Richmond had winners across the board, Adelaide’s stars had shockers, says Brendon Goddard

DUSTIN Martin and Jack Graham led Richmond but there were some ugly scores for Adelaide’s stars. BRENDON GODDARD reveals his Grand Final player ratings.

Jack Riewoldt celebrates a goal in the fourth quarter. Picture: Nicole Garmston

WHO starred and who stunk?

Richmond had winners across the ground as it broke a 37-year premiership drought while too many in Adelaide colours had quiet days.

Essendon star BRENDON GODDARD rates every Grand Final player.

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RICHMOND TIGERS

DUSTIN MARTIN 9

His last three quarters in particular were outstanding and made him a more than deserving Norm Smith Medallist.

JACK GRAHAM 9

Was sent to shut down Sloane in the midfield and did so. Got Tigers going in third term with two goals. Some fifth game.

Shane Edwards in action at the MCG. Picture: Michael Klein

Alex Rance wrestles with Taylor Walker. Picture: Phil Hillyard

DYLAN GRIMES 9

Did a huge job on Toby Greene a week earlier and followed it up with a massive job on Eddie Betts. Highly under-rated.

BACHAR HOULI 9

Arguably the best played on ground alongside Martin. Would have won Norm Smith if he had converted some opportunities.

DAVID ASTBURY 8

His job on Taylor Walker was outstanding all round. Rock solid one-on-one and provided some rebound off half-back.

NICK VLASTUIN 8

Early mistake gifted Eddie Betts a goal but after that he was calm, composed and had more influence than his stats suggest.

TOBY NANKERVIS 8

Jacobs beat him in the first half but his second half was clearly the best ruckman on the field. Impact in air also key.

DION PRESTIA 8

Probably Richmond’s best four-quarter performer aside from Houli. Was in everything through the middle.

JACOB TOWNSEND 8

Restricted Lever’s influence in the air and kicked two goals from eight touches.

KANE LAMBERT 8

Just OK in the first half but lit the Tigers up in the second half, particularly in third quarter, along with Graham.

Richmond celebrate the win. Picture: Mark Stewart

ALEX RANCE 8

Never beaten. Had a large impact without having huge stats. Otten tried to nullify him but Rance was unstoppable.

JACK RIEWOLDT 7

Started so well, just lacked conversion. But played role as tall and adapted to way game was being played.

SHANE EDWARDS 7

Found a bit of it. A little scrappy at times with his disposal but in thick of it all day and clearance work super.

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NATHAN BROAD 7

Won more than he lost and has become an important cog in the Tigers’ back-six. Tough at the contest.

TRENT COTCHIN 6

Not the usual impact we have come to expect compared but the skipper has had an outstanding finals series.

SHAUN GRIGG 6

A solid performance without being outstanding but can lay claim to being a 190cm premiership ruckman.

Jason Castagna celebrates a goal with teammates.

DAN BUTLER 6

Pressure, tackling and work rate was quality as it has been all year. Big tick.

JASON CASTAGNA 5

He was thereabouts most of the game but dropped some marks. Still played a key pressure role.

BRANDON ELLIS 5

Quiet day having had such a great year. Didn’t get involved in it a lot but did some nice things.

JOSH CADDY 5

Kicked a goal early and took a really good mark but was quiet thereafter. Wasn’t his greatest game but played role.

DANIEL RIOLI 5

Quiet day after a huge performance in the preliminary final but still provided pressure and intensity forward half.

KAMDYN McINTOSH 5

Little impact across the day. Did more right than he didn’t but did not deliver as much run and carry as usual.

Richmond players celebrate as Adelaide players collapse.

ADELAIDE CROWS

Richmond dominated the time in forward half. The Adelaide forwards had limited opportunity and the way the ball was coming in was not what they have become used to. It is usually the slicker ball movement that catches the backs off guard. Richmond did an unbelievable job of forcing them to kick long and sending them long down the line.

MATT CROUCH 9

In my opinion, the ballwinner had the best four-quarter performance of anyone on the ground on the day. Can definitely hold his head high and worked hard all day.

RORY LAIRD 8

He was one of the Crows’ best for the whole day and can hold his head high. Handled the pressure and got plenty of ball.

BRAD CROUCH 8

Like his brother, he delivered a consistent four-quarter showing. He did lack a bit of polish with the ball which was sometimes costly.

RICHARD DOUGLAS 7

He worked tirelessly all day long and was hard on the inside. Had a team-high eight tackles and finished with 20 touches.

Matt Crouch celebrates a goal with Rory Sloane. Picture: Sarah Reed

KYLE HARTIGAN 6

Had a solid day and wasn’t beaten much. Worked on Dustin Martin when he spent time forward and Richmond knew they could capitalise when he wasn’t there.

JAKE KELLY 6

Played his role and found a bit of the footy due to the high inside 50s from the Tigers, largely due to being in the right place at the right time and meeting the Tigers high inside 50 count.

RORY SLOANE 6

Started off superbly, and then went forward because Jack Graham went to him at start of the third. When that happened, he had no impact. Maybe sent there because Jack Graham was doing such a good job, or because they needed another marking target.

SAM JACOBS 6

Dominated Toby Nankervis and Shaun Grigg in the first half and was the best up to half-time and then Nankervis got on top of him later. Also worked out of defence.

Jake Lever watches the presentation. Picture Sarah Reed

RORY ATKINS 5

Another wingman that is genuinely good on the outside but low impact compared to usual standards. Failed to provide that run and overlap that he normally does.

PAUL SEEDSMAN 5

Not sure where he played – wing or half-back. He was starved of outside footy because of Richmond’s great work and their inside midfielders. Couldn’t get the ball cleanly, as is typical of Grand Finals – wingmen often get bypassed.

JAKE LEVER 5

The out-of-contract Crow was OK without being great. Didn’t get beaten often and didn’t have his usual impact in the air as he has done through most of the year.

DANIEL TALIA 5

Nullified Jack Riewoldt’s influence, particularly on the scoreboard after the first five minutes. He just needs to work harder and get involved in the offence more.

LUKE BROWN 5

Impact was low, but he actually played his role and stopped Tigers’ small forwards from impacting the scoreboard. Copped a knock to his knee just before half-time.

TOM LYNCH 5

The famed Crows link man played high up the ground to get his touches and didn’t really have an influence in the forward half where needed. Copped former plumber Nathan Broad all day.

Performed reasonably as the Crows were under the pump all day.

Rory Laird under pressure from Dan Butler. Picture: Phil Hillyard

CHARLIE CAMERON 5

Was lively early, and looked most likely of any of the Crows early but as the game went on, he – like most of the Crows forwards - lacked opportunities. Was troubled early by an apparent corked calf.

HUGH GREENWOOD 4

One of the best early, dominating clearances and contested work and then had no impact after an outstanding first quarter. Appeared to hurt his calf and had it strapped for entire second half.

ANDY OTTEN 4

Tried to nullify Alex Rance after the first quarter as the defender ran riot, but had little luck. Gave away a few free kicks due to Rance’s great body positioning.

RILEY KNIGHT 3

Another who had little impact, but was clean and hard around the ball. As a young player, has a very bright future and there is plenty to look forward to.

Sam Jacobs and Josh Jenkins watch as the medal presentation. Picture Sarah Reed

EDDIE BETTS 3

Compared to his lofty standards, the small forward had no impact. It was his worst game of the year, on the biggest stage of all.

TAYLOR WALKER 3

He managed a goal or two late in the game, but had no impact or presence for most of the day. Will definitely be disappointed to not be taking the cup back across the border.

DAVID MACKAY 3

I think he was playing half-back, because saw him on the smalls a lot. Had little to no impact and was barely sighted for most of the afternoon.

JOSH JENKINS 1

No impact. Needed to play as a tall due to the style of the game. In that way, he would have gotten himself into the game more and would have ended up getting a few more touches, but failed to do so.