Age rankings gave Rivers 8, Gawn 7 and Kozzie 6.5

7 seemed to be the rating for solid/most players. BOG got 8.5 and 9 respectively

Max Gawn (MEL)

It was great to have the ruckmen again jumping – rather than just wrestling – at a centre ball-up (no longer a bounce under new rules). Had only four touches to half-time in what was a fierce battle with Darcy Cameron and Tim English. Worked hard late in the third term.

Rating: 7

Trent Rivers (MEL)

The Demons midfielder found plenty of the ball, finishing with 24 disposals and 500 metres gained.

Rating: 8

Kysaiah Pickett (MEL)

The Demons’ match-winner was a surprise starter at the opening ball up, and delivered his usual line-breaking run. However, he had two set shots for goal in the third term he would want back.

Rating: 6.5

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/state-of-origin-player-rankings-was-nick-daicos-snubbed-for-best-afield-honours-20260214-p5o2av.html

6 hours ago, dees189227 said:

Collingwood fans claiming he was robbed of another medal. His dad probably cracked it again

So you think the AFL deliberately placed him second for lots of publicity... :)

I didn't think he was best for Vic's from the game anyway.

1 hour ago, Pipefitter said:

I don’t think this game style suites him, it was to fast and free flowing. I don’t think any of the rucks stood out.

Agree, against a fast-moving skill side which doesn't exist for normal teams. In a normal H&A game, he has the time to get into position and intercept. Not possible against this opponent or even for the Vic's as an option as they moved it too quick.

But he got to play in a state of origin, which is great.

3 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Age rankings gave Rivers 8, Gawn 7 and Kozzie 6.5

7 seemed to be the rating for solid/most players. BOG got 8.5 and 9 respectively

Max Gawn (MEL)

It was great to have the ruckmen again jumping – rather than just wrestling – at a centre ball-up (no longer a bounce under new rules). Had only four touches to half-time in what was a fierce battle with Darcy Cameron and Tim English. Worked hard late in the third term.

Rating: 7

Trent Rivers (MEL)

The Demons midfielder found plenty of the ball, finishing with 24 disposals and 500 metres gained.

Rating: 8

Kysaiah Pickett (MEL)

The Demons’ match-winner was a surprise starter at the opening ball up, and delivered his usual line-breaking run. However, he had two set shots for goal in the third term he would want back.

Rating: 6.5

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/state-of-origin-player-rankings-was-nick-daicos-snubbed-for-best-afield-honours-20260214-p5o2av.html

Thanks DJ.

19 hours ago, Demonland said:

Most of his possessions were from frees.

Also doesn't work hard enough defensively.

9 hours ago, Swooper1987 said:

I thought our blokes looked pretty good. Rivers the best of the lot after a sluggish start with his disposal. He worked his way into the game beautifully. Pickett was always lurking and looked dangerous but missed a couple of pretty straightforward opportunities which would have made an ok game a good one. It was Max's first extended run since last season after recovering from his finger break and spending most of the last 4-6 in rehab. He still looks fit and his ruck work in the second turned the game in the Vics favour. 68% game time was more than enough for him. No ruck dominated the night, and that was not a surprise given how many of them were on the ground. All in all, no injuries for us and a promising start from three crucial players. The game overall - I loved it. It was a step up from Home and Away, as it should be, and I liked what I saw of the new rules. Big tick from me.

Throwing the ball up in the centre kept the game moving with no recalls for a secondary bounce. other changes OK too.

I thought it was boring, but I’m just a grumpy old bugger

1 hour ago, Clintosaurus said:

Also doesn't work hard enough defensively.

To be honest Clint he was one of our offensive weapons last night and with 38 touches and energy consumed attacking may not have much left in his tank at times when we had a turnover.

11 hours ago, Greg Schneider said:

We didn't need it, but this is even more proof that you have terrible eyes for the game

Have you ever played the game??

21 hours ago, dees189227 said:

Rapt our boys got through.

Feel for weitering. That looked nasty.

But was it just me, or did it feel like that game seem to go forever? I know weiterings injury extended the first quarter, but it did feel like the game dragged on.

I enjoyed it though

I noticed that they were 25 minute quarters

1 hour ago, Billy said:

I thought it was boring, but I’m just a grumpy old bugger

You are not alone!

According to AI, the numbers for the match were excellent for Ch7 & 7Plus

A Ratings 'Smash-hit' (apparently)

For more details, go to google

3 hours ago, Bobby McKenzie 2 said:

Throwing the ball up in the centre kept the game moving with no recalls for a secondary bounce. other changes OK too.

It’s amazing that we change the rules because umpires cannot bounce the ball. Something they have been doing for 150 years.

8 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Age rankings gave Rivers 8, Gawn 7 and Kozzie 6.5

7 seemed to be the rating for solid/most players. BOG got 8.5 and 9 respectively

Max Gawn (MEL)

It was great to have the ruckmen again jumping – rather than just wrestling – at a centre ball-up (no longer a bounce under new rules). Had only four touches to half-time in what was a fierce battle with Darcy Cameron and Tim English. Worked hard late in the third term.

Rating: 7

Trent Rivers (MEL)

The Demons midfielder found plenty of the ball, finishing with 24 disposals and 500 metres gained.

Rating: 8

Kysaiah Pickett (MEL)

The Demons’ match-winner was a surprise starter at the opening ball up, and delivered his usual line-breaking run. However, he had two set shots for goal in the third term he would want back.

Rating: 6.5

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/state-of-origin-player-rankings-was-nick-daicos-snubbed-for-best-afield-honours-20260214-p5o2av.html

DJ, did picket have any impact for the WA team? He can be brilliant but he has a lot of quarters where he has little impact. At present he doesn’t have the impact on a lot of games that guys like Charlie Cameron , Daicos the young or the Ashcroft brothers. Now don’t get me wrong I am glad he plays for us but I don’t have him in the top bracket of players in the game.

19 minutes ago, Macca said:

According to AI, the numbers for the match were excellent for Ch7 & 7Plus

A Ratings 'Smash-hit' (apparently)

For more details, go to google

Was there much on as competitors Macca. I was out Friday night so I don’t what was on, now was it the best of a bad lot? TV rights is what drives the AFL if the media want two games next year they will get them. Honestly the AFL are a strange lot we have a fixture where the first game of the year is actually the second round of the year. The actual first round of the year is the Opening round. There a weird mop!

1 minute ago, old dee said:

Was there much on as competitors Macca. I was out Friday night so I don’t what was on, now was it the best of a bad lot? TV rights is what drives the AFL if the media want two games next year they will get them. Honestly the AFL are a strange lot we have a fixture where the first game of the year is actually the second round of the year. The actual first round of the year is the Opening round. There a weird mop!

A lot of people are watching the Winter Olympics (including myself) so there's that

But February is generally a slow month for sport on FTA so they got the timing right

You missed a good match last night, old dee ... even if it was just for the skills alone

I didn't get a lot out of the win but as an exhibition match played with high intensity, it was a winner. But long term? Not so sure

I still keep going back to the player payments ... on top of a high salary in a general sense that the players receive from their clubs, picking up $20k (plus) along with all the freebies, is money for old rope (nice work if you can get it!)

I was surprised to find out that the NRL players receive $90k for 3 Origin matches. That's a lot of dosh for rep footy (compared to yesteryear)

43 minutes ago, Macca said:

A lot of people are watching the Winter Olympics (including myself) so there's that

But February is generally a slow month for sport on FTA so they got the timing right

You missed a good match last night, old dee ... even if it was just for the skills alone

I didn't get a lot out of the win but as an exhibition match played with high intensity, it was a winner. But long term? Not so sure

I still keep going back to the player payments ... on top of a high salary in a general sense that the players receive from their clubs, picking up $20k (plus) along with all the freebies, is money for old rope (nice work if you can get it!)

I was surprised to find out that the NRL players receive $90k for 3 Origin matches. That's a lot of dosh for rep footy (compared to yesteryear)

State of Origin is Bigger than the GF in the NRL. I am surprised the get on 30k a game Personally..

State of Origin is for serious stakes up North..

7 minutes ago, 3KZ is Football said:

State of Origin is Bigger than the GF in the NRL. I am surprised the get on 30k a game Personally..

State of Origin is for serious stakes up North..

Where the AFL sits in the future with regards to Origin footy is in the lap of the gods.

But being a ratings winner and having a sold-out crowd brings in lots of revenue

So keep paying the players top dosh to keep them interested? Yep, that'll work

I find the whole revisting of an old concept quite fascinating. What has to be remembered is that there are any number of footy fans that are absolute fanatics. You can serve up footy any which way and they're tuning in

And the W.A government have invested into the concept so there's a strong commitment all-round

Whether any particular individual likes it or not is irrelevant. It's about the masses and the numbers

A good example is the t20 sloggathon ... I can't stand it but it's ultra successful. I'd rather stare at a wall for an hour or 2

2 hours ago, old dee said:

It’s amazing that we change the rules because umpires cannot bounce the ball. Something they have been doing for 150 years.

One thing that was consistent was the usual lack of Free Kicks to MAX.

The word I heard was that someone had said something along the lines of "mate, you're just slowing the game down too much now to get the frees, whether you earn them or not".

16 hours ago, dees189227 said:

Collingwood fans claiming he was robbed of another medal. His dad probably cracked it again

To be honest, if the commentators didn’t go on and on about him I wouldn’t notice his impact on the game as it wasn’t all that significant, whilst Ash’s drove out of d50 was very noticeable to me.

Daicos just has lots of cheap disposals and hence why he probably didn’t get the medal. Bont and McCluggae were the same, didn’t really have a major influence.

I thought Butters and Ash were the Vics best.

6 hours ago, Wodja said:

I noticed that they were 25 minute quarters

Interesting decision considering the heat. Also good to know my sense of time isn’t stuffed. Was wondering why the quarters went for ages

I didn't watch it live but I did catch the Kayo mini.

I like the idea of representative football. Not as a competitor to NRL, not as a merchandising exercise (although it's a great opportunity), but purely for the idea of the best players playing and training with each other and going up against the best. I've always believed this was something lost to the game for a long time. I'm aware I'm in the minority on this but I would prefer this to an extra game in the season and even a gather round. It doesn't hurt to have more angles to this sport than just the die-hard club mentality, there's nothing all that unifying about that in my opinion.

I don't know how sustainable it is an an annual thing but I'm happy to see it every 5 years for sure.

Another injury casualty.

Not great that Gawn played under an injury cloud, if he did a hammy during the game as a result I’d be spewing

16 hours ago, DeeZone said:

To be honest Clint he was one of our offensive weapons last night and with 38 touches and energy consumed attacking may not have much left in his tank at times when we had a turnover.

Was talking generally, not just in the Origin.