Round 1 v Collingwood:
3: M. Ricciuto
2: M. Mattner
1: D. Swan (Coll)
Captain Mark Ricciuto hadn’t played a game during the pre-season because of hamstring soreness but it didn’t stop him starring in the season-opener, bagging six goals from full forward. Martin Mattner (24 possessions, 11 marks) was outstanding in defence. Unlucky to miss out were Tyson Edwards (31 possessions) and Simon Goodwin (33).
Round 2 V West Coast:
3: D. Cox (WC)
2: A. Embley (WC)
1: S. Goodwin
Goodwin was Adelaide’s stand-out in the two-point loss, with 36 possessions.
Round 3 v Melbourne:
3: B. Burton
2: I. Perrie
1: G. Johncock
Interesting picks here. Brett Burton certainly was a star, kicking five goals – including four in the opening term – from 21 possessions. But Ian Perrie, who had eight kicks, two handballs and didn’t kick a goal, picked up the two votes. Graham Johncock was high in Adelaide’s best but what about Goodwin (34 possessions), who was so important in the tight last term.
Round 4 v Fremantle:
3: G. Johncock
2: S. Thompson
1: A. Sandilands (Fre)
Not too many arguments this time. Johncock produced another stellar effort in defence and Scott Thompson had one of his best games of the season. Brent Reilly was perhaps unlucky not to get a vote, gathering 25 possessions and kicking a goal.
Round 5 v Western Bulldogs:
3: S. Goodwin
2: M. Mattner
1: M. Bode
Goodwin finally caught the eyes of the umpires, gathering 29 disposals and kicking two goals in Adelaide’s crushing victory over the Bulldogs. Mattner iced his game with two goals and Matthew Bode’s forward pressure (seven tackles) was recognised by the umps. McLeod was probably unlucky, however, after igniting the side with 29 possessions at half-back.
Round 6 v Port Adelaide:
3: T. Edwards
2: T. Hentschel
1: M. Doughty
Edwards (28 possessions) and Trent Hentschel were outstanding in the wet against Port Adelaide. Michael Doughty also had one of his best games for the club, kicking three goals from 20 possessions.
Round 7 v Kangaroos:
3: B. Burton
2: K. Massie
1: M. Ricciuto
Burton kicked four goals and Ricciuto five, while Massie had 20 possessions. Goodwin was rated highly at the club for his 28 possessions.
Round 8 v Richmond:
3: A. Kellaway (Rich)
2: T. Simmonds (Rich)
1: T. Edwards
Edwards and McLeod were probably Adelaide’s best in the narrow loss to Richmond. The umpires didn’t fall for the Bowden brothers’ kick-to-each-other session in defence.
Round 9 v Carlton:
3: A. McLeod
2: S. Thompson
1: N. Bassett
There were plenty of candidates for votes. McLeod was sensational with 34 touches, Thompson had 28 and Bassett controlling the defence. Again, Goodwin was unlucky to miss out, as was Johncock.
Round 10 v Essendon:
3: T. Hentschel
2: K. McGregor
1: M. Ricciuto
The umpires would have had a tough job sorting through the options from the 138-point win but went for Hentschel, who bagged eight goals. McGregor kicked four goals from 13 marks and Ricciuto gathered 31 touches and kicked three goals from across half-forward.
Round 11 v Brisbane:
3: J. Akermanis (Bris)
2: N. Bassett
1: L. Power (Bris)
Jason Akermanis and Luke Power had big nights for Brisbane but the home side still lost to Adelaide by 15 points, largely because of the work by Nathan Bassett in defence..
Round 12 v St. Kilda:
3: T. Edwards
2: S. Goodwin
1: S. Thompson
Adelaide’s midfield starred, with Edwards, Goodwin and Thompson all gathering plenty of the football. Perhaps unlucky was Mattner, with 27 possessions, 12 marks and eight tackles.
Round 13 v Geelong:
3: M. Mattner
2: R. Biglands
1: B. Burton
This time Mattner was not overlooked for his 25-possession effort. Rhett Biglands was solid in the ruck and Burton kicked five goals but Edwards(30 possessions) was widely rated as Adelaide’s best and missed out.
Round 14 v Sydney:
3: G. Johncock
2: M. Ricciuto
1: R. Biglands
Johncock was rewarded for his efforts at both ends of the ground. Ricciuto was steady and Biglands important in the ruck but Goodwin again missed out.
Round 15 v Hawthorn:
3: B. Burton
2: A. McLeod
1: M. Mattner
Burton was the stand out performer, kicking seven goals to make it easy for the umpires. McLeod was very good but it was perhaps surprising Mattner picked up the last vote with six kicks and eight handballs to be rated ahead of Goodwin’s 38 possession effort and Johncock’s outstanding game.
Round 16 v Kangaroos:
3: S. Goodwin
2: A. McLeod
1: M. Ricciuto
Goodwin was good, with seven tackles and 22 possessions, while McLeod also starred across half back and Ricciuto celebrated his 300th AFL game with five goals. Bassett might have been a bit unlucky.
Round 17 v West Coast:
3: B. Cousins (WC)
2: D. Kerr (WC)
1: M. Braun (WC)
For the first time in the season, Adelaide players did not feature in the votes. And it was not a surprise.
Round 18 V Collingwood:
3: T. Edwards
2: M. Mattner
1: J. Clement (Coll)
In a high possession match, Edwards gathered 34 touches and Mattner was also recognised.
Round 19 v Fremantle:
3: H. Black (Fre)
2: B. Schammer (Fre)
1: T. Edwards
Another fine performance by Tyson Edwards, clearly Adelaide’s best in the loss.
Round 20 v Western Bulldogs:
3: S. West (WB)
2: A. Cooney (WB)
1: S. Goodwin
West (45 possessions) and Cooney (five goals) lifted the Bulldogs to victory but Goodwin’s 35 touches this time were given some weight by the umpires.
Round 21 v Port Adelaide:
3: B. Ebert (Port)
2: C. Cornes (Port)
1: T. Edwards
Edwards was the popular choice as Adelaide’s best in this Showdown loss. Chad Cornes won the medal but the umps preferred Brett Ebert.
Round 22 v Melbourne:
3: G. Johncock
2: S. Thompson
1: M. Mattner
Johncock, Thompson and Mattner were among a number of good Crows in an even team effort.
