Power, Crows player ratings and fast fives for Round 16
PORT Adelaide won, but it wasn’t the manner they should be winning, and Adelaide should start planning for the future as its season is over, writes Chris McDermott. See his fast fives and player ratings for Round 16.
PORT Adelaide won, but it wasn’t the manner they should be winning, and Adelaide should start planning for the future as its season is over, writes Chris McDermott. See his fast fives and player ratings for Round 16.
Power fast five
1. When Ken talks, you know the story by now, that’s right they listen. He could not have been happy with what he saw early and arguably what he saw for most of this game. Bad habits can be hard to shake and while the good news is they won, it wasn’t in the manner they need to be winning. It just leaves some questions unanswered.
2. Robbie Gray what were you thinking? That piece of play in the first term after you marked 40m out from goal was inexplicable. It summed up the Power’s opening quarter, They played like millionaires, not a team desperate to do everything right in the build up to September. Thankfully they got their game back in order and while it wasn’t pretty, they got the job done. Robbie kicked 1.4 and never really recovered.
3. Charlie Dixon is building nicely. It’s been a challenging season at times for the big man but he has never dropped his head and Ken and the team have never lost faith. They have won regardless and now his form is on the improve he is an added bonus for this team. He was good when they were not and when they are both good at the same time, lookout!
4. Tom Jonas can’t take a trick. His last five weeks read played, missed, played, missed, played and next week he looks like missing, It is the Power’s biggest worry and while he is a near certainty for All-Australian selection he would swap it all to be match-hardened come September. If the Power are to go deep into this finals series he must be. There is only one Tom Jonas.
5. The Power’s new faces have shown again their immense value to this team. Tom Rockliff had 30 possessions, Stevie Motlop 2, Jack Watts 17 and two goals, Jack Trengove 16 and Lindsay Thomas 12. None were great for the entire game but all had some great moments. The Power have set a recruiting standard for other teams to follow.
Crows fast five
1. After the high from last week’s win over the West Coast the Crows had a good first five minutes, then nothing. Flat as a biscuit. Quick memo to Don Pyke: It’s time to make some significant changes and risk a run of losses to make some decisions on players with uncertain futures and play 22 fit players only. Time to get some decent game time in major roles to Fogarty, Doedee, Gallucci, Poholke, Milera, Murphy and others. Any finals dreams are over.
2. The Crows last kicked over 100 points in Round 7 against Carlton at the MCG. After averaging 109 points a game in 2017 they now average just 81 points a game. That’s 28 points a game less or almost five goals-a-game difference. No wonder the premiership table looks like it does. Sins of the past including a reluctance to expose their full playing list has finally come back to bite them. Ouch!
3. Jake who? The rise and rise of young defender Tom Doedee has been the undoubted success story of the Crows’ 2018 season. Stuck in line behind Jake Lever for several seasons he has blossomed this year averaging over 18 possessions a game at 81 per cent effective disposal. He ranks second at the Crows and a credible 17th in the AFL for one percenters and his contested possessions and lack of clangers holds up with the best of them. Let’s hope the Crows selectors acknowledge him appropriately on club champion night.
4. The grand final rematch was more a grand final replay, but worse. This Adelaide Football Club team is now officially broken and in need of a major overhaul. Its window of opportunity that opened in 2017 is slammed shut. It’s time for a new look and a rebuild and some hard decisions. It must start now.
5. Speaking of Rory Sloane. The mail has strengthened the past 72 hours that he is going. If he was a racehorse he’d be unbackable. If it is true and if he has the courage to admit it, unlike almost every other player, put him out to pasture and rest him for the remainder of the season. As well as he played on Friday night, he couldn’t run. He played on heart alone.
Power player ratings
Boak
Brilliant goal-saving tackle in the first quarter shocked his team into action and resulted in the Power’s third goal of the game. Kicked his own early in the third term in another great statement from the skipper. 6
Powell-Pepper
Competitive as per usual but found it hard to get any value from his touches with the majority of them by hand and under intense pressure 6
Ryder
He’s back! Well he looked back after the opening minutes when he snapped a Peter Daicos special from the pocket to get the scoreboard ticking early. Thought his tap work was good but his field play still needs much improvement. 5
Motlop
One of not many in Power colours to start this game well and with serious intent, gathering 10 disposals in the first term. Went off the boil quickly and touched it just once in the second term but found his mojo after the log break to play one of his best games in Power colours. 7
Ebert
Looked a cut above the rest in the first half with his clean hands and good use of the ball by foot. Added some composure and class in defence that’s been lacking in recent times and it may become a permanent home for the rest of 2018. 7
R. Gray
A mixed bag to begin this game and while he looked dangerous he turned the ball over far too often for anyone’s liking and could not make the most of several opportunities in front of goal until his first deep into the second term. A night were he threatened but didn’t cash in. 5
Rockliff
Very solid first half of footy and he was one of a few in Power colours not to lower his standards and compete as he knows how. Great example of how to play games like this and he maintained the high standards he has become famous for. 7
Wines
Unusually quiet start with just two touches of the ball in the first term while copping a heavy tag and just 10 to the last break as he simply could not break free at any stage. Got some cheap ball when the game was over but this was a learning experience for the midfielder. 5
Clurey
Had his work cut out on Membrey early but the Saints forward could not make his possessions count. Never gave him a sniff after that and in the absence of Jonas he stood as tall as any in defence. 6
Trengove
Struggled to make the impact he did in his Power debut last week and just looked off the pace and lacking sharpness. 5
Wingard
Getting closer and closer to his best without the scoreboard impact but found the ball at will through the midfield and used it to pretty good effect. Hard to argue his efforts in the midfield but still think he’s a much better forward. 7
Polec
His skills again continued to haunt him and went at only 50 per cent effective disposal in the first half but his work rate and relentless running from the back half cannot be questioned. 6
Dixon
Loved his attack on the ball and his presence but the goals still didn’t come until he won a free 20m out late in the third to get on the board. Ended the night in perfect style with three contested marks and three goals in three minutes from 30m out straight in front. The first time he’s kicked four all season. 6
Watts
Looked lively from the start of this one with 2 nice marks in the lead and an early goal then made it 2 before half time after a quality pass from Lindsay Thomas. Strangely went off the boil and got lazy and cute with his ball use to take the gloss off what loomed as a good night out. 5
Johnson
Not sighted in the first half with just the 1 handball to his name and while he got a couple of better possessions late he didn’t do enough to guarantee a game next week. 4
Howard
Had McCartin to keep under wraps and did it well in the first half, keeping him to just three possessions and no goals. Not one of his best games but got the job done regardless. 5
Byrne-Jones
Solid in defence albeit not quite at his best but brilliant interception in the last term put a late St Kilda charge to bed and secured the four points for his team. Made the most of his free rein in defence. 6
Westhoff
Three set shots on goal in the first half but just one goal to his name as he too butchered opportunities he would normally kick with ease. Another excellent game covering plenty of ground deep in attack and defence. Brilliant tackle late in the game topped off an outstanding night for the veteran. 7
Jonas
With his fellow defenders under siege in the opening quarter three interceptions held the Saints at bay early. Strong game until injured late in the third term and not seen again for the rest of the game. 5
Houston
Began this game where he finished the last in outstanding form and with the ball on a string. Made significant improvements in recent weeks and is developing his craft nicely. 6
Thomas
Continued to play an important role and great assist to Watts gave the Power their fifth goal. The breakout game is still to come but he is making the Power forward line look so much better. 5
Bonner
Used the ball as well as any and although his numbers need to improve there is much to like about the talents he has and the powerful leg he uses to good effect. 5
Crows player ratings
Greenwood
Had the duties on Dustin Martin especially around stoppage but as the game wore on found him harder and harder to contain. Won enough of his own ball to be an influence but it wasn’t enough for him to make a difference. 5
Jenkins
Nice mark in the goal square against Rance gave him his first goal and found a way to bob up at the right moment and kick a goal when needed. Kicked three of his own and gave one away which was a pretty good effort when your team only kicks eight goals. 5
M. Crouch
Had it on a string from the first bell with 10 possessions in the opening term and continued to get his hands on the ball but many were ineffective. Best work done in tight and around stoppage but not many resulted in goals for his team. 6
Gibbs
Began well with some good ball around stoppage but dropped out of it in the second. Had a night were he flashed in and out but little of the run and carry his team so desperately needed. 5
Gallucci
Quiet again until sensational long goal against the run of play kept them in it as the Tigers threatened to run away with this one early. Had moments but he must do much more and use it better. 4
Kelly
Little influence to speak of and while his overall form has been pretty good he must find a way to influence games in different ways. 4
Sloane
Tried hard and won some footy at stoppage but looked a long way off his best and none of the traditional run and carry we expect from this man. 6
Poholke
Not enough again from the youngster and he too must take advantage of the freedom he gets by getting his hands on the ball far more often. 4
Seedsman
Long bomb from outside 50m got the Crows on the board and his night off to a flying start but his game never reached that height again. 5
Talia
Began well with two strong marks one on one with Jack Riewoldt but headed for the change rooms at quarter time with a foot injury. Returned to the ground after an extended rest but never looked right and battled to make any impact after that strong start. 5
Walker
Kept well in check by the Richmond defence after his brilliant game last week until long bomb goal midway third the third term gave the Crows faint hope. It was faint and brief and not a night for the skipper to remember. 5
Hartigan
Unusually sloppy in the first half and appeared to be a man not coping with the pressure. Could not get to anywhere near enough contests to make a difference. 5
Brown
Unsighted but looked to be struggling to keep up and make any impact in this one. Got lost among the chaos that is the Richmond forward line and was powerless to stop the goal rush. 5
Hampton
Very quiet start and did not touch the ball in the first half as he struggles to find his best at this level. Just looked a mile off the pace and this man is and must be better than this performance. 2
Jacobs
Didn’t appear to come up well after his strong performance last week and while his competitiveness is never in doubt he was well off is best in this clash. 5
Cheney
Did nothing wrong but didn’t do much right either. Just not enough and like several of the Crows’ backline he needs to be proactive when things are not working for him or the team. 5
Douglas
Just not enough from the veteran when his team needed him the most. 5
Lynch
Looked sharp early in his first game back from a lengthy injury lay-off but struggled as the game wore on and opportunities for him all but disappeared. 5
Laird
His sensational form continued with 11 disposals in the first term but closed down by the Tigers as the game wore on and his influence dropped significantly. Battled on hard but with minimal effect and a move into the midfield is now a must in a bid to save their season. 6
Milera
Not safe and sure with his hands and that let him down on several occasions in the first half, then he dropped right out of the contest in the third term when his team needed his run. 5
Fogarty
OK again but with limited amount of ball. While his physicality was good he did not get a kick in the first half. Finally caught one inside 50m and did not miss as we knew he wouldn’t. 4
Doedee
Couple of nice marks in the opening half and some good rebound but he was part of a defence that was under enormous pressure. Kept on presenting and impacting marking contests and took another absolute ripper mark as his game stood out as many of his mates struggled. 7.