Chris McDermott’s Adelaide Crows, Port Adelaide Power Round 5 player ratings
South Australia’s two AFL teams recorded surprise results in Round 5. Adelaide upset the highly-fancied Sydney at the SCG while Port Adelaide lost to Geelong at Adelaide Oval. Our expert Chris McDermott rates the players and the key points to both games.
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SOUTH Australia’s two AFL teams both recorded surprise results in Round 5. Adelaide upset the highly-fancied Sydney Swans at the SCG while Port Adelaide lost to Geelong at Adelaide Oval. Footy expert Chris McDermott rates the performances of the players from both teams and delivers his five key points from the games.
ADELAIDE CROWS FAST FIVE
1. The Crows had to start well in this one or it would be a very long night. They did. Especially at clearances where the Swans are very strong. Sam Jacobs starred winning 14 hit outs to seven in the first term. They won clearances 16-7 and as a result led by two goals. Their only weakness was their impact on the scoreboard, 4.9 could have been 9.4.
2. Can you believe it? Another hamstring and it’s a reoccurring hamstring issue for Kyle Hartigan. It went early and his game was over by quarter time. His next three to four weeks will be over as well. He must get it right and the Crows fitness department must get it right. Hartigan is the sixth player on their injury list with a hamstring complaint. It is a major issue for this club so early in the season.
3. The captain responded. No Crows player was under more pressure heading into this game than Taylor Walker and he answered every challenge in the first half. He led well, marked well and kicked well. Three goals in a half on Heath Grundy is as good as it gets but remember the season is 22 rounds long.
4. Hooray. Finally we get a look at the Crows depth and we weren’t disappointed. A lesson must be learned by the coaching department. Give a kid a chance and you won’t be disappointed. Tom Doedee led the way but they all played significant roles. High Greenwood, Rory Atkins, Riley Knight, Jordan Gallucci and Myles Poholke. Look what Damien Hardwick has done at Richmond. Young role players work!.
5. No Eddie. No Rory. No rush. The Crows season begins now, but it must have a new focus. Empower the next generation. Commit to playing and developing Doedee, Knight, Gallucci, Poholke and Darcy Fogarty. And co as Malcolm Blight did 21 years ago. You might just be surprised what happens.
PORT ADELAIDE FAST FIVE
1. The alarm bells started ringing 30 minutes into this game even though the margin was just 12 points in Geelong’s favourg. The Power trailed the hit outs 8-15, they hadn’t taken a mark inside 50, the Cats had taken four and Selwood had eight touches, Dangerfield had seven and a goal.
2. Lindsay. Lindsay. Lindsay. What were you thinking. To run past the ball and make head high contact with Scott Selwood was not what Ken Hinkley would have been looking for after such a great start for your new club. Gut feel says it will be some time before your second game. It may not be his only problem from this game either.
3. It’s hard to imagine Jack Hombsch not being good enough to get a game in the Power’s 22 each week but it has been the case for some time. After what he showed on Saturday night I’d suggest he won’t be absent for some time to come. His courageous mark running back with the flight and into Tom Jonas surely guaranteed his place.
4. Two Power players got run down from behind and caught holding the ball. Their awareness and urgency was not at the correct level. Stevie Motlop was the first. Jack Watts the second. This duo must be better but the whole team must be better too.
5. Its is now fourweeks without Patty Ryder, two games have been lost and no acceptable solution has been found. The Power are sliding in the wrong direction and I will say it for the final time, Frampton must play. The ripple effect on the team from shuffling multiple players to cover for him instead of replacing him one for one hasn’t worked.
ADELAIDE CROWS PLAYERS RATINGS
Greenwood
Some good moments again but a largely unobtrusive night. In a very congested and contested game Greenwood was in his element with 13 contested possessions and 11 tackles. His game held up well against some of the best. 6
Jenkins
The only player not to touch the ball in the first term. It was crowded in attack but 0 disposals from 20 inside 50’s wasn’t ideal . Like many he answered the call. A nice mark and 6 pointer in the 2nd and then a couple of very intelligent snaps from a similar spot was a very good sign. 6
Gibbs
Quiet start by the star recruit as he struggled to find space in this contest . Found his best in the Premiership quarter (third term) and despite a below par game by his standards it was an important contribution to this win. 6
Kelly
Rock solid in a pressure cooker game. Great maturity, discipline and physical impact. 20 disposals at 90 percent alongside his sound defensive game was a very good night out. 6
Seedsman
Sensational start with 9 disposals in the first 10 minutes and 14 for the first quarter. Had the hand-brake applied after that but still managed some quality touches including a brilliant goal to seal the win. Ione of his very best in the tri-colours. 7
Talia
Had the job on the inform Buddy Franklin and made an early mistake to gift the Swans their 2nd goal. Stuck to his job in typical fashion and although Buddy didn’t make the most of his opportunities , it was a job well done by the key defender. 7
Walker
Had the look of a very determined man and got his game off to a great start with long goal and another from close range after a 50m penalty. Presented well all night and in contrast to Franklin at the other end of the ground, Walker made every touch count. Well led and well played. 7
Hartigan
That suspect hamstring went again and a four-week absence is not out of the question. n/a
Brown
Another one of those typical, Luke Brown games. No flash and little memorable moments just a man doing his job and some for his team. 6
Atkins
Got the Crows first goal after five consecutive points with nice snap from stoppage in the first term then added another at the end of the term with a nice running goal from outside 50m. Looked decisive and very clear in his decision making and the results speak for themselves. 7
Jacobs
Began well in ruck giving the Crows midfield great service and a flying start to this game. Not a huge game statistically but a huge impact on the result as the Crows turned a problem area at stoppage into a strength. 6
Douglas
Not a lot of ball but a competitive start and had the job on Josh Kennedy and nullified him completely in the first half holding him to just five disposals. Continued his disciplined game after the break and despite a head knock he held the Swans leader to the role of an observer. 6
Lynch
Plenty of ball and looked busy without making every touch count. Was closely watched by the Swans defence and rarely allowed too much freedom but played a role in this win regardless. 6
Ellis-Yolmen
Couldn’t get into this game enough for mine. The stats sheet tells a different story and while his competitiveness was sound he was not at his best. 5
Milera
Flashed in and out again as is his way and looked quite comfortable in this pressure contest. The signs are there, the game is developing, persistence with this lad must be shown. 6
Laird
Beaten in a one on one marking contest for a rare occasion and conceded an early goal to his opponent but responded with 10 disposals in the first term. His night came a cropper early in the second when a missed kick gifted Franklin a goal albeit from 65m out but he never dropped his lead and showed great leadership to power on and be a key contributor. 6
Doedee
Looked the goods in defence with a couple of strong marks going back with the flight in the first term and an outstanding 10 disposals to the first break. A near faultless game from this young man, no surprise to see a touch of Ben Hart about him with the former Crows champ now his mentor. It’s a big step taken in a career that is tracking very nicely. 8
McGovern
Quiet start that included a horror fumble late in the second term to gift the Swans an easy goal. Had a bad case of the fumbles that he couldn’t shake until he went back into defence. Not at his best but show faith, it will come soon. 5
Poholke
Asked to play a role and did so as well as he could have hoped. There are few tougher games for a youngster to play than against Sydney at the SCG and he passes an early test with flying colours. 5
Otten
Just doesn’t disappoint when called upon in recent times. Has become a much admired and respected figure of this club and this team given the challenges he has faced but always plays an important role .when needed. 5
Gallucci
Very similar to Poholke. Picked to play a certain role and did so highlighted by an exception goal at pace late in the game. Nice one Gary! Jordan! 5
Knight
Bit of a mixed bag but there was more good and more impressive moments than not. Again like the 3 other new faces he played an important role and he shows signs of a very handy game if faith is shown in him. 5
PORT ADELAIDE PLAYERS RATINGS
Boak Missed an absolute sitter to start the game as the Power struggled for that first goal. Pretty solid performance from the skipper but cant help but feel some more time in the midfield was required. 6
Neade
Returned to the Power in fine style with a burst of speed and a nice goal to settle the Power after a sluggish start then repeated the dose in the second term as Geelong looked threatening. Some great moments but not enough of them. 5
Motlop
Mixed start in his first game against his old mob and appears to have lost all his peed and brilliance of his first couple of games in Power colours. Needs to find his best quickly for his and the teams benefit. 4
Ebert
Had the early duties on Joel Selwood and battled hard without any major impact on Selwood’s impact. 14 strong tackles again a feature of his game but like many of his team mates that brilliant run and carry has disappeared. 6
Hartlett
Sent from the ground in a bad way after a nasty head clash with Dangerfield but returned to the ground to gather 18 second half disposals and play an important role in defence. 6
Robbie Gray
Very close to his mercurial best and helped drag his team back into this contest but failing to have his regular impact o the scoreboard. Stoppage work brilliant and evasive skills are as good as there is in the game but the goals are a must. 7
Wines
Outstanding first half with 18 disposals before he snagged a sensational goal early in the third term to narrow the Cats lead to under a kick. Battered and bruised all game and it eventually took its toll but he battled on regardless. 7
Clurey
Solid in defense as always but he is struggling to produce the offensive part of his game when needed. His good work must become great work. 5
Wingard
Still well off his brilliant best and struggled to get fully engaged in this game and kept well in check by Jed Bews. Thrown into the midfield to provide a spark but couldn’t. His inconsistent form is one of the Powers major concerns. 14 disposals and 0 goals is not enough from a player of his brilliance. 4
Polec
Continued his strong form and outstanding start to the season with another very consistent game thru the midfield. The only one that is providing any run and carry at the moment and his contested numbers are becoming a feature. 6
Dixon
Great in the air and marked strongly but just couldn’t hit the scoreboard . His theme continued for most of the night and while there was much to like about his game , he is paid to kick goals and he was another that could not. 5
Watts
Busy and looked the most likely of the Powers forwards early to do some damage but couldnt and appeared to lose confidence quickly. It was a matter of close but not close enough and his errors by hand and foot proved costly from a player that should be better. 5
Bonner
Some good run and carry in a very intense game and one of only a couple that could do so in the heat of this battle. Still not back to his early season best but a solid game from the youngster. 6
Howard
Just not convinced he’s ready for ruck duties but in Ken they trust. Got some genuine talent and attacks the ball well but he is best suited to a role in defence and must be returned to that spot. 5
Byrne-Jones
Another quiet game from the young defender who appears to have lost his way in recent weeks. Second half was better but like several of the Powers’ young guns he has gone back into his shell and is too negatively focussed. 5
Westhoff
Much to like about his role in this game , unobtrusive as it was for the majority. 23 disposals is a good night out and three goal assists a more than handy return when the Power could only kick seven majors. 6
Jonas
Had the early job on Patrick Dangerfield instead of the injured Tom Hawkins and conceded an early mark and goal. Another to suffer late after a brutal outing and while he was resolute in the back half as always even he had some tough moments. 6
Houston
Quiet again in a pretty tough contest and there was little rebound from the youngster in this game. Got to understand he must play the same way regardless of the scoreboard. The Power need his brilliant ball use and rebound badly. 5
Sam Gray
Put the Power in front just after half time with some razzle dazzle and a goal from close range but like many it was too little and too inconsistent to be of any real value. 5
Amon
Very quiet first half with just the six disposals but a sensational goal late in the third term was a glimpse of what the Power see in this young man. Unfortunately there was not much else. 4
Hombsch
Began well in his return to senior football for the first time in 2018 and played like he had never missed a game. Quieter in the second half but played well enough to give the coach plenty to think about. 6
Thomas
Sensational goal from deep in the pocket was his first in Power colours and narrowed the margin to just over a goal nearing half time. Then it all went pear-shaped. As good as he can be, his worst as we did see cannot be tolerated. 4
Originally published as Chris McDermott’s Adelaide Crows, Port Adelaide Power Round 5 player ratings
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