Dud players of the AFL finals so far

They’re the duds of the AFL finals so far – and no, we’re not talking about Richmond.

We’re talking about individual players who wilted in the heat during the opening week of the playoffs.

All semi-finalists had them: players who were below-par in their opening final, and who will be hellbent on rebounding this weekend – if given another chance by selectors.

HAWTHORN

JAMES FRAWLEY. The ex-Melbourne swingman was a passenger in Hawthorn’s loss to West Coast. Had only six disposals and one was a clanger in a horror final.

DAVID HALE. The ruckman recorded a meagre 13 hit outs and had just five disposals. Not even kicking a goal saved him: after scoring, he was promptly substituted.

BEN STRATTON. Just two kicks and three handballs in 97 per cent of game-time. Say no more.

ADELAIDE

JOSH JENKINS. Has had a super year, kicking 42 goals, but went missing in Adelaide’s win against the Western Bulldogs. Collected only nine disposals and didn’t score at all.

RORY ATKINS. The 21-year-old was overawed in his ninth game and first final. Gathered just seven disposals before being substituted early in the third quarter.

DAVID MACKAY. The sub was brought on for Atkins but only had six possessions despite playing 42 per cent of the game.

SYDNEY

GARY ROHAN. All at sea in Sydney’s loss to Fremantle, collecting just eight touches of the ball at 62.5 per cent efficiency in 85 per cent of game-time.

MIKE PYKE. The ruckman had meagre returns: two kicks, three handballs and just 11 hitouts.

BRANDON JACK. Had more tackles (five) than kicks (three). Was largely absent and saved from being subbed out by Sam Reid’s injury.

NORTH MELBOURNE

BEN BROWN. Kicked two goals in the win against Richmond which probably paid his way – just. Didn’t take a mark, had just eight disposals and more than a third of them were deemed inefficient.

DREW PETRIE. Kicked 2.3, took five marks and had 13 disposals – on paper, the statistics are solid enough but on the field he lacked his usual influence.

JACK ZIEBELL. Another whose stats look okay: 23 disposals and seven marks. But he butchered the ball with a disposal efficiency of 52.5 per cent (the worst of any Kangaroo) and made five clangers (the most of any Kangaroo).

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