ALBURY
SHAUN DALY
He’s a unique player in that it’s hard to remember his best moment, but he just works so damn hard. Named Tigers’ best.
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RATING: 7/10
ELLIOTT POWELL
Tough day. Gave away 50-metre penalty in first term which led to goal and then bombed one when he tried to handball over Michael Bordignon for unmarked Josh Mellington.
RATING: 4/10
DANIEL CROSS
Under serious doubt after tearing his calf in second semi and remarkable he was able to play. A clever juggling mark, off balance, in the first term, but caught in possession late in game which handed Pies a goal.
RATING: 4.5
BRADY MORTON
Was on Josh Porter and it was a battle, but took a lovely intercept mark in early moments. Deserves praise for lifting to O and M standard after playing at Wagga Tigers last year.
RATING: 4.5
OLIVER MCEWAN
Like Morton, has shown he can handle the step up after playing with Yackandandah. Will be disappointed after he received a free kick against Michael Newton in the second term, but then gave it away when he bumped him over.
RATING: 4
DEAN POLO
For one of the best players in the league, it was one of his quietest performances in a big game.
RATING: 4.5
JOSH MELLINGTON
Started with two goals in first quarter, but was hardly sighted after. Still kicked three, so it’s respectable.
RATING: 5
BRAYDEN O’HARA
Strong involvement, but for one of the league’s best kicks, he had a handful slew off side of the boot. Set-up two goals in first half and landed classy goal in third.
RATING: 6.5
JAKE PAGE
Kicked two goals, but would love a moment back where he and Cross fiddled around with the ball in final stanza and the Pies pounced.
RATING: 5.5
CHRIS HYDE
Frustrating. Was caught by Mat Grossman in second quarter, then pushed him over and gave away 50, which led to goal. Started to get involved in third term, but was forced to blood bin.
RATING: 4.5
WILL BLOMELEY
Went to Matt Kelly, but he quickly kicked two goals.
RATING: 4
LUKE DALY
Laid a superb tackle on the dangerous Joe Richards in the second term as the Pies surged and also took a strong mark midway through final quarter to set up opportunity.
RATING: 6
ALEX GOODALL
Started on the bench and had a quiet game.
RATING: 4
SIMON THOMAS
Faced Mission Impossible against a rampant Newton. Co-coach Shaun Daly thought he battled hard.
RATING: 4
JIM GRILLS
Like so many of his teammates, was well held and had minimal impact.
RATING: 4
JOEL MACKIE
Caught by Newton in possession after 12 minutes and it never improved. Hadn’t played for a month due to calf injury and it must have affected the long-time star.
RATING: 4
ERISH UTHAYAKUMAR
Barely sighted in the first half, but came to life in last 15 minutes, kicking a clever goal. Finished with three, so that’s a solid output.
RATING: 6
JOHN MITCHELL
Albury’s best player to half-time. Kicked arguably the game’s best goal when he drilled a shot from 45 metres, on the boundary line, on the wrong side for a right-footer, in front of the grandstand. Class.
RATING: 6.5
MICHAEL DUNCAN
Had right knee heavily strapped and was never the same player after he suffered the PCL injury against North Albury on July 1. The defender landed a second-quarter goal.
RATING: 4.5
SAM SCHULZ
One of Albury’s best. Hadn’t played for two months due to suspension, but was one of the few Tigers to play with zip. Strong in defence and kicked a goal. Has finally overcome knee reco in 2015.
RATING: 6.5
WILL MCINTOSH
Called in on morning of match when Luke Packer withdrew and that’s a hard call for anyone, let alone an inexperienced player.
RATING: 4
TOTAL: 103.5
WANGARATTA
DAINE PORTER
Had a quiet game, but Daniel Cross went to him, so that shows Albury’s opinion of him. Retires as a Pies’ great after three best and fairests. Not bad for a bloke with a decade-long degenerative knee.
RATING: 4.5
BEN DOUTHIE
Kept Brayden O’Hara quiet in the second stanza and has that lethal left-foot, but was quiet after that.
RATING: 5
MICHAEL NEWTON
Sensational. Eight goals in a grand final is good enough, but Albury went on red alert when the ball was nearby, freeing up other players who goaled. His third-term goal, on the outside of the foot, had to be seen to be believed. Big-game player after also starring at rep level.
RATING: 9.5
MICHAEL BORDIGNON
Excellent. Was beaten by Josh Mellington a fortnight ago, but decided not to ‘body’ him, rather use his pace to come from behind. He stopped a certain goal in the second when he intercepted Elliott Powell’s handball.
RATING: 8
TOM WHITTLESEA
How much did he improve in last six weeks? Played SANFL earlier this year and it showed, kicking a goal and taking a series of marks all over the ground.
RATING: 8
MAT GROSSMAN
Kept Morris medallist Chris Hyde quiet. Kicked a goal too from Hyde’s frustration, but copped a nasty head knock via a stray knee.
RATING: 6.5
BEN SPEIGHT
Classy. Kicked a boomer from 50 metres late in the first and backed it up with another from similar distance in second. Snared three.
RATING: 7
DANIEL SHARROCK
One of a handful of teenagers who will take so much from the game.
RATING: 4.5
MATT KELLY
Landed two early goals and was then quiet for next two quarters. However, he exploded back by bursting out of centre for Newton’s seventh and pulled off two smothers in 30 seconds shortly after.
RATING: 8
BRAD MELVILLE
Great chase in second term resulted in free kick.
RATING: 5
DYLAN VAN BERLO
The fact he was mentioned by plenty as a possible Did Simpson medallist, when his captain kicked eight goals, sums up his five-star display. Took double-figure marks. Has arrived as a top player.
RATING: 9
JOE RICHARDS
Albury had pegged the lead back to eight points late in the final term when he produced a piece of wizardry. Escaped the Tigers’ defence and kicked long for Newton’s match-winner.
RATING: 6.5
JOSH PORTER
The fairytale story. Flew out of Melbourne at 10am on Sunday to return to US university. Grabbed 10 marks and while his kicking wasn’t great, his snap from the pocket for the final goal was incredible.
RATING: 7
WILL REILLY
Produced the tackle which turned over possession early in the final term, resulting in a Newton goal.
RATING: 5
ZAC LEITCH
Battled bravely in the ruck against Oliver McEwan and Shaun Daly.
RATING: 5
NICK RICHARDS
Prominent early with his coolness in the final line of defence and then nabbed the free kick against Elliott Powell.
RATING: 5
JESSIE SMITH
His pace is a worry for opposition teams and has that explosiveness.
RATING: 4.5
FRAZER DENT
Played on the dangerous Erish Uthayakumar and restricted him enormously in the first half. Produced two superb pieces of defence in the third and fourth quarters.
RATING: 7.5
DANIEL BOYLE
Outstanding in Pies’ first-term blitz. He set-up Newton’s first goal and provided the pass for the star forward to bust another pack and hand Matt Kelly an open goal.
RATING: 7
ZAC HEDIN
Reliable member of Pies’ defence.
RATING: 4.5
JUDD PORTER
His team’s oldest player at 33, but named in the best. Not a bad effort for a bloke who debuted in 2003. He was wonderful at the one-minute mark of the third stanza when he stopped a raid.
RATING: 7.5
TOTAL: 134