Chris McDermott’s Round 11 Crows, Power ratings
ADVERTISER AFL expert Chris McDermott has run his eyes over Port Adelaide and Adelaide’s Round 11 efforts and come up with his key points and player ratings. Who top scored?
ADVERTISER AFL expert Chris McDermott has run his eyes over Port Adelaide and Adelaide’s Round 11 efforts and come up with his key points and player ratings.
Crows fast five
1. Darcy Fogarty is a gun. Worth every cent of the contract he signed earlier in the week. His strong mark and sensational long range goal early in the last term is clear indication the Crows have got themselves an absolute beauty for the next 12 years.
2. It’s time to find some help for Sam Jacobs. The Crows’ number one ruckman just looks to be struggling for full fitness. He is playing well but it looks to be a struggle at times and he must be fit in September if the Crows are going to challenge again. Reilly O’Brien awaits and he must be given a chance soon. Next week at the latest.
3. No Walker. No McGovern. No Lynch. There were few marking targets for the Crows inside their forward 50 and they only took six despite having 57 inside 50s. None are coming back soon and Lynch may miss a game or two. It’s time to give someone a chance.
4. It was simply a numbers game for the Crows and their numbers just ran out. Already down on their best talent with an injury room full of quality players, they lost Tom Lynch early and then Richard Douglas in the last term. It was just a player too many.
5. I apologise for having a crack at the umpires again but are they serious? It gets more confusing each week and we get no explanation. The game needs to come clean very soon as to what they are trying to do because the fan has no idea.
Power fast five
1. Discipline was a disaster for the Power in the first half, especially with numerous 50 metre penalties resulting in goals to the Hawks. There were no excuses. The Power played slow football and appeared to frustrate themselves into error. It was a bizarre display and again showed a chink in their armour that stops them from being considered a top-four contender and legitimate premiership threat.
2. If discipline was the Power’s major problem, kicking was their next. Rarely before have they turned the ball over so often. They were intent on kicking short and maintaining possession but they could not and did not. It was a horror show. They couldn’t kick straight for goal either. The old saying holds true, ‘if you can’t kick, you can’t play’ and it cost them a valuable four points against the Hawks.
3. Clubs are unanimous in their support of the week off. So much so that they want two in a season not just the one as is the case now, with one at the end of the minor round. But the Power’s loss is reasonable indication of the difference it makes. It’s not all good. Take your foot off the pedal and it can take some time getting back up to speed. The Power may have won their two games in Shanghai but they have lost both times after it. The experiment remains a work in progress.
4. Has there been a worse game in recent history? I’d suggest not. If it wasn't the worst game it’s in the grand final. In a season where there has been more than the odd bad game, this was a stinker. Memo to the committee, the state of the game is not good and it’s not getting any better.
5. Chad Wingard is officially a major concern. He appeared to be coming good but has taken a step back. 13 disposals for no goals and the odd brain fade. For one of the smartest players in the game, when the brain is not working, we have a problem.
Crows player ratings
Greenwood
Game made for him with tackling a feature and contested ball a key factor. And while he battled hard he couldn’t win enough ball to make a difference in this game. 5
Jenkins
Had Phil Davis as his minder and found it difficult to get completely involved until big goal from 50 to start the last quarter narrowed the margin to under a goal. Fought hard but was beaten on the night. 5
M Crouch
Another blistering opening from the midfielder with 10 possessions. Worked hard all night and wo his share of ball without being as damaging as usual. 7
Gibbs
Quiet start and little good ball to speak of early but, as is his way, he worked himself into the game and became the Crows’ most damaging player ending up with 36 possessions. 7
Kelly
Had his work cut out on Ryan Griffen and it looked a mismatch after he conceded three goals early. Tightened up after the first break but Griffen looked dangerous all night and was a key factor in the Giants win. 4
Seedsman
Sensational long goal in the first term after a nice assist from Eddie Betts then went better the second time when he ran and carried for a ripper from the boundary. Only problem was there was little else from him. 5
Talia
Had his work cut out on Jonathon Patton, especially in the air where Patton was dominant. Tried hard and had a few wins but Patton and Cameron played key roles. 5
Mackay
Unsighted for much of the first half until switched onto the dangerous Langdon just before the main break. His second half was better but 10 kicks for the game is just not enough. 5
Hartigan
Had the job on Cameron and did it to perfection until Cameron broke free on numerous occasions after half time to kick three goals and lead the Giants to victory. 5
Brown
Not one of his better games. Looked uncomfortable all night and had trouble having any positive impact on this game. 4
Betts
Got his first for the afternoon late in the opening term with nice crumb and snap over the shoulder in vintage fashion. Flashed in and out all night with long periods of inactivity but still kicked two and gave another two away. 6
Gibson
Moved onto the dangerous Coniglio after half time to quell his influence and did so for a while but not for long enough. Won some ball himself but his offensive damage was minimal. 5
Atkins
Struggled to have a significant influence in this tight, hard-tackling contest where open spaces and room to run and carry was scarce. This type of game didn’t appear to suit him at all. 5
Douglas
Got the Crows first and the first goal of the game with a classy crumb in the goal square then made it 2 in the first term with another from a similar spot. Had six shots on goal but ended up off the ground and in the hands of the trainers when he was needed most. 6
Lynch
Just one touch in a quiet start for the stand-in skipper. Improved after the break but influence was small. Injured before half time and just couldn’t raise a gallop and had to be benched. 4
Jacobs
Never looked comfortable all night but still had the better of the ruck duels for most of the game. Gave his midfielders good service once again but struggled to do too much else. 6
Ellis-Yolmen
Had some rucking duties early with some concerns over the fitness of Sam Jacobs. Another of the mids to get his hands to the ball but he too was unable to make any impact on the game. 5
Laird
Plenty of ball early with 12 disposals in the first term and 36 for the game. Kept on running and creating and driving the ball forward but there was little for him to kick to on several occasions. 7
Milera
Started in attack after doing his best work in defence in recent weeks and struggled until long bomb from outside 50 narrowed the margin to two goals and gave the Crows some hope. Moved behind the ball late and at this stage of his career is a deadset defender. 5
Fogarty
Started deep in attack and got his hands to plenty early but couldn’t hold them. He clunked one early in the last term and goaled to give the Crows the lead for the first time since early in the game. 5
Doedee
Looked the spare defender for most of the night and played third man into the contest well, especially in the air, but had little impact on this game. 5
Murphy
Brilliant goal from long range just before half time kept the margin to eight points as the Giants appeared to be in control but did little else in conditions that did not suit. 4
Port Adelaide player ratings
Boak
Quiet first half from the skipper and not much better in the second half. Even he couldn’t lift when his team needed him the most. Looked flat and just couldn’t get out of a gallop. He was not alone. 5
Powell-Pepper
Had the duties on Tom Mitchell but could not quieten him with the Hawks star gathering 21 disposals to half time. Given some freedom in the second half and had a few good moments but another who was well off his best. 5
Neade
Just not enough again from the small forward, he had enough opportunities early but ended up with nothing to show for it. Laid seven tackles but if he can’t hit the scoreboard he can’t hold his position in the 22. 4
Ryder
Gave his midfielders a dream start dominating stoppages in the first term before the Hawks fought back in the second. Led the Power to a 40-27 stoppage win but must do more around the ground. 6
Motlop
Another who started this game well grabbing 17 disposals to the long break but got limited value from them. Just the four possessions in the second half as his influence disappeared completely. 5
Ebert
Quiet start and while he worked himself into the game after half time and competed hard he couldn’t influence this game in his usual way. 5
R. Gray
Got the Power’s first of the day after a near nine-minute arm wrestle with a bit of old fashioned razzle dazzle then added another two minutes later but they were his only two kicks in the first half. Made it three goals from four kicks with a brilliant snap in the third term and ended up with four to be arguably the Power’s best. 6
Rockliff
Been in great form in recent weeks but had a horror start to this game. Had just five disposals to half time before being handed the duties on Hawks midfielder Tom Mitchell and restricting him to just five touches in the third term and another five in the last. Better second half but not a good one for him. 4
Wines
Once again for there was no free ball or ball in open spaces for Wines as he too struggled after the week off. Had a couple of good moments late to almost steal the game for the Power but that was all she wrote. 5
Clurey
Defensively sound as always but little offensive ball to speak of. Just OK. 5
Watts
One kick and one goal got his day off to a perfect start then he also made it two in the first term with a gimmee from the goal square and some brilliance from Robbie Gray. Made it three early in the last to get the Power back to within one point but that was all he did. 4
Wingard
Bit of a mixed bag once again but quiet start and blew a chance to hit the scoreboard with bizarre handball to a team-mate well out from goal. Just not a game, or the season, we expect from this man. 4
Polec
Bit fumbly for him and looked uncertain and indecisive almost every time he touched the ball. Keeping his feet was a problem but he was one of many. 4
Dixon
The week break looked to have served him well with four strong marks and eight disposals in the first term but he dropped right out of it after and failed to fire a shot from quarter-time onwards. Appeared to injure his knee late and that didn’t help either. 4
Bonner
Some nice drive from defence but he too wanted to go short rather than long to a contest too often. He is much better than what we saw on Saturday. 5
Howard
Strong in defence as per usual with plenty of spoils and a good effort on the Hawks’ talls. Missed a couple of opportunities to mark but he’s a deadset defender and did as well as any. 6
Byrne-Jones
Another to drop his standards with a mediocre and unimpressive performance for a rare time. Lacked his usual spark and aggression and it was badly missed. 4
Hombsch
Shared the duties on Roughead and had his challenges despite holding the key forward goalless until late in the game. 5
Westhoff
Brilliant first quarter with 10 possessions and a goal as the Power seized the advantage but he caught the bug everyone else had and dropped out of it as the game wore on. Still one of the Power’s few good players but he had laid a platform to be a match winner. 6
Jonas
Another solid performance, perhaps a little more dour and a little less influential than in previous weeks but a pretty hand day once again. 6
Houston
If the Power’s very best found this one tough, their youngsters would have found it even tougher. Houston did but its all part of the learning process for the youngster. 4
S. Gray
Just the two kicks and no influence on the scoreboard in a very tough day. 4