Player Ratings - Melbourne V Richmond NAB Challenge

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,128]

Melbourne 15.13.103

Richmond 10.15.75

Goals - Neitz 3, White 3, Jones 2, Davey 2, Green 1, C Johnson 1, Whelan 1, Bruce 1

Best - Jones, Bizell, C Johnson, Johnstone, J McDonald, Whelan, White

Please be aware that player rotations on and off the bench were going at a million knots an hour so many players only played half a game. I'll base my scores on playing time only.

Simon Buckley - 3/10. Very quiet game. Spent most of the game on the bench. Picked up a couple of kicks/marks on the wing, but didn't show the promise of the Hawks NAB Cup game. Not ready for AFL.

Nathan Jones - 8/10. BOG. Amazing first half. His tackling was ferocius as he was awarded 3 holding the balls. Truly inspirational!!! Kicked a couple of gem goals in the first half, including a set shot from 50 (which he was awarded for a holding the ball). Best game in the red and blue thus far. AND HE'S ONLY GETTING BETTER. Finished with 2 goals 2, but his misses were not easy shots and hit the post with once. If Jones adds goal kicking to his package....look out. He tired a little in the second half, but was still in amongst it at the centre squre. I salivate at the thought of Jones, Moloney and Mclean in the centre at the same time.

Clint Bizzel - 7/10. Welcome back Biz. Was as stiff as nails in defence. Didn't allow his opponent anything but more importantly created run and drive out of defence, including an inspirational run from half back to the centre, en route to a Neitz goal. Pace of the game is his only issue. Picked up 10-12 touches in the 1st qtr alone. Will play round 1 on this effort.

Matthew Bate - 5/10. A reasonable performance after starting on the bench. He played mostly midfield. Got better as the game progressed, but nothing to write home about. Kicked a behind in the third qtr. Passable performance. 75/25 for round 1 IMO.

Brad Miller - 4/10. Not a commanding game from our CHF. Took a handful of marks, gave away 3 frees but at least presented. Just simply isn't in the class of Pavlich, Brown and other top shelf CHF's. His marks were taken mainly 60 mtrs out, so goals were impossible for Brad.

James Frawley - 6/10. Like his game from half back. Played the entire second half and looks more than comfortable at this level. Highlight of his day was a one-on-one contest with his opponent and CHB - Not only did he beat him in the contest, but ended up having a gallop with the ball and setting up a beautiful foward thrust. Not sure for rd 1 - but hey he's not doing his chances any harm.

David Neitz - 6/10. Solid game from the skipper with 3 goals 1. Took his trademark marks mostly around 35 mtrs out, and had the kicking boot on. Was rested for the entire second half. There was a while in the second half when we were getting nothing from our forwards...which means Neita is so important to our makeup. Would've probably ended up with 4 for the game had he stayed on. 4 * 22 = 88 goals. He can do it.

Daniel Ward - 5/10. Not a bad game from half-back. Love his pace and his willingness to charge out of defence but caused a couple of turnovers with his non-precise kicking. Needs to address this if he wants to be a permanent senior player.

Adem Yze - 2/10. The story of the day IMO. After having a 1 kick 1st qtr (which he messed up in a promising foward thurst) in the second qtr he accepted a pass in the forward pocket, only to hear 'footsteps' and more or less pulled out of the contest. Should of heard the throng of Richmond fans (and even some dees) giving it to him. To his credit he laid an important tackle just after that to make amends. Had a few cheap kicks/marks in the second half where he at least looked more comfortable at wing/half back. Needs a corker of a game next week to even gurantee him a rd 1 game. very concerning signs from the OOZe.

Lynden Dunn - 3/10. Very quiet game from Lynden. Probably spent half the game on the bench, but had very few possessions and no goal opportunities from his half forward position. Barely notice him to be honest. Rd 1 no certainty. (How an SEN reporter could put him in our best players is beyond me)

Travis Johnstone - 6/10. Got better as the game wore on. Was our general in midfield and never wasted a kick....Very Tigger like. Certainly not a top-shelf performance but was great to see him have his first solid run. Played lots of minutes. Capped off a reasonable afternoon with a 50 metre set shot goal at the Heatley end.

Chris Johnson - 7/10. Had a steller first half and was in everything on a wing. Doesn't waste a disposal. Capped off an awesome first half with a classy goal. I'm really warming to CJ and his pre-season thus far has been superb. Spent some well deserved minutes on the pine in the second half. Should've kicked a second late in the game. Rd 1 certainty.

Brad Green - 5/10. Fairly quiet game from Brad, as opposed to his big game V Hawks. Played the utitility role. Kicked a ripper 50 metre goal on the run at the Legends Stand end in the 1st qtr, so great to see his lethal left foot is back. Rested in the foward pocket in the last term for little return.

Daniel Bell - 4/10. Not a particularly great game from Belly. Missing was his tardemark runs out of defence and got caught a couple of times. However he laid a corker of a tackle himself in the first term. Not entierly sure if his opponent beat him. (sorry about that)

Brent Moloney - 5/10 - I'll be generous here as his on the comeback. But fantastic to see him out there, make no mistake about that. Spent about 60% on the bench but when he was on he did contribute. A few of his trademark long bombs into our forward 50 were good to see. Did a little of the hard stuff too. Promising build-up from Beamer.

J McDonald - 6/10 - A very J-Mac like performance today. Nothing sensational but gets the job done and chimes in for some handy possessions. A true-work horse and is getting better with age. Played heaps of minutes.

Robbo - 2/10 - Had a dog of a day. Just couldn't get into it, but he tried. The ball never really came to him. Kicked 2 behinds. Best to get those game out of the way in the pre-season.

Nathan Brown - 6/10. Really solid game from half-back. Got heaps of touches and didn't waste the pill. Very similar performance to the Hawks game. Deserves to start in rd 1 IMO.

Jared Rivers - 5/10. Did his job. Nothing outstanding. No courageous marks. Solid though.

Cameron Bruce - 5/10. Some would give him a 3. Others would give him a 7. Did some great things, but his kicking was a little concerning at times. To be honest it wasn't one of his better ones. However he hit a purple patch in the last qtr when moved forward jagging 1.2 and looked super dangerous. He's our Mr Fixit.

Jeff White - 7/10. Now people will think I'm being super generous but he deserves it IMO. 3 magnificent goals in the second half where he played up forward is an awesome effort in my book. The first one was a snap in the foward pocket that rolled through, the second was a mark and play on from the 50 metre line on a 45 degree angle, and the third was a 50 metre set shot in the last qtr. If only he could do these cameos in the real stuff.

Ryan Ferguson - 5/10. Very limited game time. However you have to give him a pass mark as his disposals were faultless and I doubt he conceded a goal. Probably won't play rd 1 but he's food for thought. I think he's reliable, as long as he's not playing on the No 1 forward.

Aaron Davey - 6/10. Set Princes Park alight with 2 ripping goals, including a wizardry snap on the boundary in the third qtr at the Legends Stand end. A very Davey like performance, and some of his tackling and chasing was first class. Should kick 40 goals this year.

Mark Jamar - 2/10. Decent ruckwork, Donuts elsewhere. Was tried in the goal square quite a bit but didn't take any pack marks.

Nathan Carroll - 5/10. OK performance. Provided occasional drive out of defence and kept Schulz fairly quiet until late in the game. As long as he doesn't conced a bag of goals, he'll be fine for us.

Matthew Whelan - 7/10. Provided constant drive out of defence. Loved a few gallops today and displayed his usual hardness at the pill. Very happy with his game and I pray that he stays inury free! Capped off a fince afternoon with a belter of a goal in the last qtr - a 45 metre goal in the pocket on the run.

I hope I included everyone.

Would be great if people at the game today can respond and argue with my ratings,

Cheers,

BBP

[demondomination 27]

buddy, according to you no1 played well...how ever some things you said were spot on....

firsty Jeff White was very good kicking 4 goals...probablly BOG, and i am one of his harshest observerers.

Trapper- was sensation probz are 2nd best player...normal trapper.

Jones- was very impressive big season ahead

Miller- contested hard all day didnt do much though....he was playing to close to goal IMO and he should be up the ground as the "link" man.

Davey- Kicked a magical goal, and had a magical chase down...but apart from that was average

Moloney- PROMISING. I was reminded how important he is to our team when he got the ball on half back took two bounces through the middle of the ground kicked it 50, to neitz who went backed and goaled.

Bate- looked good took lots of uncontested mark, and got the ball quite a bit at the bottom of packs.

Mcdonald- his usuall self.

Dunn- average.

Ward- probablly in our best 22, his run off half back is great.

Chris Johnson- Probablly his best game for the red and the blue, expect him to take part in a lot of games this year.

Caroll- Clumbsy. Very Clumbsy.

Jamar- Ran hard but didnt do anything.

Neitz- half the game on the bench but looked really sharp, no balls hit him on the forehead:D.

Fergo- too skinny, but good.

Bizzel- looked good when he was the 3rd man up, but he really doesnt look like he will be part of our unit for 07.

Buckley- quiet but still think he will be good.

Bruce- great last quater as per usual.

Green- Usuall self.

Whelan, and Brown- very quite.

Frawley- Did some really CLASSY things, but still not getting heaps of the ball.

Bell- this kid has so much potential, and keeps flirting with the supporters but still hasnt delivered.

Yze- HE DOES NOT DESERVE TO START IN OUR TEAM. HE HAS NOT GOT A CONTESTED POSSESION IN THE TWO PRACCY GAMES IVE WATCH. WAIT HAS HE ACTUALLY GOT A POSSESION AT ALL?

...thats about it if ive missed any1 just ask and ill let you know how they went.

[DoubleDees 1]

Melbourne 15.12.102

Richmond 10.15.75 ...

Would be great if people at the game today can respond and argue with my ratings,

Cheers,

BBP

Exactly how I saw it BBP. The only one I would take issue with is the Bell comment. He wasn't on the ground as much in the second half and his tackling is absolutely ferocious. Some times a little too ferocious and will cost him free kicks.

Best parts of the game was Davey's tackle on Patheticer in the last quarter and CJ's game. Pencil him down for your dream teams now.

Last but not least the BIZ is BIT (Back In Town).

[DeeBest 13]

Good work BBP.

[Bell 0]

How many possessions did Bell have?

[Madness 44]

There's no official stats for practice matches unfortunately...

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Good Post BBP and thanks for the summary.

[Pepe Dee Pew 0]

Jones is going to be a very good player for us for quite some time. Has trimmed down and seems to have a bit more pace. Was very good today. We were lucky that he slipped thru to us. Strong and can get the ball. Was sensational today.

CJ is finally at the stage where he should get a regular game. Showed pace and skill and he can kick goals. Is a good size & looked highly skilled today.

Jones and CJ will be very good players for us.

I thought Bate was good today. Seems to have trimmed down a little but still has a big strong build. A little less weight makes him appear a bit taller than last year. I stood next to him last year at a Sandy huddle at Q time and his large build made him appear smaller than his 191cm. Showed today he has plenty of pace. Bate will be a very good player for a long time. I can see him having the ability to hold down key positions as he matures. He looked good today when he got the ball.

Frawley showed he has heaps of pace today and has oddles of guts for a young guy. Got a bit of attention from Polak after he ran down the field and participated in a play that resulted in a goal for us. He will be a very good KPP for us. Pencil him as a regular from 2009 with a number of games in between as he learns the caper. Again another player i think slipped thru to us as he will be very good. Can play tall and small. Very athletic.

Buckley was a little quiet. Looks like CJ a bit when he gets the ball. Has pace and skills. May play a couple of games this season. Will spend most of the year developing at Sandy. Will get a big opportunity in 2008 when i think some of the players (good servants of the club) who have been on the list for a number of years will have moved on.

Dunn was quiet. I heard that Sen report also that placed him in the best players. No way. But we have seen enough of him to know that he will eventually be a player.

All up we have some very good young players that will keep us in with a chance over the next decade.

Regardless of what anybody says Neitz and White will be very hard to replace. Lets hope that they will be around for a few years yet. White was good up forward and i think kicked 3 goals. Jamar is very good in the ruck but does not do enough around the ground. Whether he can pick up here????? It does worry me though.

[dazzledavey36 48,707]

thanks for that summary PDP

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,128]

Good Post BBP and thanks for the summary.

No probs.

Enjoyed doing it.

I actually found it hard assessing the games of Rivers, Bell and Carroll.

[demonfanjezza 1]

Thanks BBP for the report and player rankings