Melbourne v Geelong: Every elimination final player rated
PATRICK Dangerfield’s game was average — by his lofty standards — and he must now be wondering if he’ll ever win a flag after the dominant Demons smashed his Cats in tonight’s elimination final. EVERY PLAYER RATED
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MELBOURNE dominated the clanger Cats in recording their first finals win in 12 years and didn’t the Dees fans love it?
Who starred and who stunk it up? Jon Anderson and Chris Cavanagh run the rule over every player who ran out for tonight’s elimination final.
ROBBO: DEES NO LONGER GENTLEMEN
SEPTEMBER DREAMS: DEES CAN CHALLENGE TIGERS
DEE-LIGHTED: HOW MELBOURNE DID IT
MELBOURNE
Rated by: Chris Cavanagh
Sam Weideman: 9: As good a final as you’d want to see from a young key forward in his 18th game. Marked it well and most importantly had scoreboard impact with three goals.
James Harmes: 9: Reputation grows by the week. Went head-to-head with Joel Selwood, found his own footy and had a game-high 11 tackles.
Jack Viney: 9: Couldn’t have asked for any more from a guy who hadn’t played a game for 62 days. Won 20 disposals and didn’t give an inch with 11 tackles.
Clayton Oliver: 8: Leading disposal winner on the ground with 29, 17 of which were contested, and also snagged 5 clearances. Tough as nails in some big clashes with Selwood and Dangerfield.
Alex Neal-Bullen: 8: Did some eye-catching things but missed a couple of gettable goals, like a few teammates.
Jordan Lewis: 8: Got himself in the right spots and took some big intercept marks, was hard-at-it and set up some important plays by foot.
Christian Salem: 8: Provided plenty of drive out of the back half and floated forward bit missed a couple of opportunities in front of goal.
Sam Frost: 7: Spent more of the game on Tom Hawkins and did well for the most part, keeping him to seven marks and two goals.
Angus Brayshaw: 7: Provided some good run and found a bit of the footy but didn’t quite reach the peaks he has this year.
Max Gawn: 7: Had big first and third quarters in an interesting battle with Ryan Abbott. Only had 11 disposals and three marks but never stopped crashing the packs.
Tom McDonald: 7: Would have got a 10 at halftime with 12 disposals, eight marks and a goal but faded a bit after that. Missed a couple of shots on goal but clunked everything that came his way.
Oscar McDonald: 7: Spent most his time as a spare across halfback and getting across to help Frost on Hawkins. Clunked six marks and had 16 touches.
Aaron vandenBerg: 6: Hard at it and finished up finding a bit of the ball with 18 touches.
Neville Jetta: 6: Didn’t win much of the footy with only seven touches but also didn’t get beaten in many one-on-ones, including matched up on Dangerfield a couple of times.
Nathan Jones: 6: Didn’t have his usual impact but worked hard inside and kicked a big captain’s goal in the final term.
Michael Hibberd: 6: Provided some good drive off halfback at times and applied some good pressure. Spent a bit of time on Menzel, who was kept quiet.
Christian Petraca: 5: Worked hard and did some classy things at times forward but only managed one behind.
Dom Tyson: 5: Worked hard and won some big contested balls but has had better games.
Jake Melksham: 5: Barely sighted in the first half but provided a spark after that, including an important third-quarter goal. Worked hard up the ground.
Mitch Hannan: 5: Didn’t have much impact for most of the night but kicked what was effectively the sealer midway through the third term after beating Lachie Henderson in a one-on-one on the wing.
Bayley Fritsch: 5: Worked hard in the backline but didn’t have a major say on proceedings.
Charlie Spargo: 3: Worked hard but only had three touches after halftime forward, in only his 16th game.
GEELONG
Rated by: Jon Anderson
Zach Tuohy: 7: Hasn’t played too many poor games since joining the hoops. Maybe he should teach some teammates what is required.
Harry Taylor: 7: When Rome was crumbling around him, Harry kept his head and proved there is good footy left in him.
Patrick Dangerfield: 7: Thought his game was average, but that was by Dangerfield standards. Must be starting to wonder if it will ever happen.
Tom Hawkins: 6: Continued what might have been his best year, despite an appalling lack of service.
Gary Ablett: 6: A fair way from the player he was but never doubt his commitment to the cause. Can he reinvent himself over summer?
Joel Selwood: 6: Typically committed but so undisciplined at such a vital moment in the third quarter.
Tim Kelly: 5: A wonderful first year but finals are a different level as he found out early. At least finished hard.
Mark Blicavs: 5: A hard ask given he is asked to fill many holes. His effort can’t be queried.
Sam Menegola: 5: A very good home and away footballer who to date has been found wanting in September.
Scott Sellwood: 5: Asked to play an unnatural role given the club’s inability to develop a small forward.
Jed Bews: 5: Like many of his teammates, neither one thing nor the other. Needs to find more ball.
Tom Stewart: 5: Solid but short of the extreme levels he has set over his first two season.
Jake Kolodjashnij: 5: Played to about his level which is fair to good. Just needs to find some X-factor.
Brandan Parfitt: 4: Unable to influence the game. Has to find ways to get more involved.
Lachie Henderson: 4: Has become a bit of a so-so player, not bad, not good, just there.
Jack Henry: 4: Every other club would love him but last night was just too big an ask.
Cam Guthrie: 4: Is a very good player at his best but there is too big a gap between his levels.
Mitch Duncan: 3: Has he played a worse game in the past five years? His disposal, so good normally, stank.
Daniel Menzel: 3: Requires the game to be on his terms given he functions at 65 per cent of what could have been.
Jordan Murdoch: 3: The time has come, the Walrus said, to think of other teams. And that’s what Murdoch and Geelong should pursue.
Ryan Abbott: 3: His effort will always be commendable but lacked class at this level.
Mark O’Connor: 3: Got better as the game went on and hopefully has a sharp learning curve.
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