Andrew McLeod (23) - Captain
Was a highly effective part of the Dream Team backline and provided excellent rebound for his side. Displayed flashes of brilliance when pushed up onto the ball to be high among the Dream Team’s best.
Rating: 9

Nathan Bock (15)
Started on Daniel Bradshaw and did well before having his colours lowered by Brendan Fevola for a short period. Didn’t give as bold a showing as he has done in recent weeks for Adelaide.
Rating: 5

Craig Bolton (6)
Was left dazed and confused in the first quarter after a courageous effort that saw him come off second best to Robert Murphy. Spent time on Jonathan Brown later, but had little impact on the contest.
Rating: 4

Peter Burgoyne (7)
Brilliant off the half-back line in a blistering first quarter that saw him rack up 14 possessions. Steve Johnson was sent to play a defensive role on him in the second, but he still finished the half with 21 touches. Was just as prolific around the stoppages and finished with a game-high 36 disposals.
Rating: 9

Shaun Burgoyne (14)
Quietish first half from the Power ball magnet, but he worked into the match more as it went on. Featured in some slick passages of play that saw the ball move at high speed from one end of the ‘G to the other.
Rating: 7

Brett Burton (24)
Provided a good contest up forward early, kicking a goal, and also drifted back to fill the hole at times. Kicked a brilliant goal on the run after sending Heath Shaw the wrong way on the 50m arc in the third term, before drifting out of the action in the last.
Rating: 6

Jamie Charman (19)
Finished with 15 hit-outs, but with eight possessions didn’t get enough of the ball around the ground. Was unlucky to give away an important free kick to Brisbane teammate Jonathan Brown that resulted in a late goal.
Rating: 5

Adam Cooney (5)
The Dog star has been in sensational form of late, but disappointed in the first half when he touched the ball just five times. Things didn’t improve in the second with his 11 possessions on the night well below his season average of 25.
Rating: 4

Joel Corey (11)
Worked hard consistently over the course of the match without dominating at any point. Finished with 23 possessions and had a hand in three goals.
Rating: 6

Kane Cornes (18)
Spent a long period matched against Chris Judd and probably shaded the Blues’ game-breaker. Worked tirelessly around the packs and went inside forward 50 five times to finish with 26 disposals.
Rating: 8

Dean Cox (20)
Didn’t have his usual presence around the ground with 13 possessions and just one mark, but still finished with the most hit-outs (18) on the night.
Rating: 6

Leon Davis (1)
Flashed in and out of the game off a half-forward flank and impressed with his work rate off the ball. Kicked a great long-distance goal off a couple of steps in the second quarter and finished with three. Forced a turnover with a brilliant double effort in the final term.
Rating: 6

Corey Enright (44)  
A late inclusion after the withdrawal of Darren Glass, but struggled to have an impact early. Was moved onto Adam Goodes after the Swan threatened to take the game apart and broke even.
Rating: 5

Lance Franklin (23)
Got the better of his duel with Hawk teammate Trent Croad to be the dominant forward for the Dream Team, outshining more experienced players of the calibre of Matthew Pavlich, Cam Mooney and Matthew Richardson. Finished with four goals including a beauty he swung back from left to right from his trademark spot just outside 50.
Rating: 8

Simon Goodwin (36)
Opened nicely with a goal and some telling possessions in the first term, but didn’t follow it up. Finished with 14 possessions and kicked an important goal late.
Rating: 6

Ryan Griffen (16)
Worked mostly out of defence and spent some time minding Bulldog teammate Robert Murphy. Copped a nasty blow to the ribs from Josh Fraser and was given several jobs on the night without excelling particularly at any of them.
Rating: 5

Graham Johncock (2)
Played the same sweeping role he does for the Crows and was an important cog in the Dream Team back six. Distributed the ball well from defence and finished with 25 possessions to feature in his side’s best.
Rating: 8

Daniel Kerr (4)
Limped off with an ankle injury after a collision with Steve Johnson 17 minutes into the first quarter and did not return.
Rating: 1

Brett Kirk (31)
Matched up on Sam Mitchell for long periods and managed to limit the Hawk skipper’s influence. Didn’t get enough of it himself in the first half with just three possessions, but became more prominent late and snapped an important goal in the third term.
Rating: 6

Cameron Mooney (21)
Wore dazzling red boots, but his performance wasn’t nearly as lustrous. Had no impact up forward, was thrown down back for a period in the second term and finished goalless with just three possessions.
Rating: 1

Daniel Motlop (22)
Unseen in the first half, but bobbed up with two goals to spark a Dream Team rally shortly after half time before fading in the last.
Rating: 4 

Matthew Pavlich (29)
A bad day at the office for the Fremantle champ. Couldn’t find a way to work in with Franklin and Richardson up forward, committed several turnovers and did not kick a goal.
Rating: 2

Matthew Richardson (12)
We got the dream match-up we were after when Richo lined up on a wing against Adam Goodes, but the Tiger champ ended up spending most of his night further forward. Worked hard, kicked one goal and gave off another, but didn’t feature prominently.
Rating: 6

Ben Rutten (25)
Was handed the big task on Fevola and struggled to contain the Blues’ spearhead, who went on to kick six goals in his Allen Aylett Medal-winning performance. Moved onto Brown late and his luck didn’t improve.
Rating: 3

Mathew Stokes (27)
Switched between a wing and half-forward and was lively. Finished with 21 disposals, kicked one goal and could have had two, but missed a regulation snap late in the third.
Rating: 7

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.