Hayden BALLANTYNE

2017 Digest:   Scoring has tapered in past two years and needs to lift to stave off challengers. Hamstring surgery will see him miss first few months.

2017 NAB Cup:  

2017 Season

1		Hamstring.
2		Hamstring.
3		Hamstring.
4		Hamstring.
5		Hamstring.
6		Hamstring.
7		Hamstring.
8		Hamstring.
9	WAFL	First game back from injury and was handy with a couple of goals, but tweaked hammy again.	-
10		Hamstring.
11		Hamstring.
12		Hamstring.
13		Hamstring.
14	Geel	Got away to bag two second-term goals when he got over the back of Cats’ defence; 14 disposals.	5
15	StK	Kicked two goals and provided pressure inside 50. Got under St Kilda's skin at times.	6
16	NM	Second game back from injury and struggled to get into the contest. Four touches.	1
17	WCE	Struggled to get near the ball. Kicked a goal in the final term.	3
18	Haw	Quiet again. Only nine possessions and one goal. Struggling.	3
19	GWS	Shocker first half but he applied good pressure and kicked a vintage goal in the second half. Showed glimpses of his best.	3
20	GCS	Battled again. Only one touch in the first half. Finished with eight and 1.2.	3
21	Syd	Have to think if his name will be next added on 2017 retirement board. Eight disposals and zero impact up forward.	2
22	Rich	Did his best to defend as well as attack. Laid six tackles and kicked a goal.	5
23	Ess	Kicked two goals in the second half, but crucial turnover in third term cruelled Freo of momentum.	5

2016 Season

1	WB	Minimal impact in attack and missed an early sitter. Poor day – but had plenty of mates.	3
2	GCS	One of the few forwards to have an impact. Kicked four goals.	7
3	WCE	Off target and didn’t find enough of the ball.	3
4	NM	Kicked two goals and provided his typical nuisance value.	6
5	Carl	Hurt twice early, gave away an undisciplined free and barely touched the ball.	1
6	Adel	Five inside-50s, no goals and very little else. Twisted his knee in the second term.	5
7	GWS	A vastly improved game. Won the footy and kicked two goals.	6
8	Haw	Lacked usual sharpness apart from a couple of cameos.	3
9	Rich	Another improved game. Kicked three goals and was lively.	6
10	StK	Tried hard to apply tackle pressure but otherwise unsighted.	2
11	Ess	Had energy and booted two goals from 22 touches. Enjoyed the night.	6
12	Bris	Helped himself to four goals and was a constant threat.	7
13	Port	Competed strongly. Had three shots at goal.	5
14	Coll	Couldn’t get a touch early. Couple of goals from limited chances.	5
16	Melb	In and out but not as dangerous as he can be aside from last-quarter goal.	4
17	Geel	Really struggling. One goal from five kicks. Fractured cheekbone.	3
18		Face.
19		Face.
20	WCE	First game back from injury. Kicked a goal but wasn’t damaging.	3
21	Adel	Couldn’t get into the game. Kicked a late goals.	3
22	GWS	Failed to impact the scoreboard when opportunities presented.	3
23	WB	Quiet day. A bit like his season. Booted two behinds.	4

2015 Season

1	Port	Two opportunistic goals. Made the most of chances, physical game.	5
2	Geel	Pretty well held by Bews. One goal from seven effective disposals.	4
3		Suspended.
4		Suspended.
5	Melb	Pretty well held by Grimes but contributed in a small way.	4
6	Ess	Two goals but his highlight was a chase down of Melksham.	6
7	WB	Ordinary afternoon. Missed goals and wasn’t able to get things going.	3
8	NM	His best game for 2015. Kicked one goal, set up more and had 20 disposals.	6
9	Adel	Not his best match but still managed a goal in a low-scoring affair.	3
10	Rich	Pressure acts lifted in second half and played with a bee in bonnet.	6
11	GCS	Did a couple of clever things but well held.	3
13	Coll	Only goal came 20 minutes into third term and beaten by Varcoe.	3
14	Bris	Gave away a silly 50 but redeemed himself with big effort in final term.	5
15	Haw	Didn’t hit scoreboard after early behind. Form a worry.	3
16	Carl	Injured late in the first term. Fought on until half time before getting subbed.	1
17		Pectoral.
18		Pectoral.
19		Pectoral.
20		Pectoral.
21		Pectoral.
22		Pectoral.
23		Pectoral.
QF	Syd	Made most of chances to boot three important goals.	7
PF	Haw	Provocative and confrontational in early stages then reined in.	5

2014 Season

1	Coll	Kicked “starter” goals at crucial times.	7
2	GCS	Dazed when he hit the turf hard and struggled – four inside-50s and a goal.	4
3	Haw	First half continued GF nightmare, but others were worse.	3
4	Ess	Energetic effort playing further afield. Plenty of touches, and a goal.	6
5	Syd	Finished with two goals, but well held by Smith.	5
6		Suspended.
7	WCE	Sharp early with a good snap goal and was a menace all match.	7
8	Port	Ignore his stats. Ballantyne produced several goals with high pressure.	6
9	Geel	Angry ant kicked three goals, including two in third term to keep Cats at bay.	7
11	WB	Booted three goals from limited chances. Had the impact that mattered.	6
12	Adel	Had a quiet day.	3
13	Rich	Ended with an equal career-high six goals in a match-winning display.	9
14	Bris	Worked hard in attack to generate chances and had excellent five goal bag.	7
15	WCE	Continued good run of form with three handy goals in tight contest.	6
16	Melb	Garland did a decent job, but he still bobbed up with three handy goals.	6
17	GWS	Despite work of Bugg he ended with five goals in a sparkling display.	8
18		Suspended.
19	Carl	Showed class by kicking three goals despite struggling to shake Tuohy.	6
20	Geel	Well beaten by Enright. One goal but limited effectiveness. Hamstring worries.	3
21		Hamstring.
22	Bris	Sizzled in opening quarter. Finished with three goals and missed three set shots.	7
23	Port	Quiet early but big third quarter was crucial and ended with four goals.	6
QF	Syd	Just seven possessions and no goals. Beaten by Smith.	3
SF		Jaw.
PF		-
GF		-

2013 Season

1	WCE	Quiet night until late goal then subbed with leg complaint. A.Selwood his master.	8
2		Suspended.
3	Ess	Kicked first goal and was relishing space from Fletcher. Quiet final term.	5
4	Haw	Did a good job limiting Hodge’s impact but it affected his own output.	5
5	Rich	Seized initiative in second half and finished with four goals including winner.	6
6	GCS	Well held by Swallow and failed to kick a goal.	4
7	Coll	Tried to keep Shaw honest and nearly half of his possessions drove the ball inside 50.	5
8	Syd	Kicked two goals and was main threat, but also guilty of some costly misses.	6
9	Melb	Kicked three goals and was lively and constructive throughout.	7
10	Adel	Kicked a great mid-air goal in the second term reading the footy off the pack.	5
12	Bris	Always a threat and four-bounce run looked like setting up big goal but missed.	4
13	NM	Atley picked him up and Ballantyne wasn’t his usual threat.	3
14	Geel	Hammered by J. Hunt. Didn’t have an inside-50 or kick a goal. Seven tackles only plus.	2
15	StK	Kept Fremantle alive in the first half and five goals made him Freo’s best.	8
16	WCE	On Brennan and never got going. Copped whack to mouth and limped at end.	3
17		Hamstring.
18		Hamstring.
19	Carl	Tuohy tried to hurt him the other way (three goals) but he was dangerous in attack.	7
20	GWS	Two goals including one brilliant running effort. Subbed out late in third.	5
21	Melb	Opportunistic up forward. Didn’t have big stats but four goals superb.	6
22	Port	Bagged four goals in sharp display. Aggravated shoulder injury.	7
23		Rested.
QF	Geel	Only one goal and one inside-50. Well contained by Enright then Guthrie.	3
SF
PF	Syd	Shadowed by Smith. Fairly well held. Gave away a few frees and got under Swans skin.	4
GF	Haw	Produced a great grand final choke. Missed two sitters. Horrible.	1

2012 Season

1	Geel	Influential with two goals from 20 touches and annoyed Cats all night.	8
4	StK	In midfield early as diversion. OK without being exceptional.	5
5	Carl	Joseph went to him at first. Brilliant goal second quarter but then quiet.	3
6	GCS	Gave away a silly 50m penalty near the end that almost cost his side dearly.	5
7	Port	Didn’t have a real impact. Kicked his goal from a bad turnover.	4
8	Haw	Couldn’t get a sniff in first half but picked up later on.	5
9	WCE	Kicked an early goal but had no impact after that.	4
10	Adel	Better than previous weeks. Had more energy and kicked 1.2.	6
11	Rich	Had Morris for company in a great battle. Kicked two goals, including sealer.	6
14	Coll	Great battle against O’Brien. Showed his spirit by making six tackles.	5
15	WB	Pushed up the field and gave the team drive.	6
16	Melb	Had two goals to half time then only eight disposals in second half.	6
17	GWS	Well held. Had chances to score goals but kicked 1.3.	5
18	Port	Pesky small forward did not trouble the scoresheet with a goal.	3
19	WCE	Had an astonishing third term with three goals to help blow the game apart.	7
20	Adel	Quiet afternoon for the small forward with just one goal.	3
21	Rich	Had a huge influence with 24 possessions and three goals. Best on ground.	8
23	Melb	Kicked three goals and also had five inside 50s. Good.	6
EF	Geel	Picked up by Enright and Murdoch initially. Always a threat and bagged three.	6
SF	Adel	Buzzed around in attack as Doughty tracked him. In and out, but OK overall	5