start, with a nice defensive mark followed by a couple of untidy efforts and then another strong contested mark. Mixed night for the young defender in tough conditions but was serviceable. 5
Murphy
Milked a high free kick to score the Crows’ third goal of the first quarter then almost made it two in 30 seconds with a long bomb just touched on the line. Made up for his miss with a mark and goal from 50m just before half time but struggled after to get involved to any degree. 5
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