The ratings are in – let the “you got that wrong” begin.
These ones come courtesy of JB Eddy and The Prophet, Jimmy Day.
Sydney (JB Eddy)
[24] Dane Rampe – 7
Rampe gave his team some nice drive out of the back line, but had moments where he’d miss a target or choose the wrong time to leave his man to help a teammate. Had some nice runs through the middle though, and his speed was a major asset.
[30] Tom McCartin- 5
McCartin was frustrating for a lot of the game. Crashing packs when the only people flying for marks were teammates, handballing to opponents and generally getting caught out of position a lot. Hogan’s mobility caused him all sorts of headaches, but oddly for a backman, he seemed uncomfortable when standing on the smaller guys too. Jones, Greene and Daniels all had moments where they made him look out of position. He’d want to pick it up a bit in the next match. They got the win here, but it would’ve been much easier if the back six had a little more coordination.
[22] Nick Blakey – 6
This might seem a bit harsh on Blakey to give him a six, considering he had some fantastic runs to transition his team from defence into offence, but that sort of mobility is the standard for an average half-back now, and Blakey is far too good to be average.
There were whole blocks of 10+ minutes where Blakey just went missing. Much of it was when he’d attempt to be an option in a possession chain, but just couldn’t quite get to the right spots, then having to sprint back to cover his man.
He picked up Cadman a few times, and Blakey was pretty good on him, beating him for speed and being willing to leap into the contest when necessary.
Still, he can be a game breaker when he’s on song, so Blakey needs to lift a bit.
[14] Callum Mills – 7
Mills epitomised finals footy in this match. Not a backward step was taken all game. When there was a melee, he’s right there in the middle. When one of his teammates copped a hit, he was on the spot to remonstrate. He even tried to give Keiran Briggs a bit of push and shove. It had no effect, but I liked the energy he brought. It was the sort of ‘never say die’ attitude that the team desperately needed.
His game had a little bit of everything, but didn’t really excel in any area. That’s not a bad thing though, he had his role and he stuck to it, allowing the other teammates to take the innovating playmaker job that was vital in the Swans’ comeback.
[7] Harry Cunningham – 8.5
Cunningham seemed to be tasked with the role of curtailing Brent Daniels for most of the first half, and was mostly successful in that. His ability to put pressure on opponents with the ball was excellent, and very fitting for a game of finals footy. He spent some time on Toby Greene too, and didn’t seem intimidated at all — solid game from the lad.
[43] Lewis Melican – 6
Melican wasn’t too bad for most of the game, but when playing on Hogan or Cadman, he was cut up pretty badly far too often. It’s fair to say that both are quality forwards, and on their day are very hard to stop, but… that’s the gig. He also spent a lot of time out the back of the pack trying to quarterback the play by running backwards and then wheeling around to spot up someone in the corridor. It worked more times than it didn’t, but also caused turnover scores far more often than they’d have liked.
He did work hard, and tried to shepherd his teammates regularly, so I’m giving him a six for his work off the ball when it probably deserves a five.
[44] Jake Lloyd – 9.5
His work in the transition play was outstanding. 888 metres gained with his 32 disposals. I’d have given him a 10 except for being inaccurate with his goal kicking, managing 1.2. Most of his ball use was in space, due to him working hard to create it. Multiple full-ground runs where he made the effort to be an option at several points of the play.
Very impressive game.
[1] Chad Warner – 9
I’m probably inflating Chad’s score due to his efforts in the last quarter, but I’m OK with that, as that’s when it was needed the most. Warner came in and out of the game throughout, but in the last 20 minutes, he was everywhere. Tackling, running, marking, and being a vital cog in the possession chains inside forward 50.
If the Swans had gone down, he’d probably have gotten about a seven, but without him giving it his absolute all in the final term, the Swans wouldn’t have stood a chance. He was a difference-maker.
[21] Errol Gulden – 8
A solid game from Gulden, but he’s capable of more. 23 touches, four tackles and five clearances isn’t a bad return for a bloke playing mostly on the wing, but he struggled to keep himself in the game for periods of time, and this was when Josh Kelly was able to hurt him. He didn’t really take the line-breaker role on as much as we’ve seen in the regular season either. It’ll be interesting to see how he’s used in the prelim against Port or the Hawks.
He did come alive in the last quarter when it counted though, playing a link-up role along the wings while also working hard to give the runners in the corridor value when they were in space, so he gets an eight for executing when it counts.
[26] Luke Parker – 8
I know a score of 8 will raise some eyebrows for a bloke that struggled to impact the game directly for a good three quarters, but when a team has a come-from-behind win like this, part of the reason is due to the on-field leadership of guys like Parker.
Watching the game, he was relentless in an often-undervalued factor; he kept talking to his teammates.
Besides keeping them focused, he’d be yelling out instructions on how to set up their structure, pull someone back to cover an opponent, or even directing players on where their next kick should go just as they gathered it.
His numbers may not have been all that impressive, but his ability to coordinate his teammates was.
[17] James Jordon – 7
“Finals Footy” is a term used a lot, but to my mind it means dealing with (and applying) pressure. Jordon can say he did that, especially in the forward 50 where he spent most of his time. His tackling in the area 25 metres from goal was brilliant, helping to block an easy exit from defence for GWS, and he helped set up multiple goals for teammates, but couldn’t find one for himself.
[6] Logan McDonald – 7
McDonald was… okay. He worked hard to get position, and did have some decent marks to go with a goal, but generally struggled to find space in the forward line. His work up the ground was OK, but there were times when he needed to impose himself physically and he just… didn’t. He’s a fair sized lad, with the potential to tear games apart, so it was frustrating to see how rarely he’d put pressure on his opponent once the ball got to ground. It’d be a six, except that he scored a goal at the time when his team needed it the most as they faced down a 27-point margin near the end of the third quarter.
[11] Tom Papley – 9
Papley embraced the irritating goalsneak role as he does so well, and it paid off. More than once, he got in the face of a GWS player to let them know just how good his last possession was, picking fights with Toby Greene, Tom Green, and even Jason McCartney as they were coming off the ground after a bit of a scuffle.
He worked hard, took on the contest and never backed down an inch. I don’t know if I’d like to share a hotel room with him on a road trip, but when you need someone to rev up the side and put pressure on the opposition, there are few likely to cause their opponent to lose their minds than Papley — especially once he’s put a couple of goals on the scoreboard.
[36] Joel Amartey – 5
Amartey should have gotten a three or worse, except the late goal when his team needed it the most got him a reprieve. His pressure was good, but a key forward who doesn’t get a mark or recover his own ground ball isn’t much use. If I’m feeling uncharitable, I could point to his lack of impact in the game as the reason why his player gave him so much space at the death, but he did still manage to get himself in the right place at the right time, and make the most of his moment. So five it is.
[9] Will Hayward – 8
Two nice goals from Hayward, with the second coming just after the start of the final quarter to really give his team some momentum in their chase.
He paired well with Jordon as Jordon would try and put pressure on opponents when they’d collect a loose ball, while Hayward stayed a little away from the pack to be a handball option that could set up a teammate, or take his own shot.
I’d like to see him put a little more pressure around the contest, but his role was to keep himself in space, and he did that well.
[4] Brodie Grundy – 6
Grundy played a decent role around the ground, but had a hard time when shoulder-to-shoulder with Briggs. His mids resorted to intercepting the taps from Briggs to get first use, and that’s not ideal.
Brodie did get some nice clearances when playing opposite Keeffe, but you’d want a bit more physicality from your primary ruckman, especially in finals. Maybe the next flight they sit him next to Papley all the way, that might get him pissed off enough to start throwing his weight around.
[5] Isaac Heeney – 10
A best-on-ground performance. When his team needed a lift, he provided it. Some strong marks capped by an absolute screamer and a skillful one-hander to complement his 30 touches (18 contested), seven clearances, eight score involvements, and three goals.
Watching the game live, he seemed to be doing everything and getting everywhere.
If he can repeat this performance a couple more times, Swans have every chance to take home the flag.
[8] James Rowbottom – 9
Rowbottom was relentless in his tackling and pressure on the ball carrier. He shut down a lot of GWS’ run by simply making sure he was hot on the heels of his opponent whenever they were near the ball, and more than willing to put a strong tackle on once they got it. A very workman-like game where he worked his arse off all day and found another gear in the last quarter.
[13] Oliver Florent – 5
Florent is capable of much more than what he showed in this game. He wasn’t bad exactly, more that he just seemed a bit slower than everyone else and struggled to use the ball wisely once he’d earned it.
19 touches for a backman isn’t bad at all, but he didn’t hurt GWS with the ball as much as he could have. Maybe I’m being harsh, but I’ve been bullish on Florent for a while, and I think he has more to give than what he showed here.
[34] Matt Roberts – 5
While Roberts is still a young lad, he had a middling game here, and will need to try and lift his standard if he wants to be part of a flag campaign.
He wasn’t’ bad — he had 15 touches, three tackles and a clearance — but he didn’t really hurt GWS with the ball either. Only 197 metres gained when he could have taken the game on much more effectively. His stints in the middle were OK without being particularly impressive. I think he can do better.
[2] Hayden McLean – 4
McLean played a utility role, moving forward, doing some ruck work, and policing the fat side to shut down the play on occasion. It looked at times like he was trying to mirror Jesse Hogan’s ability to move up to the wing to help his team shift the ball out of defence, but McLean couldn’t execute anywhere near as well as Hogan did, spilling the ball far too often, and being too far from the play at other times.
[27] Justin McInerney – 2
Had no impact on the game at all, and was subbed out near the end of the third quarter with only six touches and a concern on his knee that had kept him out until this game. Should be a little worried about whether he gets a run, whether or not his knee isn’t badly damaged.
[16] Braeden Campbell [SUB] – 10
Came on very late in the third quarter and had an immediate impact. His run-and-gun style was exactly what the Swans needed to chase down GWS, and to finish with nine touches, three marks, two tackles, 244 metres gained and a goal is a stunning result for a player coming in with his team needing to overcome a 21-point deficit.
Longmire likely deserves a bit of credit here for knowing when and how to use Campbell, but Braeden’s ability to execute when needed most was a big contributor to the result.
GWS (Jimmy Day)
[27] Harry Himmelberg – 3
I’m honestly surprised he had 15 touches because I felt like I saw him only once or twice. I originally gave him a 1, but when I consider the lack of impact of the Swans’ big men, he must have done something right, so I’ve upped his score.
[15] Sam Taylor – 9
He almost won his side the game in the final quarter. With key intercept marks and general intercepts, he was a brick wall against the swarming Swans. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a lot of support. But, Taylor shows us week in, week out why he is one of the best key defenders in the game. He reads where the ball is going sometimes even before the kicker does, and he seldom gets pushed off the ball or out of the contest.
[39] Connor Idun – 7
Was often the last man for the Giants. Did a solid job on the myriad of small/medium forwards the Swans have, and made good decisions for the most part. Has become very reliable and a key cog in the Giants defence and transition.
[6] Lachie Whitfield – 7
Had James Jordon following him around for much of the game, but did contribute. He was able to provide his usual run and carry and elite disposal at times, but faded like most of his teammates.
[44] Jack Buckley – 8
Got split open, but didn’t let that stop him from throwing his body into contests and trying to curtail Swans forwards. Has become a really reliable and valuable asset and support to Sam Taylor, requiring opposition forwards to engage him or he can intercept and repel. He also gets an extra point for protecting Isaac Heeney on his dismount from ‘Mark of the Decade’.
[36] Harry Perryman – 3
Didn’t really endear himself to potential suitors today with a relatively quiet and ineffective game. On a couple of occasions he found himself in space and ahead of the play, but the game wasn’t often played through him.
[17] Finn Callaghan – 6
Had 25 touches, but it wasn’t the line-breaking display he can sometimes have. He covered the ground well and did provide an outlet, but also made some terrible mistakes – emphasised by his turnover in the last term where his pressured kick went straight to Tom Papley who goaled. The lack of a right foot for Callaghan hurt in that moment, and at others. Solid, without being great.
[12] Tom Green – 5
Won plenty of the ball but didn’t offer much defensively. While he started well and was somewhat of the quarterback early, his impact waned the longer the game went. As the Swans mids started to take over, Green couldn’t mount much in response. The grade may be harsh, but it’s because he was mostly a front-runner today. Had 10 clearances, so was brutal around the stoppages – particularly early – however, his 32 disposals only netted 2 score involvements meaning when he got it, it rarely ended with anything constructive.
[22] Josh Kelly – 5
27 disposals, but limited influence. Sure, he distributed well, and set players up at times, but this wasn’t his usual damaging best with ball in hand. When Kelly is flying, he’s carrying the ball and taking ground and he is noticeable. That wasn’t really evident today.
[16] Brent Daniels – 1
Are we sure Daniels played? 11 disposals and 7 tackles apparently. Probably warrants more than a score of one, but I just found him to be completely ineffective and irrelevant to the game. Whether that’s lingering issues with his back, we won’t really know. But Daniels was well down on his usual impact.
[5] Aaron Cadman – 6
Kicked three goals and had some moments, but was largely unsighted. Gets a pass mark because of his accuracy when others were struggling with it. Continues to improve and will be a force in the years to come.
[13] Isaac Cumming – 7
Super reliable and always in the right spot. Ran the lines well, and regularly used it well going forward. Doesn’t win heaps of the ball, but plays a role and felt like he had more of it than he did – a sign that what he did must have been half decent.
[2] Darcy Jones – 9
This might seem generous, but I felt like he was often the Giants most influential player. He just seems to find himself in the right places at the right times. He’s unafraid to lay a tackle on a bigger player, and he makes good decisions with ball in hand. And, he hits the scoreboard. When the Swans fought back in the third term, it was Darcy Jones who wrestled control of the game back to the Giants single handedly. A great outing in his first final.
[23] Jesse Hogan – 8
The Swans had no answer early. He loomed large as the difference maker today and was comfortably the best key forward on the park. As the game went, the Swans were able to up their pressure meaning the ball wasn’t delivered to him as cleanly. His ability to be the release mark out of D50 – or Gooj, Get out of Jail – is by far the best in the comp, with his vice-like hands.
[4] Toby Greene – 2
Look, I’d be in the top half dozen of the Toby Greene Fan Club, but he was pretty disappointing today. At points, it looked like he was trying to do too much and he was, uncharacteristically, not clean. His many fumbles and dropped marks did not help his side at all. And his opponent (Rampe) was able to have an impact. If only he showed as much desire for the ball and the goals as he did in his quarter time wrestle with Tom Papley!
[32] Kieren Briggs – 5
Started well and bullied Grundy early. Had chances in front of goal but butchered them and Grundy probably ran the game out better. That said, Briggs was influential in the ruck but wasn’t as influential at ground level as he often is.
[3] Stephen Coniglio – 2
Disappointing today. Numerous contests where he didn’t go in hard enough. As one of the veterans and leaders at the club, Coniglio did nowhere near enough today. In the Mongrel writers chat, there were numerous instances of us remarking on his unwillingness to get low enough or put his body in the line. Finals are about winning the hard ball and the big contests … Coniglio looked like he wanted no part of either of those today.
[20] James Peatling – 8
He is apparently sought after by other clubs, and he did his value no harm today. While he only had 15 disposals, his 12 tackles added a hard edge around the contest and curtailed some of the Swans mids for much of the game. He hit the scoreboard as well and had a very well-rounded game.
[8] Callan Ward – 7
Ward is proof you can teach an old dog new tricks. While his hardness at the contests is not new, his dancing snap in the forward pocket in the last term was special and almost enough for his side to hold on.
[7] Lachie Ash – 6
A bit of a weird one. I thought he had more of the footy than he did, so that’s why he gets the same or more as others who had more of the footy. He’s a solid contributor and his positioning around the contest is fantastic – while he may not always get the ball, he interrupts his opponents’ run at the ball.
[31] Toby McMullin – 3
Subbed out with just the 7 touches and a goal. Has a bit of speed and has a crack but had limited impact on the game, even when the ball spent big portions in the Giants forward half. Plenty to work with in the future.
[25] Lachlan Keeffe – 6
The journeyman had some big moments throughout the game. Some of it was just being a big body in the contest, but he was able to hit the scoreboard. A miss in the last quarter was a lowlight, but based on what you’d expect from him, he over delivered today.
[33 – SUB] Xavier O’Halloran – 4
Only really had a quarter, but brought intensity and got involved in the play. Had the six touches and worked hard to harass his opponents and find his teammates with ball in hand.
