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 Rd 13: Carlton vs the Drug Cheats
Rating: A
There was a period of ten to fifteen minutes in the 3rd quarter when we really screwed up, but we controlled the rest of the game and reduced their forward line to ineptitude. It was lovely!
Votes:
Not an easy task with a very even performance.
[3] Tom de Koning
[2] Elijah Hollands
[2] Jacob Weitering
[2] Alex Cincotta
[1] Sam Walsh
[1] George Hewett
[1] Charlie Curnow
[0.5] Zac Williams
[0.5] Patrick Cripps
[0.5] Adam Saad
[0.5] Lachie Cowan
]0.5] Matthew Kennedy
[0.5] Brodie Kemp
Explanations:
[3] Tom de Koning: Tom was well beaten in the ruck duels, even though he was shepherded out of so many of them, but around the ground he was phenomenal. He had over 20 possessions again, 11 clearances, including 6 from the centre square, and 5 big marks.
[2] Elijah Hollands: Probably his most complete game so far, with 19 possessions and 93%(!!!) and three excellent goals. 4 clearances as well. It was his poise that stood out and the cleanness of his kicking.
[2] Jacob Weitering: Gave 2 metre Peter a bath.
[2] Alex Cincotta: Kept Merrett ineffective and bobbed up with 2 great goals as well at important times.
[1] Sam Walsh: Wasn’t getting much service, but battled on well. He was penalized with some shocking frees, but kept working and was more than solid.
[1] George Hewett: An excellent night’s work for George with 23 possessions and 7 tackles.
[1] Charlie Curnow: Mercurial and could easily have had 4 goals, Charlie had the better of his opponents all night.
[0.5] Zac Williams: Not huge numbers, but each one hurt! His goals were good, but his excellent disposal in the forward line was crucial.
[0.5] Patrick Cripps: Tried his best and even did some ruck work, but suffered because we couldn’t get taps. Still did some nice things. 7 clearances and 6 tackles.
[0.5] Adam Saad: Back to his best tonight. Wins one-on-ones and his run and carry was damaging.
[0.5] Lachie Cowan: A very solid effort from Lachie. Did his job well and his disposal was excellent.
]0.5] Matthew Kennedy: Solid. Did his share of ruckwork, which was a fail, but worked hard, marked well and did some crucial things at crucial times.
[0.5] Brodie Kemp: 10 marks and did his job well.
Honourable Mentions:
Jordan Boyd: Probably deserved votes. Loved his game.
Blake Acres: Kicking was not on tonight, but his work rate was excellent.
Mitch McGovern: Did a job and did it well.
Harry McKay: Beat Ben, but was reasonably quiet.
Team A
4 Tom de Koning
3 Elijah Hollands
2 Jacob Weitering
2 Alex Cincotta
1 George Hewett
1 Zac Williams
1 Adam Saad
1 Matthew Kennedy
Team: A
5. TDK
4. E.Hollands
3. Hewitt
2. Cincotta
1. Saad
5 TDK
4 E Hollands
3 Saad
2 Hewett
1 Walsh
Team B
B
5. Hewett
4 E Hollands
3. Saad
2. TDK
1. Kemp
Team A-
7: TDK
2: E.Hollands
1: Hewett
1: Saad
1: Weitering
1: Kemp
1: Cincotta
1: Williams
Team: A-
3: de Koning
3: E. Hollands
3: Hewett
2: Weitering
1: Cincotta
0.5: Cripps
0.5: Walsh
0.5: Newman
0.5: Saad
0.5: McGovern
0.5: Curnow
Team B
5 - Hewett
4 - TDK
3 - Cincotta
2 - E Hollands
1 - Charlie
Team = B
4 TDK
2 Hewett
2 E Hollands
2 Cincotta
1 Curnow
1 Cripps
1 Saad
1 Boyd
1 Williams
Team B
De Koning 3
Hewett 2
E Hollands 2
Fogarty 1
Williams 1
Curnow 1
Cincotta 1
Saad 1
Walsh 1
Newman 1
Cripps 1
Team B-
TDK 6
E Holland's 4
Newman 2
Hewitt 1
Walsh 1
Saad 1
Team B
2 TDK
2 Lij
2 George
2 Weiters
2 Cincotta
1 Walshy
1 ZW
1 Crippa
1 Saad
1 Cowan
Team B
De Koning 3
Hewett 2
E Hollands 2
Fogarty 1
Williams 1
Curnow 1
Cincotta 1
Saad 1
Walsh 1
Cripps 1
Kemp. 0.5
Newman. 0.5. His continual kicking to a pack of players, rather than passing short is maddening and undermines his other good defensive work.
Ab
B
7 TDK
4 E Hollands
3 Hewett
1 Saad
Team - A-
4 - TDK
3 - Hewett
2 - E Hollands
1 - Cincotta
1 - Cowan
1 - Kemp
1 - Newman
1 - Saad
1 - Williams
HM: Boyd, Cripps, Curnow, H, Walsh.
Team B (when you get 41 points up, you should win by 60.....)
TDK 5
Dutchy the Elder 4
Hewett 3
Saad 2
Cincotta 1
If you asked me if we could win without Cripps, Walsh, Charlie, Harry or Wieters in these votes, I would have said no way. That in itself is a major plus.
Team: A+ (the plus is because it was Essendon!)
5 - De Koning
4 - Hollands, E
3 - Hewett
2 - Cincotta
1 - Weitering (apart from completely nullifying his opponents and leading our backline, Weiters gets extra credit for his post game interview)
Team B
5: TDK
4: E Hollands
3: Saad
2: Weitering
1: Cincotra
HM's: George, Kempy, Charlie, Walsh, Cripps and Blacres....
I'll leave this open for a little longer: people still appear to have something to say.