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
No probs. Enjoyed doing it. I actually found it hard assessing the games of Rivers, Bell and Carroll.