Voting is as usual: you have 15 votes to award pretty much as you will, with the following provisos:
[1] 15 votes in total, no more, no less.
[2] No more than 10 votes for any one player (even Sam Walsh or Patrick Cripps)
[3] Three players at least must get a mention.
[4] A grade for the game, A+ (what I want to see) to F-.
AFL Elimination Final #1 Carlton vs Sydney at the MCG
I haven't voted early much this year: I've got into the habit of voting after I've seen a replay, and I don't always get to see one early. However, this week I'm going on his opinions from the night. I might even be able to get to sleep soon.
We won a final against a hard team that matches up on us well, without huge contributions from a number of important players.
Team: B+
I can’t call it an A, as we couldn’t keep it up, and we struggled to play our style of game for much of the night.
Votes:
[2.5] Sam Walsh
[2.5] Blake Acres
[1.5] Jacob Weitering
[1.5] Adam Saad
[1] Brodie Kemp
[1] George Hewett
[1] Adam Cerra
[1] Matthew Cottrell
[0.5] Sam Docherty
[0.5] Nic Newman
[0.5] Paddy Cripps
[0.5] Tom de Koning
[0.5] Marc Pittonet
[0.5] Jack Martin
Explanations:
[2.5] Sam Walsh: Walsh had a phenomenal game, getting 29 possessions, 17 of which were contested, 6 tackles and 6 clearances. A top game.
[2.5] Blake Acres: Kicked a wonderful goal, stopped a couple of others and managed 26 possessions and 5 clearances. Probably his best game for us.
[1.5] Jacob Weitering: Dominated his position and took some brilliant marks.
[1.5] Adam Saad: Defended brilliantly and barely gave his man a touch.
[1] Brodie Kemp: A strong defensive game from Brodie
[1] George Hewett: Some really good things from George, even though eh fell down more than I’d like. 25 possessions, 5 tackles and 5 clearances.
[1] Adam Cerra: Not as consistent this week as he can be, but he did some really marvellous things that helped us win. 24 possessions, 7 tackles and 4 clearances.
[1] Matthew Cottrell: Matt’s first half was nothing short of brilliant: he was in everything, kicking goals and making goals. He dropped out of the game when we slowed up the way the ball came into the forward 50.
[0.5] Sam Docherty: Not a bad game from Doc; 21 possessions and 3 tackles, but he wasn’t as effective as he can be. He seemed a little slow and wasn’t as sure in the air as he usually is.
[0.5] Nic Newman: A very solid job in defence, as we’ve come to expect. However, he made some crucial turnovers tonight that were costly.
[0.5] Paddy Cripps: A very quiet start, but he work into the game and kicked a Captain’s goal when it was needed. Will be better for the run.
[0.5] Tom de Koning: Started slowly, but came into the game and took some decisive marks.
[0.5] Marc Pittonet: Isn’t oing to be dropped again anytime soon: 14 possessions and a couple of marks from the big bloke, and a lion hearted effort in the ruck.
[0.5] Jack Martin: Martin was pretty quiet up forward, but for his goals, but it was some clutch marking in the final term that stood out.
Honourable Mentions:
Charlie Curnow: Down and fumbly early, but picked up his game late with some stunning marks. Too far out from goal, but his contribution was important when it mattered.
Caleb Marchbank: Marchbank drifted out of the game somewhat and got out-marked a bit late, but he was very good early in the game. Took some very nice marks.
Mitch McGovern: Not at his best, but he did a job really well.
Team: A
5. Cottrell
4. Walsh
3. Martin
2. Acres
1. Newman
Team B
[2] Walsh
[2] Acres
[2] Saad
[2] Cerra
[2] Cottrell
[1] Martin
[1] Hewett
[1] Docherty
[1] Newman
[1] TDK
Team B
4 Acres
3 Cerra
2 Cottrell
1 De Koning
1 Hewett
1 Martin
1 Saad
1 Walsh
1 Weitering
Team: B-
3 - Acres
3 - Cerra
2 - Cottrell
2 - Walsh
1 - Hewett
1 - Kemp
1 - Martin
1 - Saad
1 - TDK
HM: Doc, Newman, Weitering, Cincotta.
Team : B minus
3 Acres
2 Martin
1 De Koning
1 Cerra
1 Docherty
1 Saad
1 Walsh
1 Newman
1 Hewett
1 Cottrell
1 Fogarty
1 Weitering
Team B
4: Cerra
4: Walsh
3: Weitering
1: Acres
1: Martin
1: Cottrell
1: Kemp
Team: B+ It's hard not to give an A just for winning a final :)
5 - Acres
4 - Walsh
3 - Cottrell
2 - Weitering
1 - De Koning
Cerra, Hewett, Martin and Saad stiff to miss out on votes.
I must admit I thought we might not vote through the finals.
Team B
5 Walsh
4 Acres
3 Cerra
2 Doc
1 Cottrell
HMs; Hewett, Saad, TDK, Cripps.
I reckon Acres needs to be in the conversation for player swap of the year.
His effort in the last with a sore shoulder to kick a 50 m barrel and then tackle Blakey from his own kick was nothing short of sensational.
Team A-
3 Acres
3 Walsh
2 Cottrell
2 TDK
2 Martin
1 Weiters
1 Saad
1 Cerra
HN Crippa Doc Fogarty
Keep voting, people. Last time we were in a final we won, there were 28 voters!