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Player Ratings: Eliza Sewell and Glenn McFarlane rate the Richmond and Collingwood players

KEY Magpies were brilliant under the MCG lights while some of Richmond’s biggest names had games they’d rather forget in Friday night’s preliminary final. EVERY PLAYER RATED

Alex Rance is tackled by Jordan De Goey. Picture: Michael Klein
Alex Rance is tackled by Jordan De Goey. Picture: Michael Klein

WHO stood tall and who crumbled under the pressure?

Key Magpies were brilliant while some of Richmond’s biggest names had games they’d rather forget.

REPORT: USA, USA! STUNNING WIN AS SWEET AS PIE

GAME BLOG: RE-CAP ALL THE PRELIMINARY FINAL ACTION

Eliza Sewell and Glenn McFarlane have rated all 44 players after Friday’s huge clash.

Leave your own ratings in the comments below.

COLLINGWOOD

MASON COX: 9.5

The Lanky Yank was totally on. Clunked everything and even took a hanger. The post-speccie strut totally justified.

STEELE SIDEBOTTOM: 9.5

If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, you’re Steele Sidebottom. Wow.

Steele Sidebottom handballs. Picture: Michael Klein
Steele Sidebottom handballs. Picture: Michael Klein
Brodie Grundy celebrates a goal. Picture: Michael Klein
Brodie Grundy celebrates a goal. Picture: Michael Klein

BRODIE GRUNDY: 9

Inverse palm to Scott Pendlebury to set up Brody Mihocek in the third term was a thing of beauty.

JORDAN DE GOEY: 9

Damien Hardwick had to move Alex Rance off him, that says it all.

TAYLOR ADAMS: 9

Unobtrusive, uncompromising, bloody effective. Got the Magpies going with sustained inside brilliance. Can handball

Jordan De Goey celebrates a goal for the Magpies against Alex Rance. Picture: Getty Images
Jordan De Goey celebrates a goal for the Magpies against Alex Rance. Picture: Getty Images

SCOTT PENDLEBURY: 8.5

So calm and measured. His perfectly weighted kick to set up Cox’s third goal showed his class.

JACK CRISP: 8.5

Product of Myrtleford near the Alps and was ice cool. Two super goals, crunch tackles, maximum impact.

TOM PHILLIPS: 8

Left-footed linkman was crucial moving the ball from defence to attack, especially early.

Steele Sidebottom and Brodie Grundy after the game. Picture: Getty Images
Steele Sidebottom and Brodie Grundy after the game. Picture: Getty Images

JEREMY HOWE: 8

Important down back , spoiling the Tiger party. Two left foot barrels off a step a nice touch.

TRAVIS VARCOE: 7

What a first quarter. This bloke is an inspiration and is now hunting a third flag.

Lynden Dunn and Tyson Goldsack embrace after the game. Picture: Getty Images
Lynden Dunn and Tyson Goldsack embrace after the game. Picture: Getty Images

LEVI GREENWOOD: 7

Started in the centre on Dustin Martin and worked hard all night. Held Dusty very well.

TOM LANGDON: 7

Has played tall and short all year and excelled again. Show tape at contract negotiations.

BRAYDEN MAYNARD: 7

Karate kicked Toby Greene last week (metaphorically) and did a job on Daniel Rioli last night.

Eddie McGuire embraces Travis Varcoe on Friday night. Picture: AAP Images
Eddie McGuire embraces Travis Varcoe on Friday night. Picture: AAP Images

BRODY MIHOCEK: 7

Held grabs even when sandwiched between two Tigers. Hard to believe it was his 15th AFL game.

ADAM TRELOAR: 7

Important again in his third game back. Pies gave up two first-round picks to get him – bargain.

CHRIS MAYNE: 7

From maligned to much admired inside five months. Great pressure, game-high eight tackles to last break.

Chris Mayne wraps up Trent Cotchin.
Chris Mayne wraps up Trent Cotchin.
Tyson Goldsack clears by handball.
Tyson Goldsack clears by handball.

TYSON GOLDSACK: 6

Riewoldt had better of the duel, but surely any player now who spends more than seven months off with an ACL isn’t really trying.

BRAYDEN SIER: 6

Was nervous early but had an impact. Tracking in the direction of another former Pies No.36.

WILL HOSKIN-ELLIOTT: 5

Got his hands on a few difficult chances he normally would have taken, but it didn’t matter.

JOSH THOMAS: 5

Relatively quiet compared to the other Collingwood forwards who exploded. Still had a nice few touches.

JAIDYN STEPHENSON: 5

Quietish but simply not required as his fellow forwards hogged the limelight.

JAMES AISH: 5

Quiet but did what he had to do down back.

RICHMOND

JACK RIEWOLDT: 8.5

Huge lone hand in attack who worked so hard all night and looked dangerous. Kicked five of Richmond’s eight goals

TRENT COTCHIN: 7.5

Tried hard all night against overwhelming odds. Had a number of scoring involvements and game-high 10 clearances. Didn’t have enough mates.

DYLAN GRIMES: 6.5

The first half deficit would have been worse without Grimes’ intercept efforts. Had to be conscripted on to the dangerous De Goey.

Richmond players leave the ground after Friday’s loss. Picture: AAP Images
Richmond players leave the ground after Friday’s loss. Picture: AAP Images

NICK VLASTUIN: 6

Almost needed a bucket early, such was the need to mop up trouble in defence. Tried hard but couldn’t get the game on his terms

DION PRESTIA: 6

Was one of the Tiger midfielders soundly beaten in the first half, but tried hard to make a difference when it was too late.

BACHAR HOULI: 5.5

Slow start and made to earn early possessions, but led the ground in metres gained in the third term and kicked an important major.

Jack Riewoldt kicked five goals in the loss.
Jack Riewoldt kicked five goals in the loss.

JACK HIGGINS: 5

Broke the deadlock of eight unanswered goals late in the second term. Tried hard but all can expect from a kid in his first finals series.

KANE LAMBERT: 5

Got a fair amount of the ball early but butchered it. Dropped a crucial mark in the last term as the Tigers were charging.

SHAUN GRIGG: 5

Was Richmond’s loose on one side of the stoppage in first half, but Sidebottom was the Magpies’ loose. Little impact.

DUSTIN MARTIN: 4.5

Spent a night in the ‘Pig Pen’ alongside his mate Levi Greenwood. Poor return. Maybe the bleed was worse than we thought.

Dustin Martin had no impact against the Magpies. Picture: Mark Stewart
Dustin Martin had no impact against the Magpies. Picture: Mark Stewart

ALEX RANCE: 4.5

Had a first half stinker when he couldn’t go with De Goey, who nailed four goals. Made more of an impact when released from task in third term.

JAYDEN SHORT: 4

Had the fumbles and the jitters early when the ball was constantly in Pies’ attack, Had 18 disposals but limited impact.

SHANE EDWARDS: 4

Uncharacteristically poor game to end a fine season. Bet he wishes he hadn’t said Tigers had the advantage on the Magpies.

REECE CONCA: 4

Another who didn’t make an impact when his team needed it.

Richmond players walk off after the preliminary final loss.
Richmond players walk off after the preliminary final loss.

KAMDYN MCINTOSH: 3.5

The complete opposite to his qualifying final performance. Struggled big time.

JOSH CADDY: 3

Was a different player to what he has been all season - just 11 disposals and no goals.

DANIEL RIOLI: 3

Threatened early, and had two score assists, but didn’t do enough.

NATHAN BROAD: 3

Was under pressure to keep his spot in the team late in the season and made little impact on the game.

TOBY NANKERVIS: 2

Absolutely monstered all night by Brodie Grundy. His worst game in yellow and black.

Alex Rance struggled against Jordan De Goey. Picture: Michael Klein
Alex Rance struggled against Jordan De Goey. Picture: Michael Klein

DAVID ASTBURY: 2

Never mind the flu, looked positively green around the gills. Torched by Cox early, then slipped over in third term contest with Mihocek.

JASON CASTAGNA: 2

Had the fewest disposals on the field and couldn’t get forward.

JACK GRAHAM: 2

No fairytale this year, had the lowest ranking in the game. 12 tackles attempts and only stuck five.

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Originally published as Player Ratings: Eliza Sewell and Glenn McFarlane rate the Richmond and Collingwood players

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/player-ratings-eliza-sewell-and-glenn-mcfarlane-rate-the-richmond-and-collingwood-players/news-story/6b0a1db10ff8a9701848a6c2e258a423