Hey I am showing a friend around town and didn't have a chance to go to the game. Can some of the esteemed members of this board tell me who starred and who plodded and also how Corey Ellis and Broad went? Also do people thing Miles would have allowed us to dominate more?
Thanks in advance
As an esteemed site member I was at the game so heres my take.
Gutsy effort but the rain bought GWS skills back to the pack and they didnt adjust to the conditions (tried to out-skill us rather than play wet weathernfooty) and our confidence grew from that.
Statistically we lost every catagory except tackles and obviously the scoreboard. We drew even on clearances. They smashed us in kicks and disposals. This may be in part to their domination in the first quarter and rhe evenness of wet weather footy. But also i think we were smarter and a little more efficient on the deck in the wet. Correction we also had more inside 50s.
Our backline held up really well got alot of respect for the group.
Rance and his fearless rebounding and spoiling, Dusty and Cotch played well. Vlastuin was really good. I I liked astburys game too.
Edwards and Griggs disposal in the wet was shocking but no suprises there i guess.
Soldo was pretty much useless outside of rucking (noting it was not a game for big men). Butler was quietish.
There were a few players who were quiet but some of their touches/involvements were best option or just excellent wet weather footy. I'd put C Ellis and Broad into this category. And possibly short and rioli.
If Miles played i definately think it would have been worth a couple of goals in the conditions. Particulary given the clearances were 50/50 he could have tipped that the other way. GWs also won the contested possessions which was suprising to me but apparently its true.
Toby greene is a little dog.
Finally umpires lost the plot. First quarter 23 frees paid before the heavens opened and something like 60 for the entire game (1 per 2 minutes of football). And alot of em were waaaaayy wrong. Compare that to 31 frees paid for the entire Freo v Haw game and the same for Bris vs Carlton.
