This weekend’s AFL Grand Final promises to be a beauty.
Following Adelaide’s win at the start of each round of the finals, you could not see anyone beating them. As the weekend progresses, Richmond get their chance and play with such spirit they seem to be riding a wave similar to the Western Bulldogs of 2016. It is not a Grand Final where either side has limped in.
All the wash-up from the 2017 AFL Grand Final
» Match Report: Tigers are premiers
» BUCKLAND: Richmond go from rabble to flag
» Six talking points from the match
» Richmond Tigers player ratings
» Adelaide Crows player ratings
» Watch video highlights from the match
» Re-live the match with our live blog
To win a premiership you need an even spread of contributors and cannot afford too many (if any) passengers. So in order to split these two teams have had look at the contribution of each side’s lesser likes and fringe players during the year.
Adelaide Crows
| Player | Disposals | Marks | Tackles | Goals | ||||
| TOT | AVG | TOT | AVG | TOT | AVG | TOT | AVG | |
| Paul Seedsman | 72 | 18 | 17 | 4.3 | 14 | 3.5 | 5 | 1.3 |
| David Mackay | 356 | 17 | 64 | 3 | 71 | 3.4 | 9 | 0.4 |
| Hugh Greenwood 225 | 16.1 | 36 | 2.6 | 95 | 6.8 | 8 | 0.6 | |
| Jake Kelly | 336 | 14.6 | 98 | 4.3 | 64 | 2.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Andy Otten | 248 | 13.8 | 77 | 4.3 | 42 | 2.3 | 20 | 1.1 |
| Kyle Hartigan | 198 | 11.6 | 72 | 4.2 | 28 | 1.6 | 0 | 0 |
| All Players | 15.2 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 0.6 |
The bottom six contain an even spread of forwards, midfielders and backs. I Did consider Luke Brown primarily due to low disposals but with the “shut down” jobs he has done this year think he has avoided being in this pack.
What you note is a group of players who are in career best form with an average of a shade over 15 disposals and 3.4 tackles a game. The tackle average is to some extent skewed with tackling machine that is former college basketballer Hugh Greenwood.
Richmond
| Player | Disposals | Marks | Tackles | Goals | ||||
| TOT | AVG | TOT | AVG | TOT | AVG | TOT | AVG | |
| Kamdyn McIntosh | 348 | 15.1 | 82 | 3.6 | 74 | 3.2 | 2 | 0.1 |
| Nathan Broad | 127 | 14.1 | 39 | 4.3 | 23 | 2.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Graham | 54 | 13.5 | 7 | 1.8 | 32 | 8 | 2 | 0.5 |
| Jason Castagna | 260 | 10.8 | 74 | 3.1 | 72 | 3 | 25 | 1 |
| Dylan Grimes | 258 | 10.8 | 70 | 2.9 | 74 | 3.1 | 1 | 0 |
| Jacob Townsend | 41 | 10.3 | 12 | 3 | 14 | 3.5 | 14 | 3.5 |
| All Players | 12.4 | 3.1 | 3.9 | 0.9 |
Again there is an even spread across the ground. Dan Butler was the other player that was considered but has been such an important player in the Tiger’s lineup.
These players have really played their role this year and have been solid contributors when in the senior side.
Disposal average is lower at a tick over 12 and marks are lower too in comparison to Adelaide. Not surprisingly, tackling is higher demonstrating the Tiger’s will to work for each other. Jack Graham helps the average too!
Apart from Jacob Townsend and Jason Castanga there is not much there to hit the scoreboard. Townsend will be looking to atone for a reasonably quiet finals campaign to date.
Conclusion
Adelaide have been the best team all year and have not been lower on the ladder than second.
The key reason for this is that although they do not have the star power of Richmond, they have fantastic depth.
So to quote Phil Walsh, Adelaide “will get the job done” and defeat the Tigers in a close game.
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