Player ratings for the Power’s Semi-Final win over the Hawks are in, courtesy of of The Slugger and JB Eddy
Port Adelaide (Nick Sluggett)
[34] Lachie Jones – 6
Great attack on the footy. One of many Port players to have lifted his intensity from last week. Played a big role in keeping the suite of Hawthorn small forwards quiet.
[25] Brandon Zerk-Thatcher – 6
Was decent in this match. He just drops too many marks for me. Hold three or four of those and he goes from a five to a nine in an instant. He was still solid, no doubt and played an honest match and beat his opponents. He must’ve enjoyed each time he matched up on Chol as it was the only time he looked like the tougher and more competent player in the match-up.
[14] Miles Bergman – 7
A classic Bergman performance in this game. Some great intercepts. Big one-on-ones and some dashing run out of defence. Covered well when teammates lapsed and played both tall and small across the four quarters. Probably the only Port Adelaide player to have been consistent across both finals matches so far.
[8] Josh Sinn – 5
Great rebound out of defence, as well as a couple of critical wins in disadvantaged contests. One of many Power players over the course of the night who played his role well. Just didn’t let himself get beaten badly and gave his team’s stars the opportunity to get to work and win the game. Unheralded by some but his combination with Bergman and Jones against the rampaging Hawthorn smalls was important. It doens’t get any easier next week.
[21] Aliir Aliir – 5
The numbers don’t look too bad but Aliir was caught out on a few occasions in this game. Namely a couple that nearly cost his team the game. He took the points against the young Dear. However, that contest late in the game where Sicily marked the ball and had a shot to win the game should be in Aliir’s mind all week. He had to attack the ball. He can’t be as indecisive next week against a superior Swans outfit. It’s fine to take the front position, but you can’t just take that position and then wait for your opponent to move. Be proactive!
[43] Logan Evans – 8
Does so much right. Reads the ball well in the air, bodies up well. Has a good head on him. But sometimes his foot skills just leave you with your heart in your mouth. Some of them could’ve been costly, but when you can win the football back from the opposition like Evans does, I suppose you can forgive a few mis-kicks when you win the ball and drive it so far back the other way.
[7] Jase Burgoyne – 10
I refuse to believe this is the same player from last week. Wonder if his old man gave him a bit of a talking to during the week along the lines of “What was that game last week? You’re a Burgoyne wearing the number seven. Play like it!” Or maybe he just drank some of Bugs Bunny’s “Secret Stuff”. Whatever it was he pulled a whole lot of confidence and physicality from nowhere to be a standout in this match. Took his form from the final 5 minutes of last week’s game into this one and just ran riot. I have never seen a bigger chasm between a player’s performance from one week to the next in a finals series. It cannot be understated. I would encourage people to watch both games just to see the difference. He honestly could’ve (or should’ve) been dropped after the Geelong game, but Hinkley stuck with him and Burgoyne repaid that faith 10-times over. The calm and poise, the movement and the ability to fight and win the ball back form an opponent. Jase lived up to his surname and more in this Semi Final.
[16] Ollie Wines – 6
Did all the usual tough stuff in the middle that no one sees. His best work is done with dinky kicks and short handballs while having multiple opponents hanging off him. It doesn’t read large on the stat sheet, but was critical against the likes of Newcombe and Worpel going the other way. Port will need another classic big inside mid game from him next week.
[28] Willem Drew – 9
Criminally underrated. Some very important plays in the first half. Just so clean in the contest and a really steady head on his shoulder. Matched up on D’Ambrosio and then Newcombe for most of the night and kept each opponent accountable and hurt them by going and getting the ball and being bloody effective with it. Drew just does the tough stuff. Sure DBJ got the rundown tackle late in the game, but it was Drew who busted his gut and got over to spoil the ball and create the contest. Honestly can’t believe he didn’t have 30 disposals in this game given the impact he had on it. I had him as the Powers best midfielder.
[33] Darcy Byrne-Jones – 8
After having to go back last week to try and provide some run, Hinkley moved DBJ back to his regular spot in the forward line and he stood up for the Power. His run was telling as he got behind opponents on the way back to goal and formed a lethal combination with Willie Rioli. He brought great pressure through the night. Had a real classic goal-sneak goal off a smother in the 3rd quarter. Huge chase late in the game.
[27] Esava Ratugolea – 7
Did what he couldn’t last week and just competed. Gave Port the contest they needed down the line. Was able to clunk a couple of important marks early. Got his confidence going. Got a lucky free kick in a two-on-one in the second quarter. Had some important ruck minutes in the third quarter to give Sweet a rest. And then went back and took the game saving mark in the last quarter.
[15] Willie Rioli – 10
This final series has already shown to rise and fall by its small forwards. Rioli’s role in this match was critical. Everything about Rioli’s game was big. Big goals. Big hits. Big assists. Big Spoils! Just BIG moments all over the place. And he just about didn’t make a mistake or do something stupid. Brought the heat early and looked like he was going to run himself ragged in the opening quarter he was involved so much. Luckily there was petrol left in the tank later in the game. Managed to get out the back a couple times and kicked vital goals to ensure Port held their lead. Rioili’s decision making with the ball-in-hand is elite. If he has the ball 50-70m out, it’s ending up on a Port player’s chest.
[19] Mitch Georgiades – 8
Took some but not all of his chances. Albeit there were some tough ones in there. Was clutch when he needed to be and performed well as the focal point of the Port Adelaide forward line. No Dixon. No effect from Marshall. No worries with Georgiades.
[1] Connor Rozee – 7
It wasn’t quite a captain’s game from Rozee, but it was bloody close. Another Port Adelaide midfielder with not-huge numbers but some big moments. The key factor in Rozees game was his defensive efforts. His pressure and attack on the Hawthorn players to stymie their run and ball movement was inspirational. He also kicked an important goal to open the match and give his team some confidence.
[24] Jordon Sweet – 9
Sweet had a huge task coming into this game. Everyone saw what Meek did to Tim English last week at the MCG. It was so important that Meek didn’t get the Hawks midfield going against the Power. It was a really good start by Sweet early and he only grew from there. I felt he had Meek covered in the ruck and was the more physical ruckman. And anytime he got matched up on a different Hawk he tried to make them pay. Sweet also had a huge game saving chase late in the fourth quarter on Mabior Chol. A moment Power fans won’t forget.
[18] Jason Horne-Francis – 8
Looked threatening for most of the night. Gave away a critical 50 in the second quarter when the Hawks were making their run. Looked to have hurt himself at three-quarter-time but stayed on and went forward. Kicked a massive goal in the last quarter and played himself to the point of just about needing a stretcher for the amount of cramp he was suffering.
[9] Zak Butters – 7
Sore ribs? What sore ribs? Threw himself around like he had been shot out of a cannon. Was a bigger factor in the first half but had some important moments in the last quarter. There was a particular ball in the centre square where Butters went up and exposed his ribs, won the ball, and the subsequent play got Port back the lead. It was a critical moment.
[10] Travis Boak – 5
It felt like Boak got pushed out of the middle a bit tonight, with Port’s desire to have Wines, JHF, Butters, Drew and Rozee all going through there. It’s the theme of the night for the Port midfielders where his numbers are not great to look at but he just did enough right when it mattered. The veteran has been here before and knows what it is about.
[42] Quinton Narkle – 3
Was okay in the first half before a real purple patch in the third quarter. Struggled to get involved at points in the game. Tried hard. The Hawks mids and half-backs were generally holding sway. So his pressure was a factor.
[44] Jackson Mead – 3
Played his role. Just halve the contest until help arrives. Is never going to be the match winner but can ensure he doesn’t lose you the match. In the glut of Port outside mids and half-forwards whose greatest weapon in this game was pressure, more than anything else.
[31] Francis Evans – 3
Evans was tagging Sicily in the first half. He only had one disposal, but so did Sicily in the first quarter. Although he got off the chain in the second and third quarters. Sicily went forward in the last quarter meaning Evans was freed up. He was serviceable and did find a bit of his own football and was able to give a good contest.
[4] Todd Marshall – 2
Kicked a goal early and had a couple of touches, but then became a real non-factor in the game and was eventually subbed. Always a big ask to be brought into such a massive final off a long layoff. He will be better for the run if the Power sticks with him for next week. Will be a tough choice between Marshall and Dixon as I don’t think you can play both.
[SUB] [36] Will Lorenz – N/A
Can’t rate the guy on a quarter of football.
Hawthorn (JB Eddy)
Hawthorn were victorious in this match, if it were scored in the Sonnen-Anderson scoring system whereby winning three quarters to one would have seen them progress to the prelim.
Unfortunately for the Hawks, they were a victim of the archaic ‘first-past-the-post’ system that rewards teams that play in bursts rather than overall consistency.
Regardless, here’s how I saw the contributions from the team betrayed by this draconian way of deciding a victor:
[15] Blake Hardwick – 3
Hardwick had the job on Willie Rioli, and without burying the lad too much, he wasn’t up to it.
Rioli had a BOG performance, and it looked like part of the reason for that was Hardwick trying to play the tough defender when he should have been the smart one.
Early on in the game, there was a bit of a melee in the pocket after a tackle went over the boundary and both teams came in to remonstrate. Hardwick dumped Rioli with an opportunistic double-leg dump that seemed to light a bit of a fire in Willie, who made Blake pay for the rest of the night.
It’s hard to defend a player like Rioli, as his pace, agility and aerial ability mean he can hurt you in so many ways, but trying to flatten him doesn’t seem to be the best option either.
It wasn’t Hardwick’s night. After one particularly strong intercept mark he tried to switch play by foot only for it to cannon off Georgiades’ head, right into the path of a Port player who ran away with it to kick an easy goal. That’s some terrible luck, but it’s indicative of the night he had; a fraction of a second off where he needed to be.
[29] Jai Serong – 4
“He’s not that guy” was a quote from MongrelChat when Serong was standing Georgiades, and I think that sums up his game.
Serong’s eight touches and four tackles were a fairly average return for a lockdown defender, but only one mark and having Mitch kick three on him shows just how his night went.
In fairness, Serong has spent most of the season in the VFL, managing only four AFL games this year, and came in for an injured Sam Frost, and the other depth defender Blanck having done his ACL.
While Serong has the height, he doesn’t yet seem to have the muscle and experience necessary to take on players like Georgiades and win the contest with enough consistency just yet.
He’s only 21 though, and earned a spot in the VFL team of the year for his work at Box Hill, so his upside is enormous. He just wasn’t up to AFL finals footy standard in the role that he had to play here. Had he been allowed to be the mobile defender, he’d have had a much better night, but as they say, if his grandma had wheels, she’d have been a bike.
[4] Jarman Impey – 6
Some great intercept marking work that saved goals, but some poor decisions too.
His pressure on the ball was great, but struggled to execute at times, with some wayward handballs that ricocheted off teammates to become ground balls. Hard to love his game, but he put in 100% effort for most of the time he was on the ground.
[25] Josh Ward – 6
Some ordinary decisions. Repeatedly handballed to players under pressure, and his disposal by foot wasn’t that clean either. Part of that can be put down to the excellent forward pressure from Port, but in the end he struggled to adapt to the pace of finals football.
[6] James Sicily – 9.5
On paper, it might seem overs to give Sicily a 9 when he missed the probable match-winner, but for my money, he was a big reason why the Hawks got so close, and will likely be around the mark again next year.
His work down back was good for most of the game, barely giving his opponents space, and coming in for the zone defence at smart times, but when his team found themselves down by three goals and with the game threatening to run away from them, Mitchell threw him into the forward line with immediate impact. He goaled, and was an option in several forward scoring chances, the last of which was a shot from a mark that bent to the left at just the wrong moment to hit the post, with just over a minute remaining.
All of that together probably deserves a 7-8, but after the siren had gone, I think he earned a couple more points when Ken Hinkley started going in on Jack Ginnivan for his now-infamous ‘see you in 14 days’ social media post to Brodie Grundy.
Winners can do as they please, and Hinkley can certainly let Jack know about it, but it seemed a bit of a carry-on, considering it was pretty much a throwaway line. Still, the old ‘don’t dish it if you can’t take it’ saying is appropriate.
But despite Sicily probably feeling like he wanted to crawl into a hole after missing a key shot and being the captain of the losing side, he stood up for his player and threw some words back at Hinkley before chairing off Luke Breust to celebrate an amazing career.
I don’t think I’d enjoy a beer with Sicily, but I can definitely respect a captain that will stand up for his players at all times, especially when he’d personally be feeling pretty low, and literally put himself between his teammates and the opposition.
If he’d nailed that last shot, I’d have given him an 11.
[14] Jack Scrimshaw – 8
When Hawthorn picked up Scrimshaw, I remember telling some Hawks fans that they had a bargain with him, and I think this match showed why. His work as an intercept was brilliant, and he kept Todd Marshall to a lowly five touches, a great stat for any defender. Throw in a mighty 549 metres gained and it’s a good night by any backman’s standard.
The only thing I’d have liked to see is a little more physicality in his tackling, but if I had to guess, I’d say he was told to prioritise negating Marshall getting space in front of the play over running in to help a teammate, so I won’t mark him down much for that.
[10] Karl Amon – 7
Amon had a fairly quiet first half, but livened up in the last quarter when the game was on the line. It looked like Drew and Boak both spent time on him, with Boak in particular ensuring that whenever he had the ball, he didn’t have space to work with.
He was mighty with his work on the wing and through the centre in the final stanza of the game though, so all up his night was more good than not.
[13] Dylan Moore – 5
A decent night that should have been a great one.
He was so close to breaking the game open several times. He had some good chances to run through the middle that were shut down by hard-running opponents. He had chances to find a teammate that were frustrated by being just a moment too late with the delivery, and his late game set shot that hit the post was a little too rushed, even if it did result in a goal to Maginness shortly thereafter.
He was almost the difference for Hawthorn, but in a game this tight, the extra few per cent they needed from him made his game just short of what his team needed from him.
[23] Josh Weddle – 6
Had some nice moments where his work in the back half led to rebounding possession chains, and was clean by foot on his short kicks most of the time. There were times though when his team was streaming forward and he had a moment to choose whether to pull the trigger on a fast play or hold it up, and chose to hold it perhaps a little too often. Still, that’s better than trying to take an opportunity after it’s passed, so it’s not a terrible outcome.
[32] Finn Maginness – 8
It seemed like Maginness was everywhere at times. Whether the ball was forward or back, it looked like there was a 32 around the ball every time the camera zoomed out.
Maginness did a bit of everything, working forward to be an option for his teammates, floating back to play the crumbing or intercept defender, and transitioning well through the middle of the ground.
Sam Mitchell must love being able to throw Finn into any area of the ground and know he’ll get something out of him.
His late goal gave his team a big Bill Lawry-sized sniff of victory, and it was almost enough. No doubt he’ll come back for 2025 even better.
[18] Mabior Chol – 2
Chol had a hard night against the excellent talls that Port were able to throw at him. Aliir Aliir out-muscled him regularly when they matched up, and Zerk-Thatcher out-positioned him far too often, while he also struggled to earn his own ball.
He was perhaps a little lucky with a tackle being called a free kick for a sling to give him his goal for the game, but the one that will haunt him is when he was called for running too far into the forward 50 in the final quarter. I counted 14 steps since his bounce, so he might be considered a little unlucky with it due to many players being given a bit more grace, but he should have farmed that ball off earlier anyway.
I want to point to some of the good things he did, but to be honest, I didn’t note many beyond spoiling the ball when not in a position to mark, but most of them were in the forward 50 when he should have been in a position to mark.
He gets a point for his goal, and one for turning up, but that’s the best I can do for him.
[31] Connor Macdonald – 2
Frustrating is a fair word to use for Macdonald’s game. Overawed may be another. He looked skittish at times, fumbling ground ball collects while an opponent bore down on him.
On one hand, it’s understandable. Macdonald is a young lad, and not the biggest frame on the park. But on the other, any hesitation around the contest is costly, even more so in finals. Where most players on the ground seemed to relish the chance to hit a body, Macdonald looked in two minds.
His age gives him some leeway here, but I find it hard to imagine that a player who short-steps too often into a contest will be given much time by the Hawk’s coaching staff.
[33] Jack Ginnivan – 6
Ginnivan kicked two in an otherwise quiet game, but that’s a decent return for his type of player. He was well held for much of the game, and the pressure that Port brought to their defence meant he had little space to work with. Still, he did his job.
Unfortunately, his “see you in 14 days” social media post and the post-game Hinkley spray will likely put extra pressure on Jack, but that’s the way it goes. If you’re going to throw some shade, you can’t be too upset if it comes back at you.
[34] Nick Watson – 9
Watson’s back-to-back goals in the third quarter were vital in giving the Hawks the momentum and giving them a slight lead at the time. His third early in the last quarter drew the Hawks level and ratcheted up the pressure in an already tight game.
Yes, he went for long periods unsighted, but that’s the luck of being a small forward—you’re not expected to rack up big numbers, just make the most of the moments when they come, and he did that. Three goals in a tight final where his team only kicked 11 is a huge return for a 19-year-old kid who looks like he couldn’t meet the height requirements of some of the rides at the Royal Melbourne Show.
[17] Lloyd Meek – 4
I’ll be honest, I expected Meek to give Sweet a bath. Meek’s season has been excellent and has rarely had his colours lowered by any opponent. Sweet has had a good year as well, but Meek’s work at stoppages and being part of the engine room at the coal face has been excellent. However, Sweet showed him (and anyone doubting his potential) that it isn’t always about earning your own ball when you have mids that can do that for you.
Meek still earned his clearances, but as the game wore on, Sweet’s tap work moved to an elite level. Meek was beaten to the front position regularly, and when Sweet was controlling the tap, Meek didn’t pick the right moment to switch from winning the contest to negating the tap. That’s a lesson he’ll have to learn as he moves into the prime of his career over the next few seasons, and it’s one that Sweet understood very well in this high-pressure match-up.
I don’t want to heap too much crap on the lad, and like I said he had a great 2024, but if he’d found another gear in the second half as his opponent did, Hawks would be through to a prelim.
[5] James Worpel – 6
I struggled to rate Worpel here. On one hand, his pressure at the contest was excellent (team high 27 pressure acts), and his six clearances were vital for the Hawks, but on the other he had far too many brain-fart decisions where he was caught holding the ball while doing that sort of indecisive jog that causes coaches to break phones, fumbled some ground ball gets when he needed to be clean, and sprayed some easy passes to the opposition.
He’ll be one of the lads hitting preseason with a hell of a lot of motivation for next year, so it should be interesting to see how he comes back. Don’t be surprised if the AFL journos have his name attached to the ‘training the house down’ headlines next year.
[3] Jai Newcombe – 9
Newcombe worked his arse off all day, and I think the coaches and supporters would have been pretty pleased with his efforts. He earned his own ball, as well as running his guts out to be an option in the possession chains as they moved from defence to offence. His 31 touches were mostly handballs as he distributed the ball out of the pack, but he wasn’t afraid to break out via his own powerful acceleration either.
With opposing mids like Wines, Rozee and Butters being tackling machines, being able to get his job done to the level he did was enormous for a 23-year-old lad.
I can see why he got Lethal’s number 3 on his back.
[1] Harry Morrison – 8
Morrison’s run and carry was excellent. He would hold the ball when necessary, and dispose of it when a teammate was open, which sounds simple, but it’s not always the case. So many players in the back 50 playmaker role tend to pass when they’re done running rather than prioritise quick ball movement, so his decision-making was very good all day.
[16] Massimo D’Ambrosio – 6
Had his moments, but not quite enough of them, especially compared to his work last week. His delivery up the ground was a little shaky, but he did work hard to gain possession.
[19] Jack Gunston – 0
I can’t make a case for Gunston to get a point. One mark, two kicks and no tackles for three quarters of football isn’t good enough for any player, let alone one they rely on as much as they do Gunston. Maybe he was underdone, maybe there were other factors, but the end result is that his pressure was non-existent, and he’ll be gutted about his game.
[35] Calsher Dear – 3
Had a struggle getting into the game, but made the most of his chance at goal to deliver a major in the second quarter, though he was mostly unsighted until then.
Had some good support runs along the wings, but wasn’t quite right in his positioning. Too close to be an option by foot, but too far away to put a body on and give his teammate a clear run out of the area. A good 2024 though, so he’ll learn from this.
[11] Conor Nash – 5
Like Worpel, Nash had a game of highs and lows. His pressure without the ball and will to impact the play was excellent, but his judgement was off for much of the game. When he tried to run, he struggled to get more than a few steps before Butters or Wines would tackle him to the ground, spilling the ball out or getting caught with it. His kicks found opposition intercepts far too often, and his turnovers in very dangerous spots led to a few Port goals at the worst possible moments.
[SUB] Luke Breust – 7
It’s hard to rate a bloke who comes in just for a quarter, but he managed to make an impact with a couple of marks, a couple of tackles and a goal at a vital time. Can’t ask for a lot more from a bloke who was there to be a bit of polish in the forward line, and a steadying influence in a way that only a bloke with 300 games behind him can be.
Breust may not get the plaudits of some of his star premiership teammates, but for a bloke taken towards the end of a rookie draft to play 300 games, kick more than 500 goals at 68% accuracy, win three flags and lead his team’s goal kicking five times, he’s had the sort of career that all but a figurative handful of players would envy.
7/10 game, but 9.5/10 career.
