It was an Elimination Final classic at Optus, and both Justin Rake and Disco Monagle had their eyes glued to the performance of players.
Here are their ratings.
Fremantle (Justin)
Sometimes bad luck goes against you, sometimes the footy gods conspire to bring you down, and sometimes you barrack for Freo…
Saturday night’s loss to the Suns was one of the most gut-wrenching ways to lose a game of footy, and piling onto the pain, I stupidly offered to do these bloody player ratings. Maybe I’m a masochist, or maybe I’m just an optimist who thought he would be doing this with a big grin after an elimination final victory.
That has not transpired, and now I need to painfully write about every individual effort that led to one of the most heartbreaking results of my football life.
Well, let’s get this slow death underway.
[13] Luke Ryan – 7
Defended well across the night, with his trademark ability to read the play and put his body on the line to help his fellow defenders on show as he finished the night with 23 disposals (20 kicks) and seven marks.
Would like the chance to re-do some of his final moments, but played a significant part in a gallant effort for Freo.
[36] Brennan Cox – 6
Had low numbers with just the eight disposals and three marks, but defended stoutly in his one-on-ones. Gave away the free kick that led to David Swallow deciding the game, but it was a forgivable one that he shouldn’t be strung up for.
[25] Alex Pearce – 9
An absolute powerhouse in the Docker defence, the skipper was formidable across the night and did everything he could for his team. Kept Ben King goalless on the night, and took eight marks to lead from the front. An enormous performance that deserved a better ending.
[5] Heath Chapman – 6
Another that defended well, but the Dockers need to find a way to get more out of Chapman. I can remember back to the 2022 season when he burst on the scene and showed his ability to run and propel the team forward. We don’t see much of that these days, as he has become more of a lockdown defender. Would love to see the coaching staff find a way to unleash this talented athlete next season.
[23] Karl Worner – 5
Played his role, but had some moments where Ben Long really tested him. Has established himself in Freo’s back half, but will need to continue to show improvement to maintain his position.
[6] Jordan Clark – 6
Maybe a bit harsh, probably should be a seven, but this performance didn’t quite deliver on the lofty standard Clark has set in his campaign for a maiden AA blazer. Did have one outstanding moment of courage when putting his body on the line in the second term to save a goal, and finished with 20 disposals.
[2] Jaeger O’Meara – 3
Was essentially a non-factor for the Dockers in his 200th game and second ever finals match. Weirdly, O’Meara didn’t attend a single centre bounce, playing basically the entire game as a wingman to finish with a lowly nine disposals. Feels a bit pointless to have a big-bodied veteran midfielder in the team if he is just going to be doing cardio on the wing. Would have been better deployed in a tagging role on Anderson.
[26] Hayden Young – 7
Took a while to really get motoring, but Young was a huge part of Fremantle’s fourth-quarter resurgence. Finished the game with 28 disposals, and will be hoping for a more injury-free pre-season this time around. Young is a huge part of what Fremantle is trying to accomplish, they need him fit and firing.
[28] Neil Erasmus – 7
Kicked an epic long-range goal from his 18 disposals in what was primarily a wing role. I also like that he laid six tackles. Erasmus has found some real form and looked comfortable at the level for a while now. An interesting off-season awaits with some other clubs interested in his services, but I think Freo will be keen to retain the top 10 draft pick after a successful back half to 2025.
[15] Shai Bolton – 6
Probably the hardest player to rate for this game, simply for the fact that Shai giveth, and Shai taketh away. He finished with 15 disposals, six tackles and a goal. A nice stat line, but below what the Dockers would have wanted from their prized recruit in a must-win game. Bolton has an ability to slip out of tackles that is almost unmatched in the AFL, but his over-confidence in this ability leads him to take on too many at once. Too often did he run himself into trouble while trying to do the spectacular in this game, but he also had some fantastic moments including a great tackle late. Consider his rating of six being me officially sitting on the fence.
[20] Patrick Voss – 7
Capped off his breakout season with three goals and another performance full of energy and power. Voss has gained fame as a cult hero at the Dockers this year, but his contribution goes well beyond that. He finishes the year with 37 goals to his name, and was particularly impressive across the second half of the season. Will be a walk-up starter in the front six next year.
[16] Murphy Reid – 8
Our Mongrel writers are well aware of my deep affection for Murphy Reid, and honestly, it’s hard not to love this kid. He tallied 20 disposals and a goal in his finals debut, and more impressively, Reid was a huge catalyst in keeping Fremantle in arm’s reach in the first half. His kicking inside 50 is not just good, it’s absolutely sublime, and the composure to put the set shot through at an important time speaks of his quality. Fremantle fans should be very, very excited for what this guy is capable of in the future, and I think we can expect to see him moved into a more prominent midfield role in year two.
[24] Jye Amiss – 3
A disappointing night to end what was a pretty underwhelming season for my man Jye Amiss. Managed only two disposals (to be fair, one of them was a goal) and was subbed out in the later stages. Probably doesn’t reflect greatly on him that Freo came to life once Amiss was subbed out. I think it’s fair to say Pat Voss has jumped ahead of Amiss in terms of the Freo forwards, and it has left the top 10 draft pick with plenty of work to do to rediscover the form that once had him touted as a top young forward in the game.
[35] Josh Treacy – 7
Hard not to love this bloke and the way he goes about it. Treacy attacked the game all night, and for large portions he gave Mac Andrew fits (although yes, Andrew did have the last laugh, ugh!). Finished with two goals, laid some bone-crunching tackles and did all the things we have come to expect of him.
[32] Michael Frederick – 2
A little harsh, but Frederick wilted in the spotlight. Hitting the post from point-blank range is always tough, but doing it in an elimination final that your team lost by a single point? Oof. He also gave up a golden opportunity when he tried to take advantage from a Treacy free kick and was immediately hunted down. Finished with seven disposals, zero tackles, zero goals.
[9] Luke Jackson – 7
A solid outing from Jackson as he finished with 18 disposals, 12 hitouts, eight tackles, and a goal that put Fremantle six points up in the dying minutes. He struggled a bit with Witts, as he has done with the bigger bodied ruckman in the past, and had patches where he went out of the game, but as a whole he presented well and played his part for the team.
[3] Caleb Serong – 9
Fremantle couldn’t ask much more from their young star, as Serong ended the night with a whopping 35 disposals, nine tackles, 13 clearances and 11 inside 50s. Did everything he could to get the team over the line, and can hold his head high.
[8] Andrew Brayshaw – 8
Alongside Serong, Brayshaw went head-to-head with Rowell and Anderson and more than held his own. Collected 32 disposals, six tackles and six clearances.
[7] Nat Fyfe – 4
Subbed on for the fourth quarter and made an impact in the final game of his career. Took a great contested mark and hit Andrew Brayshaw on the ensuing kick to give the Freo faithful one last glimpse at his greatness.
[30] Nathan O’Driscoll – 4
Recalled to replace the injured Corey Wagner, O’Driscoll struggled to have much impact in the contest. Finished with 12 disposals and was largely a non-factor, unable to provide the run and carry that we see when he is at his best. O’Driscoll has struggled to find form since returning from injury mid-season, and had Matthew Johnson been fully healthy, you have to think he wouldn’t have featured in this game.
[43] Isaiah Dudley – 5
Largely unsighted for most of the game, but kicked back-to-back goals in a nice third-quarter cameo to boost his rating here. Hard to be critical of Dudley, though, given the success of his year as a whole.
[41] Bailey Banfield – 5
Did some nice things in defence, and for the most part held his own. Not the largest impact with just 11 disposals on the night, but was solid enough.
[4] Sean Darcy – 6
Gave a solid return in the ruck against Witts, compiling 12 disposals to go with his 29 hitouts. I often feel the Freo midfield is at its best when Darcy is in the ruck instead of Jackson (depending on the opponent, and in this case Darcy is much better equipped to take on Witts), and for most of the night that held true in this one.
Gold Coast (Disco)
The Gold Coast Suns came of age four thousand kilometres from home and in a hostile environment of a 57,000 plus crowd willing them to fall over, as well as the many thousands of Essendon supporters.
Why Essendon I hear you ask?
Well Essendon’s Dance Card is now complete with every club in the AFL winning a finals match since the Bombers last had any glory in September.
This is the most important win in the Suns history, and it is the type of win that will galvanise the team for the rest of this finals series and next year.
[27] Wil Powell – 7.5
Some players can absorb pressure, while other players can really absorb pressure, and Will Power is in the latter category.
When the game was on the line in the last quarter Power had some crucial possessions which helped the Suns to steal the win.
It is amazing under Dimma how a lot of the Suns players have developed their bodies and their games to suit his game plan.
Powell played this final like he had previously played 20 finals matches such was his maturity in this game.
[32] Bodhi Uwland – 7
Apart from falling to the ground in a last quarter matchup against Patrick Voss which resulted in a goal, Uwland played his usual tough, no nonsense brand of football.
Uwland has really blossomed under the tutelage of Dimma to become a more consistent player who can be relied upon to perform his role each week.
Further, Uwland has good chemistry with the Brute defender Sam Collins who is the ultimate defenders’ defender.
The Suns backline is starting to develop into a defensive unit made for September.
[25] Sam Collins – 9
Sam Collins should now be rated amongst the best defenders in the competition, especially since he has now shown he can perform under the pressure of fierce September heat.
Statistics never shine the lights on defenders, especially given statistics cannot measure the pressure and power acts of a good defender.
I’ll rephrase that differently, Sam Collins’ 13 possessions were just as important and influential as Matt Rowell’s 34 possessions or Noah Anderson’s 32 possessions to the Suns stunning victory.
Collins is a true mongrel grunt, blue collar back half General and his worth to the Suns cannot be valued purely on numbers alone.
[2] John Noble – 8.5
It is always good to see a player who got a raw deal from his last club thrive in their new environment.
At the time in 2023 I thought Noble was hard done by not to be in the Pies Premiership team, and my opinion has not changed since.
No player deserves a Premiership Medal as they need to be earned, but by the end of his career it is to be hoped John Noble gets to hang a medal around his neck.
Noble had another great game in his role as a running defender against the Dockers.
[1] Mac Andrew – 9
Cometh the moment, cometh the million dollar man.
In one act with under two minutes left on the clock Mac Andrew franked his million dollar contract with a match winning moment.
For the entire last quarter the Suns could not penetrate the ball past the clutches of Alex Pearce who was putting on a defensive master class, well that was until Mac Andrew spoiled his party.
Mac Andrew, who was having a good game up back, went forward (following Treacy) after the Dockers hit the front and with a few minutes left on the clock he broke a pack open and clunked a high pressure mark some 30 metres out.
Like a million dollar player should do, Mac Andrew sucked up the pressure and kicked truly to make the scores level again keeping the Suns dream alive.
Any player who wants to be the man in a high pressure situation like Mac Andrew did in this game deserves all the accolades they receive.
[17] Daniel Rioli – 6.5
September and the name Rioli seem to go hand in hand and this time it is Rioli of the Daniel variety who played his part this spring.
Rioli’s game wasn’t his best by his recent lofty standards but it was a good team oriented performance by a player who has developed into a team first player.
Coming back from injury Rioli had 13 possessions and like a few other class players in the Suns team, his effort and resolve in the dying minutes were crucial to the Suns win.
[14] Lachie Weller – 7
Honest confession, I have never paid much attention to Lachie Weller even in Suns games I have reviewed, but his first half at Optus was a standout, and his game didn’t fall away too much in the second half.
How a player performs in September cannot be measured until that player plays in September, and the pleasant surprise in this match was Weller’s performance.
[18] Matt Rowell – 10
There is a famous photo from days past of Francis Bourke playing a final with his face covered in blood as he powered his Tigers to a courageous win, and while Rowell didn’t quite have his face covered in as much blood as Bourke, his resolve to get his team over the line was Bourke like.
Matt Rowell is a one off special kind of talent.
Rowell’s pure in and under grunt work mixed with his strength to break tackles, as well as his ability to not waste a disposal were sublime and then some in this match.
Any doubts about Rowell being a September Man can now be put to rest.
(Side note: the Dockers fans are entitled to be livid the Umpires did not demand Rowell to leave the ground when he had the right side of his face smeared with blood in the last quarter.)
[8] Brayden Fiorini – 6.5
Fiorini has spent the best part of his career being in and out of teams he has played for, so it would be fair to say he is a fringe player (not to say that is a bad thing).
Mitch Morton, Oleg Markov and Clark Keating are all good examples of fringe players who had made a name for themselves in AFL folklore in September.
Fiorini kicked one goal from his 14 possessions as well as four tackles (I rate tackles highly) in a performance that would have pleased his coach, teammates and fans alike.
[11] Touk Miller – 9
Touk Miller’s performances have not suffered since he was relieved of the captaincy in favour of Noah Anderson at the start of the season.
Like most of his teammates this was Miller’s first taste of September action and he did not disappoint.
Miller is the ultimate team man who proved he is not afraid to get his hands dirty laying eleven tackles as well having 3 clearances in his first final.
Rowell and Anderson will deservedly get the accolades in this match, but performances such as Miller’s should not go unnoticed. Eleven tackles, amazing.
[3] Sam Flanders – 5.5
Twelve months ago Sam Flanders would have been one of the first players selected each week, but in season 2025 his form has faded a bit and he now finds himself having to fight each week to keep his place in the team. Flanders’ game at Optus was okay without standing out.
[19] Bailey Humphrey – 7.5
Humphrey showed glimpses of what he will be in a few years time; a brutish style of forward who will run through a brick wall for his team.
At halftime I had Humphrey marked down as a player who was having a breakout game, but his second half did not match his first half.
Humphrey lit up Optus with three goals in a freaky first half performance that saw the Suns go into halftime with a healthy 25 point lead. Ten possessions, three goals, two tackles and three marks are still good numbers for Humphrey.
[22] Ben Long – 6.5
After nine years in the big time Ben Long finally got his second taste of September football and his first for the Suns and he performed well.
On paper it reads like Long had an average game, but his nine possessions and two goals all came at crunch times in the match.
Without being outstanding, Long performed well under the intensity of finals pressure.
[20] Ethan Read – 5
Early in the game it looked like Ethan Read was a bit lost in his first finals appearances, but he slowly played himself into the game.
While Read only had seven possessions for the game, he did crash packs to bring the ball to ground for his small forwards in the second half.
[34] Ben King – 7
If the Suns had lost this match my review of Ben King would have been savage, but as the saying goes, victory covers up many holes.
Three missed set shots at goal was just wasteful for a player who is paid to kick goals, and it could have cost the Suns the game.
The saving grace for King was his last quarter up the field where he took a couple of important contested marks to help secure the win for his team.
[28] Jarrod Witts – 9
Jarrod Witts is not only the most underrated ruckman in the AFL, but he is also the most underrated player.
Without Witts the Suns lose, pure and simple.
Witts had the third highest disposals for the Suns with 21 possessions including fifteen link up handballs, as well 3 tackles, 44 hit outs and eight clearances.
Read those numbers again, they are huge. Witts’ handballing skills are sublime, delicate, accurate and truly deadly for the opposition.
[5] Alex Davies – 7
Alex Davies is another Suns player to pass the September test in his first taste of finals football.
Nineteen possessions and a goal are impressive numbers, however it is his tackling in this game that made his game special.
There is a bit of mongrel in Davies, which I have never noticed before and that makes his style of game very suitable to the rigors of finals football. Davies is another player who played his role to perfection in this match and then some.
[15] Noah Anderson – 10
Was Noah Anderson best on ground, or was Matt Rowell the best?
Anybody who watched this match would have trouble separating the pair given their four quarter unrelenting dominance.
The captaincy agrees with Anderson, and as a leader he has the respect of the whole team who would follow him to hell and back.
The only blip on Anderson’s game was he left a goal or two out on the field, but that is being very picky.
32 quality possessions, four marks, three tackles and 753 metres gained are very impressive numbers highlighting Anderson’s attacking style of game as well as his defensive efforts.
[9] Ben Ainsworth – 3
Ben Ainsworth was subbed off in the last quarter with a mere five possessions to his name in a performance he would personally like to forget.
I’ve seen enough of Ainsworth to have faith he will bounce back, and he would have taken being subbed in the last quarter as a personal affront.
[35] Connor Budarick – 6.5
The highlight for Budarick in his first final was his ability to scrap a couple of important goals for the Suns.
Budarick is another player who flew under the radar in this match, but a couple of scrappy goals, ten possessions and six tackles is a good return for the small forward.
[40] Joel Jeffrey – 8
Joel Jeffrey arguably played the best game of his career at Optus against the Dockers in his first finals appearance.
Jeffrey’s four quarter performance, while not being spectacular, was very good with nineteen disposals, four marks and four tackles.
Jeffrey had some important touches in the final few minutes and he didn’t let the pressure of a final get to him.
[50] Jy Farrar – 5.5
Jy Farrar put in a serviceable performance in his first finals match, including kicking a goal amongst his nine possessions.
What impressed the most about Farrar’s game was his willingness to put his body on the line.
Well played Mr Farrar for staying in the system long enough to play your first finals match after 41 games over six years and at the age of 28.
[24] David Swallow [Sub] – 10
Hail Caesar!
Hail the Great Caesar!
The Emperor stumbled at first before he put his name up there with the likes of Barry Breen and Tony ‘Plugger’ Lockett by kicking a magical point to seal the deal for the Suns.
Midway through the last quarter Swallow was looking for somewhere to hide after he turned the ball over which led to a Dockers goal, but fairytales do happen occasionally.
With 42 seconds left on the clock Swallow was tackled by Brennan Cox without the ball and he was awarded a free kick from near on 50m metres out.
The game was on Swallow’s boot.
The Suns needed a score to score to break the deadlock.
From near on 50 metres Swallow just managed to kick the distance to score a goal with 9 seconds left in the game, but,,,,, hold on,,,,, wait a minute….
An ARC review saw Swallow’s goal deemed touched and the goal became a point, but that point was just enough for the Suns to play next weekend at the Gabba.
Hail the Great Swallow Man.
[0] Disco’s Dead Nana
My dead Nana, who was that tough she could fart nails like a machine gun, applauds the gutsy efforts of every Suns player.
It is lucky I wasn’t grading the Dockers as she detests players who don’t go when it is their turn.
