| West Coast: | Comment | Rating | | Chris Judd © | A solid night at the Dome without starring, pushing forward to score three goals and pull off a potentially goal-saving mark. | 6.5 | | Daniel Kerr | Arguably a more important player to the WCE cause than Judd, Kerr was typically brutal in the packs on Friday, and his ball use and dynamic pace were first rate. | 9 | | Tyson Stenglien | A gritty, workmanlike game doing various tagging jobs. | 5 | | Chad Fletcher | Yet another prolific match from Fletcher, who tends to slip under opposition guards whereas star players attract the crowds. | 6 | | Beau Waters | Perhaps the match of Waters young career, with his robust speed and precise ball use off the back flank a feature. Could end up a star. | 8 | | Ben Cousins | Prolific, hard and solid work from the ex-skipper, who continues to rack up the big numbers. Pushed forward for a goal or two, too. | 8 | | Michael Braun | Not his most outstanding game by any stretch (may be due to the double-page spread in the Herald Sun that morning!), but did the job. | 4 | | Mark Seaby | Worked well in the ruck, and out-did both Blake and Ackland. | 5 | | Daniel Chick | A terrific tagging job on the dangerous Milne, continuing his good form. | 6 | | Rowan Jones | Once again went unsighted as he pilled up his possession numbers, and pushed forward well throughout. | 6.5 | | Quinten Lynch | Solid effort, but was unable to break free of the Hudgton clutches. | 3.5 | | Jaymie Graham | Quiet in his role in defence. | 2 | | Darren Glass | Brilliant job in holding a firing Gehrig to only the one goal following a rampage the week prior. Will be vying for All-Australian selection at fullback. | 8 | | Sam Butler | A slick mover in the midfield, Butler was not a feature for most of the night. | 3.5 | | Ashley Sampi | Provided real spark and bite in the forward fifty, and seems to have returned from his lengthy WAFL spell reinvigorated. | 5 | | Ashley Hanson | Not overly productive up forward. | 2.5 | | Andrew Embley | Had something of a downer up forward, overrunning the ball on several occasions and generally lacking his usual presence in attack. | 3 | | Steven Armstrong | Continues to show something up forward, and may prove something of a late developer. | 4 | | Adam Selwood | An accomplished performance in a variety of roles. | 5 | | Brett Jones | A solid, busy effort as the late call up for Drew Banfield in defence and then through the midfield. | 5 | | Brent Staker | Strong hands and hard leads up forward, it seems Staker may be on the verge of taking the next step. | 6 | | David Wirrapunda | Did his job with the customary class that we have come to know and expect from the indiginous back pocket, who even managed to push forward for a rare goal. | 7 | | Total | | 118.5 |
| Richmond vs W'Bulldogs: | | Round 18 2006, MCG | | Richmond: | Comment | Rating | | Brett Deledio | Not the most productive match from Deledio, who may be suffering from a touch of 'second-year blues'. Well held by Boyd. | 3.5 | | Andrew Raines | Again a feature for the Tigers, his dash and carry from defence a highlight, and his daring always good to watch. | 6.5 | | Mark Chaffey | A cool, steady hand down back, and is beginning to hit his straps after an injury riddled season. | 5.5 | | Greg Stafford | In game 200, Stafford was unable to take the points against Street and Minson in the ruck, although he pushed forward for a goal. | 3 | | Joel Bowden | Returned to his best form opposed to the dangerous Johnson, tagging him well while winning plenty of leather himself. | 7.5 | | Matthew Richardson | Gallant, but unable to really have his say on proceedings. | 3.5 | | Dean Polo | A competetive type who hits each pack with vigour, Polo was probably one of the better players for the majority of the day. | 6 | | Kayne Pettifer | Only bobbed up late in the day during the Tigers desperate bid to come from nowhere. | 3.5 | | Patrick Bowden | Won plenty of the football as per usual, but struggled to convert up forward, scoring four behinds for the afternoon. | 5 | | Kane Johnson© | Unable to exert his usual influence as a tagger, this time opposed to West, although he did limit his effectiveness. | 5 | | Ray Hall | Battled well against Grant but was outclassed in the finish. | 4 | | Shane Tuck | Won his share of the ball but was not at his best. | 4 | | Jay Schulz | Two goals, but lacked output. Needs to win more of the ball around the ground. | 2.5 | | Adam Pattison | Only received limited gametime, and when on did not feature. | 1.5 | | Andrew Krakouer | Floated in and out of the game, and probably should have ended up with more than the solitary goal. | 3.5 | | Jarrad Oakleigh-Nicholls | Began on the wing but broke his collarbone early in the piece, sentencing him to an early summer in the gym. | 0.5 | | Richard Tambling | Is now beginning to produce with reletive consistency in the middle and up forward, with two goals and a few assists. | 6 | | Chris Hyde | Rarely sighted. | 2 | | Greg Tivendale | Won a fair bit of the ball, and helped revive Richmond's fortunes in the second term when running and carrying the pill. | 6.5 | | Matthew White | Likes to run and carry the ball, and perhaps should be trialled up forward in the coming weeks. | 3.5 | | Nathan Foley | Found a bit of the ball after beginning as first rover but tailled off as the game wore on. | 4 | | Cam Howat | A very promising debut game, displaying class and poise on his wing, as well as scoring a goal. Looks a likely type. | 6 | | Total: | | 93 | | Western Bulldogs: | Comment | Rating | | Farren Ray | Didn't do too much on his wing, but is beginning, you sense, to work his way into the game. | 4 | | Chris Grant | In game 330, Grant showed that there is still a bit left in his 34 year old tank, with ten marks (three contested) and three goals. A true champion and gentleman. | 6.5 | | Daniel Cross | Won his usual amount of ball onball without really hurting the Tigers. | 5 | | Rohan Smith | The veteran returned to the form of yesteryear, running downfield for two goals off the backflank, using the ball well all afternoon. | 6 | | Brad Johnson © | Although he snuck away for three goals, Johnson was successfully quelled by Bowden. | 4.5 | | Scott West | Despite wearing the Kane Johnson tag, West still managed to win his usual amount of ball in the midfield, but lacked his usual productiveness. | 6 | | Lindsay Gilbee | Ran hard all day off halfback, used the ball was well as ever and managed a goal or two. Best on Ground. | 8 | | Nathan Eagleton | The usual day at the office for Eagleton, who was forever a threat off the wing. | 5.5 | | Peter Street | Teamed well with Minson in the ruck and won the honours on the day. Is finally beginning to win his share of the football around the ground. | 5 | | Sam Power | The slick user didn't spent too much time onfield, and was consigned to the bitplayer role off the bench. | 3 | | Ryan Griffen | Not the most inspiring effort from Griffen, although his kicking was as loud and long as ever from defence. | 4.5 | | Adam Cooney | It wasn't Cooney's most damaging day at the office, but his sheer presence clearly unnerves opposition coaches. | 5.5 | | Cameron Faulkner | Made the effort to run and take on the Tigers at all costs, and, although committing a few errors of judgement, showed a glimpse of his potential with a clever goal from the pocket. | 4 | | Travis Baird | Is now beginning to make a real impact up forward, leading well up field and providing Rodney Eade with a dangerous forward target. | 4.5 | | Jordan McMahon | A damaging performance from halfback and up on the wing, McMahon is one of the Bulldogs more underrated players. | 7.5 | | Ryan Hargrave | Wasn't a real feature in defence, although able to keep Shultz under lock and key for most of the day. | 3.5 | | Will Minson | A solid player in the ruck for most of the day, and is on his way to peaking just prior to the finals. | 5.5 | | Damien McCormack | Hardly a feature, although displayed poise when on. | 2 | | Matthew Robbins | Well held for the duration of the day, breaking free to goal only once. | 1 | | Brian Harris | Wrapped up Richardson at fullback and continued his terrific form. | 7 | | Dale Morris | Although forced to play taller than his height states, played a role for most of the day. | 5 | | Matthew Boyd | Tagged and ran well, and continues to slip underneath opposition guards. | 5.5 | | Total | | 109 | Adelaide vs Collingwood: | | Round 18 2006 | | Adelaide: | Comment | Rating | | Kris Massie | Won his share of the ball down back, without ever being a real concern. | 4 | | Matthew Clarke | Came onto the ground late where his tap ruckwork was a feature in the dying minutes. | 4 | | Scott Thompson | Robust and strong, Thompson was handy for the majority of the night without ever really finding his most damaging form. | 4.5 | | Nathan Van Berlo | One of the quieter Crows for much of the night. | 1.5 | | Nathan Bassett | In a best afield effort, Bassett won an astonishing 23 marks (league record), and dashed hard and strong from the backline. | 9 | | Tyson Edwards | Another to star, Edwards won possessions at will in finding 34 touches and scoring two goals early. An underrated star. | 9 | | Matthew Bode | Always threatening in the forward pocket, Bode was unable to break free from the Sam Iles tag. | 4 | | Michael Doughty | A real goer, Doughty played his role as a tagger nicely down back, and then won his own football through the midfield. | 5 | | Robert Shirley | Prominent player throughout the night in various tagging roles, the majority spent on Alan Didak. | 5.5 | | Ken McGregor | After an early goal, was locked down by Jason Cloke, who proved a more than able match up. | 3 | | Graham Johncock | A class act in defence, using the ball beautifly and running hard and straight. | 7 | | Brett Burton | Outpointed for much of the night by Lonie before limping off with a hamstring strain. | 3 | | Ben Rutten | Once again beat Rocca all ends up, and is one of the few players in the league with the large enough body to contrain the Magpie man mountain. | 7.5 | | Scott Stevens | Again showed a good football brain down back, but was not a feature. | 3 | | Mark Ricciuto © | Extremely well held by Prestigiacomo up forward, and even began the tense final term on the pine before moving into the middle. Copped a weeks rest for a strike on Clement. | 5.5 | | Brent Reilly | A more than handy player off halfback all night, breaking free for the dam burster in the third stanza | 6 | | Ben Hart | Off early with a hamstring strain, and may struggle to return in time for the finals. | 1.5 | | Rhett Biglands | Locked in an absorbing battle with Fraser for most of the night, and in the end probably lowered his colours slightly. | 5.5 | | Simon Goodwin | Tagged all evening by Licuria, Goodwin probably just shaded his Magpie for the honours. | 6.5 | | Trent Hentschel | Well held by Clement for the first three quarters, before he finally snapped free in the opening minutes of the final quarter for two goals. | 5 | | Martin Mattner | A constant force in the midfield and down back, where his physical nature and raking left boot kick were always the cause of trouble for the Woods. | 7 | | Jason Porplyzia | Bobbed up at different stages to keep his opponents on their toes, including a third quarter goal. | 5 | | Total | | 112 | | Collingwood: | Comment | Rating | | Ryan Lonie | Held Burton all evening, and managed to use his run off halfback all night. Scored an ice-breaking goal in the third term to snap the scoring drought. Evolving into a reliable player. | 7 | | Alan Didak | Was a bright spark early, before his night slowly petered out. More than handy. Reported, but reprimanded, for a trip on opponent Robert Shirley. | 5.5 | | Nathan Buckley © | Not the best night for Buckley, who won enough of the ball but did not dispose of it with his regular precision. May be in need of a rest. | 5 | | Brodie Holland | One of the few Magpies to endure a quiet night, Holland struggled to sniff out his usual amount of ball, but still gave Ricciuto a hell of a bump in the second quarter. | 2.5 | | James Clement | The general in defense was once again slick and calm, his disposal first rate. Gave away an uncharicteristic fifty meter penalty in the third quarter for a late bump. | 7 | | Shane O'Bree | Won the ball in and around the stoppages, but not his best night. | 5 | | Dale Thomas | Flashed in and out of the match until a brave attempt to fist the ball clear from a throw-in during the final quarter resulted in heavy concussion and a broken collarbone. | 3 | | Chris Egan | After some early promise, including a goal, Egan's influence slowly decreased, as is the norm with youngsters. | 2.5 | | Scott Burns | The veteran Burns gave plenty of his typical grunt and hardness underneath the packs, and was one of the most consistent performers for much of the night. | 6 | | Paul Licuria | A late inclusion for Scott Pendlebury, Licuria returned to his grove as a tagger, taking on the role of stopping Simon Goodwin, doing a solid job. Needs to regain his best form before September. | 6 | | Chris Tarrant | Following a tumoltuous week, all eyes were on Tarrant's efforts. Although he worked hard, he was never really able to get into the game until a last gasp shot at goal fell just short. | 4.5 | | Anthony Rocca | Another quiet, underwhelming match for big Rocca, who's form of the early weeks has now completely evapourated. | 0.5 | | Tarkyn Lockyer | The unassuming Lockyer took on a variety of roles in defense and onball, and carried them out well. | 6.5 | | Josh Fraser | Rucking almost completely alone in the absence of Richards and Fanning, Fraser battled manfully against Biglands. May have scored the match winner, had he not been run down by Mattner. | 7 | | Ben Johnson | In the same line as Tarrant, Johnson, too, had a point to prove, and did it very well, gathering 23 possessions and running hard through the lines. Supported coach's move to retain him. | 7 | | Nick Maxwell | Did not receive as much game time as usual with Jason Cloke on song, and when on spent most of his night in unfamillier territory in attack. | 2 | | Travis Cloke | Although his numbers were not as high as the previous week, Cloke Mk III was solid at CHF, a number of knock-ons resulting in scoring forays. | 4 | | Jason Cloke | Perhaps his best effort since the heady days of 2002, Cloke was a piller of strength down back against Ken McGregor, silencing the Crow while winning the ball himself. Back to his best. | 7 | | Simon Prestigiacomo | One of the best Magpies on the night, Presti held the dangerous Hentschel in check nearly all evening until he slipped away late (through no fault of his own). A lionhearted effort on the last line. | 7.5 | | Dane Swan | Collingwood's best, having returned to the form that made him one of the most improved players of the season prior to a round ten hamstring strain. Reads the play extremely well. | 8 | | Sam Iles | In his inaugural match of AFL football, Iles held his own in the back pocket opposed to Matthew Bode, and after some early nerves, settled down to play very well. | 6 | | Heath Shaw | Continues to forge his status as the revelation of season 2006, and not just for the Magpies. Hard run from defence and ever precise disposal, Shaw was again one of his sides best. | 7.5 | | Total | | 117 | | | |
