Mark Williams stands by votes
Mark Stevens | June 27, 2008
PORT Adelaide coach Mark Williams has defended his decision to snub Richmond veteran Joel Bowden in the AFL Coaches' Association award.
Williams, who could not find room for Bowden in his best five players on Saturday, said he took into account the ratio between Bowden's contested and uncontested possessions.
He said Bowden, named as best on ground by Richmond coach Terry Wallace, was his choice for sixth best in the match.
Although Bowden took a match-saving grab, 21 of his 23 marks were uncontested. He also didn't lay a tackle.
"I thought Joel had a very good game and he would have been my next pick for votes," Williams said yesterday.
"Having said that, in the scheme of things I thought (Cleve) Hughes and (Mitch) Morton had more effect on the game.
"I also took the statistics into consideration when making the decision."
Asked why he named three Port Adelaide and only two Richmond players, despite the Tigers winning the game, Williams said: "In making my votes, I did acknowledge it was a four-point game, where we had more inside 50s, more shots on goal and more clearances.
"So you'd say it was pretty reasonable to go either way with the votes."
Wallace picked four of his own players and only one Port Adelaide player. Bowden was his best on ground.
Williams gave his five votes to Port ruckman Dean Brogan. He wasn't in Wallace's best five.
AFL Coaches' Association boss Neale Daniher said this week he wasn't concerned with Bowden missing out.
"So what?" Daniher told the Herald Sun.
"Everyone sees the game differently."
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23929205-19742,00.html