Every Tiger rated from the first qualifying finalJennifer Phelan
afl.com.au
Sep 7, 2018
Dustin Martin – 9Celebrated his 200th game with a mixed bag of pure Dusty brilliance. Had seven touches in the first quarter but was frustrated by the close checking of Daniel Howe, which sent him deep into attack. Went back into the middle for the start of the second and won the first clearance, before kicking a ridiculous goal when he was running full-pelt towards the boundary. Won the battle with Howe in the end and finished the game with 29 disposals and 10 clearances.
Trent Cotchin – 8Put aside any concern of soreness with a typically tough, in-and-under, wet weather game. Set the scene with five first-quarter tackles and broke even in an enthralling battle with Mitchell at the stoppages. Wasn't flashy with his 26 disposals but brought plenty of pressure and did all the tough stuff that makes him an inspirational leader.
Dylan Grimes – 8Just got it done. Sacrificed his own game as usual in a dual with Paul Puopolo where he didn't concede a goal, nor did he give an inch. His spoiling was first-rate with a highlight coming in the third quarter where he marked against Puopolo just after a Hawthorn goal to save another.
Kane Lambert – 8Signalled his return after last playing in round 21 with two excellent first-half tackles and helped to curtail the influence of Isaac Smith after quarter-time when it looked like the Hawks winger was going to get off the chain. Had 26 disposals, 17 contested, and was impressive moving the ball inside 50.
Dion Prestia – 8Looked on the cusp of blowing the game apart all night and nearly did with 11 touches in the first half, which he followed up with 11 in the third term alone. Unloaded a huge goal from outside 50 off two steps in the third quarter to open up a 22-point lead. Had eight score involvements and 24 pressure acts to go with his 626m gained, which was the most on the field.
Daniel Rioli – 8Perfect night for the silky, small forward. Kicked three goals, brought plenty of trademark forward pressure and won a stack of contested ball in a clean performance. Had a nice battle with Shaun Burgoyne where they took turns tackling each other and bounced back up after being barrelled by Puopolo early in the fourth quarter. Is built for September.
David Astbury – 7Spent most of his time opposed to Jarryd Roughead, who ended with three goals but only one against Astbury. It was the only goal the defender conceded as he played his role well despite the greasy conditions.
Josh Caddy – 7Came out on top in a fiery battle with Hawks livewire James Sicily. Kicked 2.2 and took six marks, pushing up and down the ground to provide a leading target that was hard to contain. Had an untidy moment when he used his legs to hold Daniel Howe in a headlock behind play in the first half.
Shaun Grigg – 7Had 25 touches and took the ball inside 50 nine times, but it was his pressure that set the Tigers' back-up tall guy apart from the Hawks' big pair of Ben McEvoy and Jon Ceglar. Was also clean with the ball and got it moving, which was important given the contested nature of the game.
Jack Higgins – 7Wasn't overawed by his first final in the slightest, and even got to celebrate with a "snag" late in the third, which he kicked as he was falling to the ground. Other highlights included a full-body smother on a Blake Hardwick kick in the first minute of the second quarter, and when he showed great vision to hit Caddy on the lead in the fourth to set up a goal after roving the ball off Riewoldt's hands.
Kamdyn McIntosh – 7Would have had many punters throwing down their betting stumps in disgust when he was the unlikely first goal kicker. Added another two to his tally for a career-high bag of three. On a night where uncontested possessions were hard to find, was the most effective winger when he did get it.
Alex Rance – 7Was loose at times but mainly shared Roughead with Astbury. Wasn't his most prolific game but was good on the rebound. Will be concerned about two things as he drives home; a potential eye-gouge on Paul Puopolo as the two wrestled on the ground in the second quarter, and how his left ankle feels after he gave it a good tweak late in the third quarter.
Jayden Short – 7Won plenty of ball running out of defence. Was second to Prestia for metres gained on the field (537m) and clean with his disposals despite the on-again, off-again rain. Like Higgins, wasn't freaked out by the prospect of his first final and just got the job done.
Nick Vlastuin – 7Was impassable and annoying across half-back. Possessions were down on his season average, but his spoiling was impressive as he constantly got a fist to anything the Hawks tried to attack with and was a nuisance to Luke Breust and Conor Nash. Marshalled across half-back and pushed up the ground at times in a solid performance.
Jason Castagna – 6Looked primed for a big game early on with a lively first quarter where he gathered eight disposals and chipped in with two scoring assists. But, while he ended with seven tackles – the majority of which were inside 50 – and 20 pressure acts, his best was in the first term as he didn't touch the ball again, mainly opposed to Ryan Burton.
Reece Conca – 6Played in the middle and on the wing, which was a bit of a surprise with the return of Lambert at the expense of half-back Ellis. Had a go at Tom Mitchell but couldn't curtail the ball magnet for the time he had him, and while his 17 touches weren't the Tigers' biggest haul, he was second in the team for pressure acts and laid six tackles.
Shane Edwards – 6Started forward against Ben Stratton but had a variety of opponents on his way to 15 touches. Did a bit of everything; had an explosive highlight in the third when he belted through traffic and drove the ball long to Prestia, who went inside 50 and set up a scoring opportunity. Spent most of his time forward and had some classy moments.
Bachar Houli – 6Played mainly against young Hawk James Worpel in a relatively even battle. Had 24 disposals, mainly off half-back, but also pushed up the ground to win the ball on the wing and drive it inside 50. Didn't star but played his role.
Toby Nankervis – 6Handled himself well when pitted against two big rucks on a night where the conditions didn't lend themselves to height. Took an important mark in defence in the second quarter and had more disposals around the ground than either of the Hawks' big men.
Jack Riewoldt – 6The conditions were less than ideal for the Tigers' lone big forward and he only touched the ball twice in the first quarter, although he made one count when he took a leading mark, played on, and set up a Rioli crumbed goal. Was mainly opposed to James Frawley in a pretty even battle. Will enjoy a week off now after coming off briefly with a knocked calf in the fourth quarter.
Jack Graham – 5Despite his ability to tag, didn't spend much time against Mitchell. Struggled to get going after a one-touch first quarter, although he did kick a goal late in the fourth quarter. Had seven disposals – his lowest since round 10 – but did kick in with 24 pressure acts and seven tackles.
Nathan Broad – 3Wasn't his best game and might be nervous with former housemate and fellow defender Brandon Ellis omitted for Kane Lambert. Only had three disposals after failing to touch the ball at all in the first quarter and had just seven pressure acts; the second lowest of any Tiger. Won't like the replay of an unconvincing marking attempt in the third quarter where he braced for non-existent contact mid-air and dropped the ball.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-09-06/every-tiger-rated-from-the-first-qualifying-final
