Player Ratings: Sam Landsberger rates the Collingwood and GWS Giants semi-final performances
AFTER a week of controversy Toby Greene failed to fire on the big stage but Jordan de Goey had no such problems producing under pressure. EVERY PLAYER RATED
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WHO stood tall and who crumbled under the pressure of finals?
Key Magpies were brilliant while some Giants had games they’d rather forget.
MATCH REPORT: MAGPIES SET UP AFL’S PERFECT PRELIM
BUCK’S SAY: OUR GAME GOOD ENOUGH TO BEAT TIGERS
Sam Landsberger has rated all 44 players after Saturday’s huge clash.
Leave your own ratings in the comments below.
COLLINGWOOD
STEELE SIDEBOTTOM 9.5
All-Australian home-and-away season has gone to a new level in September. Does this bloke stop running? In claustrophobic finals he finds oodles of space and is as creative as Thomas Edison.
JORDAN DE GOEY 9
Cool kid warmed into the game and finished on fire with three goals. He is the Magpies’ crowd conductor — nobody gets them louder.
ADAM TRELOAR 8.5
Last quarter (12 disposals) was ridiculous for a bloke who has barely played in three months. One of the best blokes in footy gets his first go at a preliminary final.
BRAYDEN MAYNARD 8
Toby Greene’s girlfriend might’ve watched on with a touch of jealousy at how close Maynard was to him. Who does he stop on Friday night? Dan Rioli?
BRODIE GRUNDY 8
Intriguing battle with Rory Lobb and is set to play a major role against workhorse Toby Nankervis on Friday night.
JEREMY HOWE 7.5
Rusty last week but scratched off a bit of that with a second-quarter hanger. If he held the one in the third term it would’ve been one for his extensive highlights reel.
TOM PHILLIPS 7.5
The wannabe journalist started writing the script in the third quarter with 11 disposals and 54 SuperCoach points. Will enjoy discussing that on his podcast.
WILL HOSKIN-ELLIOTT 7.5
Became first Magpie to kick 40 goals in a season since Travis Cloke in 2013. Like a kid on a trampoline he just kept on flying. Son Flynn will enjoy watching the tape of this one in a few years.
TYSON GOLDSACK 7
This bloke has taken the points against Josh Kennedy and Jeremy Cameron with a knee that can’t be 100 per cent stable yet. How heroic is that?
TOM LANGDON 7
Contested intercept mark in the last quarter showed why it is so important the Magpies re-sign him. Helped snuff out any chance of an upset with imposing last quarter underpinned by four intercept grabs.
SCOTT PENDLEBURY 7
Hospitalised with a virus two weeks ago and jittery symptoms flared, which is unusual for the Norm Smith Medallist but still chalked up 25 disposals.
JOSH THOMAS 7
Magpies had more shots than a wild 21st birthday party early on and it was only Thomas who sank his, booting the first two goals of the game. Priceless.
TAYLOR ADAMS 6.5
Former Giant laid into his old team with 10 tackles … more than any other player on the ground.
BRAYDEN SIER 6.5
Nicknamed “The Bear” because he was a hairy kid and would’ve had Leon Cameron’s hairs standing up with nine disposals in the first quarter. Like Dane Swan, wears No.36 above a large pair of shorts.
BRODY MIHOCEK 5.5
Collingwood’s Mr Indestructible, he seems to battle on with new niggles every week. Last year’s VFL defender will give Richmond’s backline a few headaches.
MASON COX 5.5
Biggest improver from last week and liked the tactic of Cox manning the mark as Cameron kicked for goal. Some important paddles early which won’t show up on the stats sheet.
JACK CRISP 5
The steak knives in the Dayne Beams deal didn’t cut up the Giants like he has others, but still had a few bright moments.
JAMES AISH 5
Like a stale loaf of bread, Aish has become a hell of a lot tougher. A lot to like under those long sleeves all of a sudden.
LEVI GREENWOOD 5
Serviceable as usual with 18 disposals and a couple of tackles.
TRAVIS VARCOE 4
Delivered another magical September moment with a classy goal to start the last quarter. Everyone in the footy world is cheering for Trav this month.
CHRIS MAYNE 4
The vegan didn’t take a big bite out of the game but is among the stories of the year for his resurgence.
JAIDYN STEPHENSON 3
Eats 95 Weetbix a week but might need 100 as two first-quarter snaps faded for behinds. Speed caused some concern for the Giants.
GWS GIANTS
STEPHEN CONIGLIO 9
His mug must flash in Nathan Buckley’s nightmares. That’s twice he has starred against the Pies at the MCG this year. Soccer-style celebration wasn’t at the level of Lewis Jetta last week though.
LACHIE WHITFIELD 8.5
It was if the Giants didn’t hear the siren to start the game … except for this bloke. His penetrating first 15 minutes helped limit the damage. Unstoppable with 730m gained.
DYLAN SHIEL 7
Observers gushed at Shiel’s ability to find gaps in traffic and explode through them. Where will that power dazzle in 2019?
RORY LOBB 7
Mick McGuane challenged Lobb to step up or step out this September. Well, he literally stepped up with a big pack mark and goal on the cusp of half-time.
CALLAN WARD 7
Must still be wonder what life would be like if he wasn’t knocked out in the 2016 prelim. Forget his stats sheet, makes every teammate walk taller when they run out alongside him. Fearless leader.
PHIL DAVIS 6.5
Made a few kicking blues as he came back to earth after last week’s superhuman demolition job on “Buddy” Franklin. Hurt his right shoulder early, which didn’t help.
BRETT DELEDIO 6
Could be forgiven for throwing a Serena-style dummy spit on Friday night when he watches his old team play a monster preliminary final in the chase for back-to-back premierships. Only four disposals in the second half.
TIM TARANTO 5.5
The son of a Texan is going to be a star for the Giants and will get a fair bit out of playing another final so early in his career.
HARRY HIMMELBERG 5
Rock star name and had a few athletic moments but couldn’t replicate his efforts in last year’s preliminary final at the MCG, where he booted four goals.
ZAC WILLIAMS 5
His past five games have all been finals but you wouldn’t have known it at quarter-time after giving up two goals via a horrible kick-out (needed an 18m goalsquare) and free kick for holding Hoskin-Elliott. Like the Giants, he got much better after that.
ZAC LANGDON 4.5
Most at the MCG would struggle to pick him out of a police line-up. But clutch goal in third quarter ensured his face would feature on the highlights.
JEREMY CAMERON 4
Wayne Carey said he needed to work harder and demand the footy after a quiet beginning. Cameron put the Giants in front in the third term but wouldn’t have slept well after a crucial miss in the last term.
SAM REID 4
Journeyman player rotated through opponents despite history of tagging in big games. Was OK.
JACOB HOPPER 4
Eddie’s hatred of talent academies must’ve burned bright as the Riverina boy drove the second-quarter comeback with 10 disposals, three clearances and three tackles. Quiet in every other term.
ADAM KENNEDY 4
Laid five tackles but didn’t have much of a say on proceedings. Another workmanlike Giant.
NICK HAYNES 3.5
Only player who didn’t touch the footy in the first quarter and it didn’t get a whole lot better.
RYAN GRIFFEN 3.5
Opened the Giants account with a clever grubby goal, if there’s such a thing. That was one of just five kicks for the night. Announced his retirement post-match.
LACHIE KEEFFE 3.5
Played against his old team and will wake up this morning wishing he was still a Magpie.
ADAM TOMLINSON 3
Just the four kicks and one mark in a night he will wish he could have again.
TOBY GREENE 2
Forget the studs-up debate, footy’s karate kid struggled to kick the footy let alone opponents. Didn’t hit the scoreboard.
MATT DE BOER 2
Former Docker’s hobbies include magic and cryptocurrency. Well, his game isn’t stacked with tricks and his value dipped a little with only three kicks.
MATT BUNTINE 2
Rough night as he was smashed by Jordan de Goey but won’t be the last to lose that match-up.
Originally published as Player Ratings: Sam Landsberger rates the Collingwood and GWS Giants semi-final performances