Chris McDermott’s Adelaide Crows, Port Adelaide Power Round 3 player ratings
ADVERTISER AFL expert Chris McDermott has run his eyes over Port Adelaide and Adelaide’s Round 3 games and rated each player. Can anyone outrank Rory Laird this week?
Chris McDermott
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ADVERTISER AFL expert Chris McDermott has run his eyes over Port Adelaide and Adelaide’s Round 3 games and rated each player.
Crows player ratings
Greenwood
Like his partner in crime Cam Ellis-Yolmen, he too was largely unsighted in the first half of this contest but showed great character to fight his way into this game and make a significant contribution. 5
Jenkins
Closely checked after his standout five-goal game last week and like many of his team mates he struggled to find his best. 4
Gibbs
Had it on a string from the first bounce gathering 12 possessions in the first quarter and one of only a few from either side that managed to play a four-quarter game. Class shone through and was clearly the Crows best and most influential player. 8
Kelly
Very quiet first half with just five possessions to the long break. Like several others rose to the occasion when needed and his disposal efficiency rate of 100 per cent was an absolute standout. 6
Sloane
Started well but dropped out of it in the second term and rarely made a whimper after the long break. Well off 100 per cent fit and snuck a game in that he should not have played, but sometimes you must. Gets a big tick! 5
Seedsman
Solid first half, excellent second winning plenty of the ball and providing some outstanding rebound from defence. Two goals were a big bonus and is looking in very good condition. 6
Talia
Had the big job on Saints forward Patty McCartin and held him well, keeping him a good distance away from goal and more importantly holding him to just one point. Another that was definitely not 100 per cent but got the job done. 6
Walker
Made the most of a horror St Kilda error in defence to kick his first goal and the Crows’ second with his only touch of the quarter. Another to find his best after the long break and made a good contribution as he works his way to peak fitness. 6
Mackay
21 disposals at an impressive 86 per cent was a great effort from the veteran wingman after his nasty head knock last weekend. Another that did well simply to front up and gets some points in the bank for this gutsy effort. 6
Hartigan
Dour and defensive as always and while his rebound and offence was very minimal he got the job done in a difficult night for all. 5
Brown
A night that suited the dour defender perfectly and no surprise to see him flourish where others appeared to labour. Found plenty of ball and used it to near perfection in his best game of the season to date. 6
How special is this?! â¤ï¸ Eddie sharing the great news of his two beautiful healthy girls with his teammates 👨â€ðŸ‘©â€ðŸ‘§â€ðŸ‘§ #weflyasone pic.twitter.com/vy5XFqwzXT
— Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) April 8, 2018
Betts
Took no time getting involved in proceedings but again passed off instead of going to goal. It took until midway through the second quarter but it finally came with a bit of razzle dazzle and a snap from the boundary line for his first major of 2018. Added another two in a welcome return to near his best. 6
Atkins
Workrate and defensive pressure was sound but he too struggled to get involved in this game until the very last quarter. Form is sound if not spectacular and will need a better game soon to maintain his confidence and belief. 5
Jacobs
Outstanding. Got a pretty lucky break going up against a relative newcomer in Saints’ 22-year-old second gamer Rowan Marshall but controlled stoppages well and had a very good influence around the ground in general play including a game high 10 score involvements. 7
Douglas
Took no time and had no trouble slotting straight back into the midfield after a week off. His class, composure and coolness amongst the chaos was invaluable once again. 7
Lynch
Back in the 22 and straight back to his best using the ball brilliantly early on setting up a goal to Rory Atkins and another to Richard Douglas. Tended to drift in and out of the game after his good start but will only be better for the run. 5
Ellis-Yolmen
Great last week but unsighted in the first half 7 days later until a late burst just before half time. Second half almost a mirror image of the first and must start to work on some consistency for his own benefit. 5
Milera
Flashes of good but was guilty of trying to overdo it on too many occasions instead of doing the simple stuff. As a result his confidence did appear to suffer and his impact on this game diminished. He is much better than what we saw and must find his base game before trying to extend himself too much. 4
Laird
Got 40 possessions-plus in the first two games of 2018 and was on target for another 40 after a 10-possession first term. Numbers slowed a little in this tough game but he did as well as any providing consistent rebound for his team. 8
Doedee
Nice work young man. In trying conditions for even the veterans of this team, the 3 game player can hold his head high after another very sound game. Much to like about the confidence and reliability he is showing. Must remember to be patient and not too anxious about how his game is developing. 6
McGovern
Strong start with a couple of good grabs and nice early goal from a set shot. Looked more like the player we know and love and that the Crows need. His game is building nicely. 6
Murphy
Tough night for the small forwards with so much inconsistency about how the ball was coming into attack. Thought the youngster was solid, worked hard and just failed to cash in on a couple of good opportunities. 5
Port player ratings
Boak
The skipper didn’t touch the ball in the first quarter in a very rare occurrence for him but worked his way into the game and kicked an important captain’s goal in the third to steady the ship. Always there when the team needed him. 5
Powell-Pepper
Slow start but found his game in the second with some hard running through the midfield and an obvious rocket from the coach. The longer this game went, the better he got and finished off as well as any in pretty challenging conditions. 5
Motlop
Looked fast and fresh and flashed in and out of the first half but kicked much needed goal just before the long break to keep the Power within a goal. Got his second just before three-quarter time with some vintage class as the Power took control. Did appear to tire in the last and looked exhausted by game’s end. 5
Ebert
Hardly sighted and little or no influence early before dragging himself into the game in the second term. Brought the crowd alive late In the third term with long bomb from outside 50m and battled on hard without ever finding his best. 6
Hartlett
Outstanding start and looked the only Power player in any form as he continued to provide strong rebound from defence. Ball use his standout feature going at an impressive 88.5 per cent ed. 7
R. Gray
Mixed bag in the first half with just the three kicks and one goal as he spent much of his time deep in attack. Was moved on ball in the third to give his team a spark and did not let them down ending up with 22 disposals. 5
Rockliff
Hardly sighted in the first half against his old team gathering just the 9 possessions with minimal influence. Strong goal from set shot put the Power back in front in third term as momentum swung back to the home side in what ended up his best game for the Power so far. 5
Marshall
Brilliant dribble goal from 30m out to kick the Power’s third in an indifferent first term for his team then gave another away to Wingard with some nice work right on the siren. Always looked dangerous but he too appeared to struggle in the difficult conditions. 5
Wines
Was going OK until he rolled his ankle and was forced from the ground before half time with his day looking over. Somehow managed to return to the field after the break and make a good contribution before like many of his teammates, he ran out of puff late in the game . 6
Clurey
No influence at all in this game despite the amount of ball inside the Power’s defence. Negatively sound but beaten on more occasions than normal and well off his best in this one. 4
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.