Chris McDermott’s Crows, Power player ratings for Round 10
Two costly losses for South Australia’s two AFL teams and a stack of below-average performances. See Chris McDermott’s player ratings for the Crows and Power here.
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Two costly losses for South Australia’s two AFL teams and a stack of below-average performances. See Chris McDermott’s player ratings here.
Adelaide v West Coast
Greenwood …………7
Back at his contested ball winning best after an off game last weekend but gave away a sloppy free kick within range to give the Eagles a much needed goal and reduce the Crows lead to just over a goal. Very good all round game highlighted by 13 bruising tackles but spoiled just a little by his 65% disposal efficiency.
B. Crouch…………..7
Hunted the ball well at ground level and gathered an exceptional 22 possessions to the main break using the ball a little differently this game going by foot more often than usual. Efficiency like many of his team mates was not at the level required at this level and it must get better.
Knight……..4
Came in as a late replacement for David Mackay and won some decent ball and hit the scoreboard but once again failed to play out the full four quarters. His inconsistency is now a genuine issue for the team and can be excused for much longer.
Gallucci…………4
Rewarded the faith shown in him with a much more prolific first half with 11 disposals to is name but again dropped right out of it after half time and managed just another 3 disposals for the rest of the game. Another to have been unable to put his place in the 22 beyond doubt.
Kelly………….7
Rock solid as per usual with a key role on in defence on the dangerous Liam Ryan. Did some nice work offensively with 19 possessions at an impressive 84% effective disposal while limiting Ryan to just three effective disposals.
Sloane………7
Followed up Ellis-Yolmen’s first goal with a long bomb soon after in an explosive start by the veteran co-captain. Efficiency, like several others was a little down at 65% effective disposal but his 10 inside 50s and 8 tackles more than made up for it.
Seedsman………………..4
Quiet in his shock return but kicked a familiar long range goal to put a smile on his face and that of the Crows faithful. Looked a fraction off the pace after such an extended period on the sidelines and he ran out of gas not long after half time.
Talia…………..5
Went toe to toe with Josh Kennedy at the Eagles goal front and held him to just 2 kicks and no goals in the opening half until Kennedy marked strongly and kicked truly in the third to get his first goal of the game. That moment kicked the spearhead into action and he ended up with 3 goals and an assist and a big hand in the Eagles victory.
Walker……….4
Just the 2 kicks and no impact on the scoreboard in a frustrating first half by the Crows co-captain that included a free kick to the Eagles that erased a much-needed goal to the Crows. This man is becoming too obsessed with the physical part of the game and not playing the role he needs to play and he needs some direction before it becomes an even bigger problem.
Hartigan……….5.
Hardly sighted at all in the first half and unusually quiet for the big defender but kept Eagles forward Jack Darling very quiet until he took it upon himself to change the course of this game. He did and 5 marks and three goals later the Eagles were victors and Hartigan walked from the field a beaten man.
Brown…………..5
Back to his defensive, low stats winning best in another strong defensive role but no offence or rebound to speak of. This team needs more from this man at this stage of their development.
Betts…………….5
Finally got on the scoreboard with a soccer off the ground early in the third quarter to increase the Crows lead to over 5 goals and put victory well in sight then got another later in the quarter to end a 3 goal run by the Eagles. Always dangerous but still not close to his best.
Atkins………..5
Slow to start but got his game moving with an impressive second term and nice goal Good but not great in another game where he needed to be great.
Milera………..6
Great goal from close range in the second after being denied one minutes earlier got the Crows back in touch after a sluggish 30 minutes then got another soon after thanks to a gift from Eddie Betts. Ended his night with 3 in a new role in attack but he was one of only a few that provided any hope of kicking a winning score.
Laird………….6
Injured his ankle early and spend some time on the bench but returned and looked to be injury free Gathered an impressive 28 possessions for the game at a very handy efficiency but far from his rebounding All Australian best.
Smith………….6
Continued his good form and rebounded well along with some good offensive movements driving the ball Inside attacking 50m 4 times but like many others fitness became an issue as the game wore on and there appears to be a common theme among this group in 2019.
Keath…………5
Allowed one over the back of a marking contest to gift the Eagles their 3rd goal and the lead after a flying start from the Crows. Not at his best at any stage in this game but he can be excused for a night off given the great form he has shown this season.
O’Brien…………5
Worked hard as per normal and while he struggled to get his hand to the ball at stoppage the Crows had a significant clearance advantage to the main break. Had a good, old fashioned duel with Vardy and the duo had almost identical stats and clearance wins by games end.
Murphy……….5
Just the one disposal in a very quiet first quarter but worked himself into the game after the main break and became a very dangerous marked man especially in the third term. Kicked one and missed another 2 in a game he could have played a match winning role in but didn’t.
Cam Ellis-Yolmen………7
Sensational early goal after a contested ball win got the Crows off to the perfect start and this man into some of the best form of his career. Battled hard all night for his 30 possessions at 64% effective disposal and 10 strong tackles and he more than performed his duties in this disappointing loss.
Himmelberg………….4
Like many of the Crows forwards had a very quiet first term with just the one touch for a snap point. Couldn’t impose himself on this game at all despite plenty of effort and he seems certain to be put back for a week or two to restore his confidence and prepare for another crack later in the year.
Jones……………….4
Had a couple of touches in a very hectic first quarter but none of them were effective. A very tough night for the youngster in a very tough night for the team.
Port Adelaide v Hawthorn
Powell-Pepper……5
Horror mistake when exiting defence cost he Power the first goal of the game but made up for it in the third with a mark and goal to keep them within touch Much to like about the physicality of his game but his disposal numbers were not up to the standard this team needs him to produce.
Ryder………..5
Very quiet start and had no influence at all in the opening 30 minutes of this game but rose to the occasion in the third as the Power staged a comeback of sorts. Got his hand to the ball enough but the Power were smashed at ground level and out of the centre square too easily.
Motlop…………4
Slow to start again in a game he needed to play well in and got his first kick of the game with a minute left on the clock before half time. Started to find some ball in the third and had a chance to narrow the margin but missed one he would normally have kicked and did very little after that to put his immediate future at this level back in doubt.
Broadbent……….7
Started well with a game high 10 possessions in the first quarter and some strong rebounds from defence as the Power tried to hang on to ¼ time. Continued to provide valuable rebound and use of the ball was much better at just over 70% effective disposal. Better!
R. Gray………..5
Never looked right in his return from injury and had no influence in the first half but marked and goaled just before three-quarter time to get the margin under 4 goals. Ended his afternoon with plenty of ball 9 28 possessions) but used them at a very poor 48% effective disposal in a game where he never reached his high standards.
Boak…………6
Plenty of ball early but no influence as the Hawks dominated proceedings and the day never got better for the former skipper. Work rate never in question but the entire team looked flat and out of sorts and Boak eventually followed suit with an efficiency rate of an unacceptable 48%.
Rockliff………5
Efficiency not great but won a bucketload of footy in the first half and at his best at stoppage but appeared to strain his hammy in the third and despite coming back on the ground he did little and returned to the bench and his day was over.
Frampton………4
Did not lay a glove on it in the first term and while he competed much better after the break he did not handle the conditions or the physicality of this contest. To his credit he continued to work hard and compete for every ball but like many of his mates he could not get much value from any of them.
Amon……………5
Failed to go hard enough at the ball and cost his team a goal early in the second term as the Power looked in danger of a massive loss. Came to life in the third to win some decent ball and start to impact the scoreboard and his use of the ball was as good as any Power players on the day.
Clurey………..4
Almost powerless to stop the rot as he watched the ball go over his head for much of the first quarter but he too had one of those days where he looked a little slow and his decision making was not at his usual high standard. No influence in this game at all.
Rozee…………5
Had Hawks skipper Ben Stratton as his minder from the first bell in a huge compliment to the youngster and got the Power’s first goal. Looked lively all day and had some good moments without having a huge effect on the game
Duursma…………6
Chipped in for an intercept mark inside 50m zone but missed a simple shot on goal as the Power continued to struggle. Made up for it soon after courtesy of a very soft free kick 40m out from goal then butchered a short pass to gift the Hawks another easy goal. Game of ups and downs for this man where his good was good but his poor was costly.
Butters……….5
No influence in this game to half time and dropped a mark he will not want to see again in replay. Ended up with a decent amount of possessions to his name but the majority of it was under pressure and by hand and of very minimal advantage.
Howard…………5
Sensational in defence early marking and spiling at will with the Power back six under huge pressure but dropped out of it as the game wore on. Ended up in attack as the Power looked and hoped for an unlikely win but to no effect.
Byrne-Jones………7
Another to win a heap of the footy in the opening half but fail to get the best value from them. Continued to win plenty of ball but he too couldn’t make enough impact on the game against a team of Hawthorns quality.
Ladhams……………..5
Took the opening bounce of the game in his first game in the AFL and got the Power’s first score of the game albeit a point at the 10-minute mark of the second quarter. Kicked out on the full with his second attempt soon after as he found his feet at this level. Marked again late and kicked magnificently for his first to put a nice mark on a very promising debut.
Westhoff……………4
Quiet start once again from the veteran and he spent time in attack, in defence and also in the midfield with little change. Not a game or conditions that suit him but he still has to be much better.
Houston………..6
Plenty of ball from the start as the Hawks dominated and the ball was in the Power’s defence for the majority of time. Had 27 possessions at 78% effective disposal by game’s end but still a fair way off the high standards we expect from this young man,
Jonas………….5
Had the early duties on Gunston and conceded the first two goals of the game to the Hawks goal sneak. Never looked at his best and Gunston was clearly the best and most damaging player on the ground with his 21 disposals and six priceless goals.
S. Gray………..5
Very quiet first half and had a day where he was near but not near enough. Second half was better and he won some more possessions but there was no impact on the scoreboard in a game they needed him at his best.
Lienert………..5
Held up well in defence in the first half and won plenty of ball but could not get any significant advantage from them. Appeared to tire soon after half time and the mistakes came, ruining what was looking to be a very good game.
Farrell……….4
Another not to touch the ball in the first quarter in a horror start and like many of his team mates he had a day he would rather forget where winning any clean ball was rare and his use of it was not at the level he likes or needs to maintain his place in this team.
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.