Chris McDermott rates the Port Adelaide and Adelaide players in Showdown 46
Advertiser and Sunday Mail football expert Chris McDermott rates the performances of the Adelaide and Port Adelaide players from Showdown 46.
Chris McDermott
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Advertiser and Sunday Mail football expert Chris McDermott rates the performances of the Adelaide and Port Adelaide players from Showdown 46.
CROWS PLAYER RATINGS
Greenwood … 6
Hardly sighted in a very tough first half but cranked it up for a big third quarter which inluded a classy snap just before the siren to put another nail in the Powers’ coffin. He grabbed a huge mark in attack midway through the last quarter for the oppotunity to end Port’s charge home but he kicked into the man on the mark to spoil his good work.
B Crouch … 7
Loved the ball being at ground level so much and won plenty of it but he too suffered from a bit of wastefulness especially early. Produced a very consistent four-quarter effort in another solid but unspectacular game from the midfielder.
Knight … 5
Nothing to speak about in the first half but pounced on a scrappy kick from Lachie Murphy to mark and goal from 30m out to halt the Power’s brief challenge in the third term. Grabbed one late after a sensational Murphy tackle to make his quiet night look much better.
M Crouch ... 4
Won plenty of ball early but went to the bench midway through the second quarter with a hip complaint and looked to be in real strife. Came back on for a minute or two before calling it quits and for a player of his hardness that is never a good thing.
Gallucci ... 4
Never got involved in this very tight and contested game gathering just the 11 touches at just over 50 percent. Once again it’s not quite good enough for him to be guaranteed another go next week.
Kelly ... 7
Started the best of all the Crows defenders and looked very sure with his hands unlike many others. Maintained that standard all night in one of the best and cleanest game he has produced in some time.
Sloane ... 7
Pounced on a Dan Houston mistake to kick the Crows second just before quarter time and produced a vintage Sloane performance in this big game. At his best in the last quarter when the Crows needed some leadership and no surprise to see him stand up with some strong marks and quality ball wins. His 13 tackles says it all.
Talia ... 8
Brilliant first half highlighted by a goal-saving smother just before the main break. Loved his game in this Showdown never putting a foot wrong in a very disciplined performance and while Alex Keath won the medal, this man had to be very close.
Walker ... 6
Kept well in check by Tom Clurey and forced to run far and wide to win his possessions but marked strongly and kicked straight early in the third quarter for the Crows’ seventh goal. Made the win a certainty late in the last quarter with a captain’s goal to end the Power’s faint hopes of an upset.
Mackay … 8
Started this one very well with some good touches in difficult conditions and kicked the first goal with a neat snap off the outside of his right foot. Much to like about his pace, his attack on the footy and his endeavour in this game and one of his best in recent memory.
Hartigan … 5
In a night made for defenders he did what he needed to do in a fairly uneventful opening half of this game. Second half a mirror image of the first in a game he was rarely asked to extend himself.
Betts ... 4
Under immense pressure from the Power defenders and with Burton off with injury Byrne –Jones took over the role of keeping him quiet and missed his first set shot on goal from very close range. That was all she wrote for the small forward but a win is a win and he’ll take it.
Atkins ... 5
Bit wasteful early but settled in the second term with a great goal from out wide after a nice assist from Brad Crouch. Worked hard without too much influence but he was not alone.
Lynch ... 7
Steady start with a couple of very clean touches of the ball then got the benefit of a horror umpiring mistake to kick the Crows fourth goal and extend their lead to 17 points midway through the second quarter. Pounced on a loose ball and snapped a ripper just before half time and did it again early in the last quarter to seal this victory for the Crows in a very good game from the connector.
Laird ... 7
Back to his offensive best early winning plenty of possession but quietened down in the second term as the game tightened. Six rebounds from defence coupled with eight inside 50’s and 31 disposals was Laird back to near his All-Australian best.
Smith ... 5
Very quiet start to this game but the ball was in the Crows’ attack early. Won a couple of very important possessions in the last quarter to repel the Power’s attack and once again his leg proved to be an enormous weapon when needed.
Keath ... 7
Solid form continued and had the job on Todd Marshall and kept him well in control hardly allowing the Power youngster a possession in the first two quarters. Big third term when he dropped deep into defence as a lose man in another strong game from the defender.
O’Brien ... 5
Well beaten in ruck and did not look comfortable in the slippery conditions. Lost a significant amount of stoppages against the Power’s two big men but never conceded defeat and tried hard all game. One to learn from and get better.
Murphy ... 6
Busy start and put his body in a good spot to win a free kick and nail the Crows fifth goal as they took control of Showdown 46. Liked his work rate and some of attacks on ball, not all of them but he is looking more at home each week and winning some very important touches.
Cam Ellis Yolmen ... 6
Had the massive job on Travis Boak and kept him in check while finding some good ball himself. Was very prominent all night and used his physical strength to great value in congested situations. Gets another tick for this performance.
Himmelberg ... 5
Competed well and presented well without doing too much damage but when it isn’t your match it can be your moment. His moment was when he tackled well to win a free and kicked truly from the pocket to give the Crows their biggest lead if the game. Won a free kick directly in front moments later only to miss an absolute gimmee but victory by this moment was assured.
L. Brown … 6
Was back in the 22 after a lengthy layoff with injury and did not miss a beat on his resumption. Handled the ball well and the pressure of elite level football. Won plenty of possessions early before dropping back to his dour defensive best as the situation demanded. The Crows look much better with this man back in the team.
POWER PLAYER RATINGS
Powell-Pepper … 6
Burst out of the blocks and stamped his mark on the game from the first siren and kicked the Power’s first goal after pouncing on a loose ball in the opening seconds of the second term. Quieter throughout the middle of the game as the Crows dominated but hit back to kick a goal and finish off a very solid evenings work.
Burton ... na.
Had the big job on Eddie Betts but lasted just a few minutes before his hamstring went ping in the first contest he had and his day was over. Another massive loss to the Power and their chances of pulling off a miracle win just got harder.
Ryder ... 5
Too good to be this quiet in big games and while he is understandably still coming back to full fitness he must impact games better in his role as ruckman /forward. His nine possessions at just 40 percent, despite a solid amount of hit outs is simply nowhere near good enough.
Motlop … 4
Can the real Stevie Motlop please stand up. Began slowly in his return to AFL level after a couple of weeks in the SANFL and looked out of sorts for most of the night. Made two bad mistakes late in the game that ultimately proved very costly to his team. Not one he will want
to remember.
Boak ... 6
The former skipper was back leading the charge and won plenty of ball but struggled to get much value for them. Contributed in all areas in a typical captain’s game but his efficiency at just over 40 percent is not good enough from a player of his quality.
Rockliff ... 7
Kicked the first score of the game after over 10 minutes but forced his set shot from the pocket across goal to register a behind. Worked as hard as any player on the ground gathering a game high 41 disposals including 10 clearances and 12 inside 50s but like Boak his efficiency was only average.
Marshall ... 4
Didn’t like the conditions at all and completely unsighted in the first half. It didn’t improve in the second half and he was completely blanketed by Alex Keath and has put some doubt in the coaches’ minds whether he can work in the same forward line with Justin Westhoff.
Amon ... 5
Looked un good form and kicked an important goal early in the third to jeep the Power within reach Kicked the ball as well and with as much penetration as he ever has at AFL Level but was too inconsistent and missing for too long to impact this game enough.
Clurey ... 7
Started brilliantly on Taylor Walker marking well in defence and repelling the Crows early forward thrusts. Used the ball outstandingly well with either foot in the conditions and made just the one mistake late in the game when he let Walker loose to allow the Crows skipper to goal and end the Powers’ run.
Rozee ... 5
Looked like he was playing with a different ball early, so clean were his hands when everyone else around him struggled for clean possessions. Took a nice mark leading hard from the goalsquare and goaled to keep the Power in it heading into half-time but dropped out of the game in the second half to ruin what looked to be a good game.
Duursma .... 6
Slippery conditions were made to suit the youngster and although he didn’t do much early what he did was very good and value from his minimal touches . Kicked one late with just a hint of celebration in another encouraging game from the youngster.
Drew ... 4
Battled hard without much effect and missed a gettable shot on goal when he rushed an attempted soccer off the ground. Good moments but not enough in a game where he was asked to do so much more.
Lycett ... 6
Got to the ball well but a bit fumbly with the slippery Sherrin and just found it difficult to impose himself completely on this game. Won the better of the ruck duels but while he got his hands on the ball he found the conditions not to his liking and he couldn’t cash in on the opportunities he had.
Howard ... 6
Played his floating defensive role well and one of the few to handle the conditions well. He pushed forward with the game on the line but failed to cash in on a set shot just before three-quarter time. Battled on well despite the game being over to kick two goals in the last and give Ken Hinkley something to think about.
Byrne-Jones ...7
Was quickly assigned the role onto Eddie Betts after Ryan Burton’s injury and took the Crows magician right out of the game. Still won an impressive 23 possessions himself in an excellent defensive game on one of the games most dangerous forwards.
Westhoff ... 5
Quiet start in difficult conditions for the tall men and hardly touched the ball early but he didn’t get much help from his midfield. Moved into defence late in the game without much influence their either and the veteran is having a tough time of it in recent weeks.
Houston ... 6
Horrible mistake late in the first term cost the Power an important goal after a 20 minute arm wrestle and appeared to distract him for a while. Bounced back and used the ball well as usual going at over 80 percent with his 25 possessions from half back.
S. Gray ... 5
Very lively in the absence of some of his teams best players and hands were very good in the slippery conditions . One of those games where he was good and getting into dangerous spots without fully capitalising on his possessions.
Leinert ... 7
Very solid start with the Power defence under siege early and maintained his strong form all game. Looked very assured and comfortable in the conditions and his pace and balance with ball in hand was as good as we have seen from him at this level. One of the real positives from the game for the Power.
Broadbent ... 5
Great to see the veteran back after almost two years out with injury and his early touches were pretty good. Pace of the game and competitive nature compared to the SANFL didn’t faze him and a very encouraging return on a disappointing night.
Farrell ... 5
Shock recall to AFL duties and didn’t look out of place winning some good quality possessions but just failing to nail a possible goal or two. Finally jagged one early in the last to make it clear to the coaches box this young man is a must in their 22.
Johnson ... 4
Looked like he had been out of the AFL for some time. Never quite found the pace of this game to his liking and while he wasn’t exposed he didn’t have too many memorable moments.
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