The ratings are in for every player in the Qualifying Final.
Matt Oman takes charge of the Adelaide squad, whilst The Prophet, Jimmy Day, takes the reins of the Pies.
Adelaide (Matt Oman)
[24] Josh Worrell – 9
Typical intercepting performance from the shoulda-been All Australian. Was asked to do a lot with the amount of quick ball coming into the defensive 50, but Worrell stood up time and time again. Was also opposed to Tim Membrey, and Worrell made sure he didn’t have any real influence on the game.
[48] Mark Keane – 7
A calm and steady performance from Keane. Rotating between Brody Mihocek and Mason Cox, Keane’s intercepting work and composure with ball in hand was a feature all night. Keane also worked his way further up the ground to cut off Collingwood forward forays before they could materialise.
[29] Rory Laird – 6
Spent far more time in the midfield than any of us were expecting, and it showed. At the very least, he showed consistency as the in and under contested beast the Crows needed, but the outside game Laird used to be known for simply wasn’t there.
[30] Wayne Milera – 3
One of many Crows that didn’t do enough. Only touched the ball 11 times, and was caught in two minds too often, not knowing whether to play an offensive role or defensive role. Did lay five tackles in defence, which was good.
[9] Nick Murray – 5
Did his job as a pure key defensive pillar. At the very least, he allowed both Worrell and Keane to play to their strengths as interceptors, and was solid in spoiling the ball away from Cox and Mihocek.
[16] Max Michalanney – 3
Was moved forward, but it was never clear why. What was clear was that Michalanney was playing a defensive forward role, but it wasn’t clear who that was actually on, given all of Moore, Frampton and Maynard played superbly.
[44] Isaac Cumming – 1
One of the worst games of Cumming’s career. Only had seven disposals, and did nothing with them, turning the ball over more often than not. Just one tackle, two inside 50s and zero defensive rebounds, it was a forgettable outing for a player that has experience on the big stage.
[12] Jordan Dawson – 5
Started well, but got shut out of the game. The Crows needed their captain to stand up, and when it really mattered in the third term, he was nowhere to be found. His disposal efficiency of just 53% also badly let him down.
[6] Daniel Curtin – 3
Far too inconsistent in his effectiveness. Fourteen of Curtin’s 17 disposals came in quarters one and three, and while 17 disposals doesn’t seem too bad on the surface, the fact that 12 of those possessions were uncontested and he only registered 32 metres gained says a lot about his influence on the contest.
[2] Ben Keays – 3
Tried to do a lot, but ended up not doing much. It looked like Keays was tasked with being the energiser bunny of the team, in the same way that Izak Rankine normally is, but there just wasn’t that same level of spark.
[7] Riley Thilthorpe – 7
Did his job. Consistently threw his weight around when relieving in the ruck, and provided a presence in the forward line. He was caught out of position a few times, but the Crows didn’t do him any favours in how they sent the ball his way. A critical error in the fourth term when he should have taken responsibility to kick the goal snuffed out the Crows last chance.
[28] Alex Neal-Bullen – 7
Showed excellent leadership as one of the few Crows to have played in a big final recently. Laid a team high seven tackles, tried to take the game on as much as he could with 17 disposals, and was the main avenue in which the ball entered the forward 50.
[19] Zac Taylor – 4
I was surprised Taylor only touched the ball eight times, but his defensive pressure in the forward line was better than he will be given credit for. Like Bond, Taylor did look a little overawed by the occasion, and his disposal let him down, but his effort never wilted.
[13] Taylor Walker – 8
Superb effort from the 300 gamer. Not only did he produce consistency forward of the ball, something that his teammates lacked, but he worked himself up the ground too. Gathered 18 touches, nine marks and kicked two goals, but he was surprisingly inaccurate, and he could’ve dragged the Crows more into the contest had he converted his opportunities into a bag.
[32] Darcy Fogarty – 1
The dead head of the three headed monster. Thilthorpe was throwing his weight around all over the field, Walker was providing a steady target in attack, but with Darcy Moore running rampant as an intercepting wall, surely there was a defined role for Fogarty, but nope. 10 disposals, two marks, and nothing else.
[43] Reilly O’Brien – 6
This was an underrated effort, which is standard for ROB. Sure, he probably lost the overall battle to Darcy Cameron, but O’Brien never gave an inch, and the goal kicked on him in the second quarter was inevitable, there wasn’t much O’Brien could do to stop it. Won the hit out battle and gave his midfielders the best chance, but they were beaten to the ball more often than not.
[3] Sam Berry – 5
Started excellently, and at half time I thought this could be one of the best games of Berry’s career. But like most of his teammates, he faded out of the game fast, and was ineffective after the main break. Adelaide desperately needed someone else to step up in the midfield, and for a while it looked like Berry would do that job, but 12 disposals wasn’t enough, and 189 of Berry’s 227 metres gained came in the first quarter.
[14] Jake Soligo – 4
Far too much fake toughness, and when the moments called for it, Soligo just didn’t put his head over the ball often enough. Soligo acted like a superstar, and was monstered by Collingwood’s more seasoned midfielders. Too often, Soligo would take possession, try to fend off, and either get caught in a tackle, or turn the ball over.
[10] Luke Pedlar – 7
No disrespect intended, but this was a surprisingly strong performance, both in the midfield, but especially in attack. Pedlar was everything that Keays wasn’t, with only one Crow taking more marks, and he kicked a team high three goals. Pedlar is absolutely worth persisting with in this role, even when both Rankine and Rachele return.
[25] James Peatling – 3
Couldn’t replicate his finals series of last season. Just the nine disposals, five of which came in the third quarter. His nine possessions only moved the ball forward 73 metres, and for a player renowned for his tackling pressure, that aspect of his game was nowhere to be found.
[20] Mitchell Hinge – 2
Subbed out late in the third quarter after having next to no influence. Only gathered seven disposals, and didn’t apply enough defensive pressure on the likes of De Goey and McCreery.
[40] Hugh Bond – 4
Tough one to grade. Certainly wasn’t his team’s worst player, and tried his best all night long. However, Bond did look overawed by the occasion, and his direct opponent Jamie Elliott kicked four goals and was a consistent forward threat.
[SUB 33] Brodie Smith – 1
Was only on the ground for just over a quarter, but didn’t do much. The one piece of play he had influence in was a long bomb shot for goal that didn’t make the distance, while ignoring Ben Keays, who was by himself in the pocket.
Collingwood (Jimmy Day)
[17] Billy Frampton – 8
While he was out-marked at times, his defensive pressure was very good. He competed, intercepted, harassed, and did all the things you want a key defender to do. Has shown now, repeatedly, how well he plays in the big games.
[30] Darcy Moore – 8
The Pies skipper had some horrible moments early, conceding goals and shots at goal through bad mistakes and a lack of awareness. However, he certainly made up for it. He was a rock, particularly in the second half. He and Frampton quelled the Crows’ forward entries and ensured the Pies maintained scoreboard pressure.
[4] Brayden Maynard – 6
It was an interesting game for Maynard. He had some good moments going back with the flight, but then would try and push off his opponent and get beaten out the back. It wasn’t a terrible game, but it wasn’t a highly influential game.
[12] Harry Perryman – 5
I was surprised to see he had 14 disposals. I honestly didn’t know he was playing. He is a role player and has good moments with the ball in his hand. However, he did get caught a few times, and a few of his handballs put teammates under pressure. Didn’t star, but wasn’t terrible.
[7] Josh Daicos – 7
Was probably the best player on the ground to half-time, having started in the centre bounces. However, spent a bit more time behind the ball in the second half, and his influence waned somewhat. That said, he did what he needed to do early, and his ball use, in particular, was instrumental in his side’s forays forward.
[15] Wil Parker – 7
I really like the former cricketer’s decision-making. He nearly always makes the right decision – when to come off his opponent or which option to take. He was brave with the footy and, while subbed out, had some very good moments.
[25] Jack Crisp – 8
Just makes good decisions. He is the consummate professional. You know what you are going to get from Crisp, and he never fails to deliver on that expectation.
[44] Ned Long – 8
Did the heavy lifting around stoppages. With nine tackles to go with his 23 disposals, Long was able to help his teammates spread from stoppage as he pressured the opponents and was able to win the hard ball himself.
[22] Steele Sidebottom – 9
It was good all night, but his start to the third quarter and being a key cog in their fast start to the second half were almost the difference overall. Finished with three goals and was one of the key players on the ground.
[2] Jordan De Goey – 9
Will be sweating on the MRO making an adjudication on a bump he laid – that realistically should be a ban – but that shouldn’t detract from the best on ground performance JDG put in. He was everywhere. It’s the fittest he has looked all year, and it showed. He is a big game player and he had a considerable impact on the game.
[28] Tim Membrey – 4
Not a great night for Membrey. Finished with a solitary behind and was soundly beaten by his opponent. The Pies will need more from him in the Prelim if they’re to get through that.
[31] Beau McCreery – 5
You could tell he was still hampered. Didn’t look like he could go to his top gear, but he was still very good at applying pressure.
[5] Jamie Elliott – 8
Kicked the opening and closing goals of the game and was always a threat. Elliott continues to simply perform. He is a big game and big moments player. For a period, it seemed like all of the Pies scores needed to go through Elliott. He had the hot hand early and has further enhanced his reputation with his four goals tonight.
[41] Brody Mihocek – 5
It was a weird night for Mihocek. He hit the scoreboard five times – all behinds – and Mark Keane had the better of him. He got into good positions, just couldn’t convert. However, if he kicks straight, it’s potentially a different story.
[8] Lachie Schultz – 6
Bobbed up at different times with a good tackle or a clever touch, but drifted in and out of the game for much of it. Failed to hit the scoreboard, but became a link man.
[14] Darcy Cameron – 6
This might be a harsh grade. I felt like O’Brien had the better of him in the ruck, as did Thilthorpe at times. However, his ability to impact the play both behind the ball and in front of it was evident and he had important moments.
[10] Scott Pendlebury – 7
I’m possibly marking Pendles harshly, given his numbers. He was good and had moments, but I feel like others were better overall. That said, every time he got the ball, something happened. He was typical Pendles – used the ball well, was calm under pressure and was important for the Pies moving the footy under pressure.
[35] Nick Daicos – 7
Naicos was a little ill-disciplined in this one. While he did some good things, it wasn’t a dominant Nick Daicos performance. Listening to the commentators, you might think it was, but he was serviceable and his touches often led to scores. However, on numerous occasions, he called for the ball when in a bad position and then put a teammate under pressure trying to dispose of it. That has crept into his game recently. He’ll be a more rounded player once he gets rid of that.
[1] Patrick Lipinski – 6
Like Schultz, he drifted in and out of the game. Lipinski is often a burst player. Has a hot quarter or two, and then doesn’t do much at other points. That was today. When the Pies got going, so did he.
[3] Isaac Quaynor – 6
Battled well all night, especially given the classless booing from Crows fans. Doesn’t ever get a lot of the ball, but does the little things well. Gets into good positions and does what he needs to do when it’s his turn.
[9] Dan Houston – 5
Didn’t use the ball well. Put it out on the full a few times, and under-kicked some passes. He had some good moments generating runs through half-back, but equally didn’t fire too many shots.
[46] Mason Cox – 6
Had more impact than his stats would suggest. He competed, brought others into the game, and got to good positions. It wasn’t a big game at all, but enough to suggest he’s a good chance of retaining his place in the Prelim.
[SUB – 45] Roan Steele – 3
Had two handballs and didn’t have much game time.
Right? Wrong? Somewhere in the middle? Let us know how our raters went.
