Bone’s Power, Crows player ratings for Round 13
ADVERTISER AFL expert Chris McDermott has run his eyes over Port Adelaide and Adelaide’s polar opposite Round 13 efforts and come up with his key points and player ratings.
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ADVERTISER AFL expert Chris McDermott has run his eyes over Port Adelaide and Adelaide’s polar opposite Round 13 efforts and come up with his key points and player ratings.
Crows fast five against Hawks
1. The Crows had a new look for this game and not just in personnel but Don Pyke appeared to have taken total control and adopted a very defensive mindset from the very first bounce to keep the Crows in the contest. It worked to a degree despite the Hawks having 18 inside 50s in the first term but eventually it was going to crack. It did, and how.
2. Winning a clearance was the crux of the problem for the Crows in the third quarter. The Hawks won the first 14 and kicked seven goals to zero as a result. This was not just about personnel, it was more about desire and effort. There was very little. It is never a nice criticism to make of a team but moments like this for any football club — injured or not — are unacceptable.
3. Forget the scoreboard, this game was about the mindset of this team after a week of controversy with rumours of unrest in the camp. A statement had to be made. Not a win, just a statement. The game was over at three-quarter time and the Crows had laid just 35 tackles at that stage. There was no statement. The Crows were also -18 for contested possession. The two areas that say everything about your team. Where are the “Collective Minds” here ?
4. It is not time to give up on this season BUT the Crows must make some important decisions over this break. The most important is to stop playing injured and unfit players. Lose with 22 fit men and no excuses. The decision to play Taylor Walker unfit, Rory Sloane unfit, Sam Jacobs unfit and others has failed. Miserably. The game does not allow a club to play unfit players any more.
5. It is easy to criticise a team after a performance like that but injured or not, they have reached a critical point of this era. Not just of this year but of this era. It can got two ways. It will unite the playing group and they will fight their way through it and emerge a better unit or they will crumble splinter and suffer the consequences. The decision is theirs but so too are the problems.
Power fast five against Bulldogs
1. It took about five seconds for the umpires to make their first poor decision of the game. It was an absolute shocker and the robust debate on the interpretation of the “Contact below the knees rule” continues. Robbie Gray won the free kick so the crowd noise was minimal but this was a bad start for the men in yellow and one of the first issues the “State of the game” committee must address. Justin Westhoff’s similar issue early in the 3rd term was almost as bad.
2. Lindsay Thomas was a shock selection to many but he rewarded Ken Hinkley’s faith in him with a very impressive performance. He wasn’t a dominant force but he was a creative, role player that made the Power’s front six function the best is has for many weeks and the scoreboard ticked over. It didn’t guarantee his selection for the rest of the year but it gave the Power’s selectors plenty to think about.
3. Can we find out what Ken Hinkley said to his team at half-time? It has happened before this season and it happened again. The Power’s horrid second term after their brilliant opening had to have ramifications. The Power’s response said it all and it was led by their best players. Rockliff, Gray, Wingard, Boak and Westhoff all took responsibility and had massive third terms. Another great sign for this team and this club.
4. The win was good for the Power but the form of their new faces Tom Rockliff and Steven Motlop was even better given the statement the Power made at the selection table dropping Jack Watts. Rockliff was arguably in the best three players on the ground with 25 possessions and three goals, Motlop wasn’t far behind and his work rate was outstanding gathering 23 possessions and laying six tackles. Both have put any issues on their place in this team to bed forever. Over to you Jack Watts to make it a treble.
5. Now for Melbourne and the game is once again here at Adelaide Oval. The Power are on the move. Their list is relatively healthy, Tom Jonas aside. A contender is building and they haven’t played anywhere near their best football yet. Competition beware.
Crows player ratings vs Hawthorn
Greenwood
Hardly sighted in the first half and not any better in the second. His worst game for the year and a night when he simply could not get involved in any way. 4
Jenkins
Appeared to hurt himself after a heavy landing in a marking contest but got to his feet and soldiered on . An impossible game for him to influence given how little of the ball the Crows got inside 50. 5
M. Crouch
Not given too much freedom or space to do his thing and when he did get hold of it there was nothing for him to kick to. Tried as hard as usual without his usual effect. 6
Gibbs
Plenty of ball early with 10 disposals in the first term while paying close attention to Hawks star Tom Mitchell but unfortunately he had 11 as the Hawks threatened to dominate this one. Got it often but his use wasn’t great. 7
Gallucci
A reasonable outing in a horrid game where he won some decent ball and used it as well as any. 5
Kelly
One of just a handful to start this game well and look confident and comfortable on the big stage. Clearly in the Crows’ best three if not their best . 7
Poholke
Quiet start with just the one disposal in the opening half. Second half was better but it wasn’t a game for him to remember. 4
Seedsman
Not much open space for this man to use and just could not get involved in this contest in an way. 4
Talia
Had his hands full with the Hawks big men in attack but stuck to his task well but finally got overwhelmed by the sheer volume of ball in the Hawks attacking 50m. 6
Walker
Never looked 100 per cent fit and no surprise given the quick turnaround from last week’s game over in the West. Only one or two shots on goal for the entire game and a long rest until he is totally fit is a must. 4
Mackay
Started well but dropped out of it in the second term . Played almost the entire game backwards of centre and could do little to get the team up and running. 4
Hartigan
Rotated on the talls in the Crows defence in tandem with Daniel Talia and held up well no giving any of them a sniff in the first two quarters but like all the Crows defenders it was a matter of time. 5
Betts
Off target again to start this one after kicking 2.6 last week but a moment of brilliance just before half-time broke his drought and got the Crows back within a kick. Had a moment or two but appeared to injure himself late and headed for the bench. 5
Gibson
Injured in the second term and went to the change rooms for treatment and didn’t return until after the long break. Battled hard as usual but to no avail. 5
Atkins
Had 10 disposals in the first half but no influence on this “ugly” game as the ball moved slowly and fast footy was non-existent. Unsighted after half time in a disappointing game from someone who could have done much better. 4
Otten
Just 4 possessions and no impact on this game in the first half. Did battle hard in the second and won some ball but it was purely mathematical and not overly productive. 5
Jacobs
Kicked an absolute beauty to get the Crows on the board after a very slow start and then made it two after a free kick but his ruck work and ability to compete as we expect at the Centre bounce was missing. He’s not fit so judge him accordingly. 7
Cheney
Hardly sighted and just not his day on his return to AFL level for the first time in many months. 4
Douglas
Couldn’t get any value from his touches in this game going at just 33 per cent effective disposal early in pretty reasonable conditions. He could do nothing to fix it. 4
Milera
Another to struggle in this contest, winning some ball in the back half but having trouble getting any value from them 5
Wilson
The first-gamer picked a tough game to make his debut and while he didn’t look out of his depth he did struggle to get involved and didn’t get his first kick until the 3rd term. 4
Doedee
Another to have difficulty impacting this game like he has been in recent weeks and surprisingly there was none of his regular fight or spirit in this contest. 4
Power player ratings
Boak
Just the nine disposals in the first half In a return to his forward role but this mans impact on this team cannot be judged by the stats sheet alone. His workrate was outstanding and his impact on the scoreboard cannot be denied. 6
Powell-Pepper
Much to like about his midfield role, with his clean hands and strong body work and the longer the game went the bigger and better he got. Another complete game with good number of clearances, tackles and one percenters to back up his disposals. 8
Ryder
Similar pattern to his previous weeks where his tap work was excellent but his field play was average but he too lifted when asked and massive mark and goal early in the last would have put a smile on everyone’s face. Much better and more like the Patty we know and love. 6
Motlop
Had some reasonable moments in the first half but his goal minutes before half time from inside the goal square might have been his best as the Power struggled to capitalise on a sensational first quarter. Another to lift after the long break and finish strongly in an impressive outing for him. 6
Ebert
Couldnt cash in on his midfield role, just had one of those days where he couldn’t get his hands on the ball with any regularity to half time but he too lifted after half-time and finished as strong as any with some strong marks and clean ball use. 6
R. Gray
Plenty of ball early then a piece of genius to goal in the second term steadied the ship as the Bulldogs made a slight challenge. His brilliance inspired his team and a bit of magic gave Westhoff a goal and restored the Power’s dominance. Moments of his brilliant best and the goals are starting to come in big numbers. 8
Rockliff
Great start before a quiet patch in the second term , but showed his true value with a brute force goal in the thirrd as the Bulldogs became the walking wounded. Had 11 disposals in that third term and showed how valuable he is going to be for this team heading into September. Night ended with three goals and 25 touches and a new star has arrived at the Port. 7
Marshall
Won an early fee but hit the post with the shot then got another crack at it from a similar spot 30 seconds later but missed again. Dropped out of it until the last quarter when he started to find the ball again but not a big night for the youngster. 4
Wines
Joined the party with an easy snap from the goal square after a chain of handballs and had 10 possessions in the opening term without raising a sweat. Continued to crash and bash all night but coupled it with some quality ball wins and use. Consistency has been found and a new level with 35 disposals at 80 per cent effective disposal has been found. 8
Clurey
Started well with some strong defence and a couple of powerful spoils and apart from the second quarter he was rarely troubled for the rest of the night. Strong game in the absence of Tom Jonas. 6
Wingard
Plenty of ball early as his good form from last weekend continued and while there was no impact on the scoreboard he is relishing some freedom through the midfield. 30 disposals with 8 tackles, eight inside 50s and three goal assists makes for a very good night. 8
Polec
Sensational goal from almost 50m out stamped his mark on the game, then repeated the effort in the third term from almost exactly the same spot, when the Power needed him badly. Not the qualtity of ball like recent times but some real quality with some of them. 5
Dixon
Got the first goal of the night and looked set for a big one as the Power seized the early advantage. Got a second goal for the first time in 2018 as the Power had the look of a Top 4 certainty then blew a chance for three in a quarter as the siren sounded. Got his third as the half-time siren sounded and while opportunities were scarce in the second half his three goals were a great sign for the future. 6
Bonner
Quiet start with minimal ball and out marked by Wallis who then goaled to make his night even worse. Efficiency was good and night wasn’t bad but must be better. 5
Pittard
Almost unsighted in the opening half and hard to recall any of his touches. Only seven kicks for the night and little or no run and while the team won he still has some work to do. 4
Howard
Took a very nice mark early and looked to be in good nic but dropped right out of it and became almost a bystander for much of the opening half. 13 one per centers again a good result as his game continues to grow. 5
Byrne-Jones
Like many of the Power defenders there was not enough urgency and desperation when it was needed and it was a very unobtrusive game after a great previous month of football. 4
Hombsch
Couple of nice early moments like many of his team mates but as the Power’s momentum waned so did his input. Very clean in the minimal action he saw but the action he saw was very minimal. 5
Westhoff
Got his hands on the ball often enough but value from any of his touches was minimal until goal in the third term after some brilliance from Robbie Gray again gave the Power a five-goal lead. Got another soon after as the Power’s lead blew out to seven goals and the Dogs looked done after their second quarter recovery. 6
Houston
Started well from half back with plenty of ball and no-one to stand as the Bulldogs threw numbers behind the ball to stop the bleeding. Solid all night and strong intercept mark and goal from long range was the perfect finish to a very solid performance. 6
S. Gray
Some nice moments early and looked in good form but he suffered as the team struggled. Came to life late and took a contender for the mark of the night with a huge grab and goal from close range. 5
Thomas
Joined the party with an embarrassingly easy goal from close range and had some very nice moments in the third term to suggest he has a role to play in this team. 5
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