Ben STRATTON

2017 Digest:   Involved in JLT series and couldn’t be in better shape to attack the season. Doesn’t get accolades but is a key.

2017 NAB Cup:  

2017 Season

1	Ess	Nightmare on Fantasia in defence. Found him too smart and too slippery to keep under wraps.	3
2	Adel	Took Betts and in context of defeat he actually did a reasonable job to restrict him to three goals.	5
3	GCS	Reasonable in defence. Spoilt well and rebound was useful.	5
4	Geel	Dour defender had Menzel (three goals) in what was a tough afternoon given speed of Cats’ ball movement.	4
5	WCE	Gave Darling a bit too much space at times and the Eagle forward made the most of it with four goals.	4
6	StK	Troubled by Membrey’s aerial work from the first few minutes. Had a poor afternoon.	3
7	Melb	Had task on Garlett and shut him out completely shut him out in first half. Second half not as strong but played a role.	5
8	Bris	Suffered right knee injury. Tried to come back on in third term but was limping.	2
9		Knee.
10		Knee.
11		Knee.
12		Knee.
13		Knee.
14		Knee.
15		Knee.
16		Knee.
17		Knee.
18		Knee.
19		Knee.
20		Knee.
21		Knee.
22		Knee.
23		Knee.

2016 Season

1	Geel	Struggled with Cats’ elusiveness and height down back and didn’t get much ball.	4
2	WCE	Got job on Darling and had hands full on occasions. Used ball smartly though.	4
3	WB	Kept the match winner Stringer to just one goal. A massive win for the Hawks.	8
4	StK	Found McCartin’s strength hard to combat on occasions but stuck to task fairly well.	5
5	Adel	Betts got away from him early but then he reined in the Adelaide danger man.	5
6	GWS	Pantsed by Stevie J in first half and then cleaned up Frawley to cap off a dirty night.	3
7	Rich	Went to Riewoldt in second term. Hurt shoulder in third, but back in action quickly.	6
8	Frem	Started on Ballantyne and effective in this and other roles.	6
9	Syd	Had important task on Heeney. Eventually got on top.	6
10	Bris	Given the job on Schache and just took the honours.	5
11	Melb	Intercepted well at stages down back in a variety of roles. Had Watts for long periods.	6
13	NM	Tested by opposition forwards in first half then had more of a say.	5
14	GCS	Dour defender got in the road at times and helped to cover Lynch when he could.	6
16	Port	Tried his best to contain Wingard, a thankless task.	4
17	Syd	Went to Rohan who got off the chain enough to be a big thorn. Struggled.	3
18	Rich	Defender stoutly when called on and played his role. Offensively quiet.	5
19	Carl	Ever reliable in a key defensive post. Spoiled and harassed effectively.	6
20	Melb	Had Watts but injured shoulder before half time and didn’t play second half.	2
21		Pectoral.
22		Pectoral.
23		Pectoral.
QF	Geel	Capable game down back on return from pectoral injury.	5
SF	WB	Battled Stringer (three goals) and made a few mistakes. Zero input offensively.	3

2015 Season

1	Geel	Defensively solid all day and thwarted many of the Cats’ forward forays.	5
2	Ess	Followed Chapman and even stood Daniher for a while. Tried hard.	5
3	WB	Steady in defence and did his job.	5
4	Port	Eventually switched onto Schulz after Lake’s departure.	5
5	NM	Gave away inches to Brown which caused concern but better in second half.	5
6	GWS	Defended well on a range of opponents.	5
7	Melb	Not extended at half back and played his role.	6
8	Syd	Celebrated milestone game with a solid display at half back.	6
9	GCS	Steadiness is his byword in defence. Did what he had to.	5
10	StK	Very low-key game down back.	3
12	Adel	Restricted the in-form Betts to one goal.	5
13	Ess	Defensively OK but couldn’t get a handle on the ball offensively.	3
14	Coll	Did important job on Elliott.	7
15	Frem	Did job on dangerous Walters.	7
16	Syd	Spent a lot of the match on Goodes in a good battle. Quiet offensively.	4
17		Ankle.
18	Rich	Couple of great defensive efforts but not huge going the other way.	5
19	WCE	A solid defensive game.	5
20	Geel	Took Johnson in a key battle. Took honours in first and third quarters.	5
21	Port	OK down back but didn’t set the world on fire.	5
22	Bris	Didn’t have a lot to do down back.	4
23	Carl	Had hands full with agile Everitt. Battled away but not his best.	4
QF	WCE	Well down on confidence. Can’t have a player who has two kicks for the match.	1
SF	Adel	Gave Betts (two kicks first half) nothing. Brilliant job in timely return to form.	6
PF	Frem	Took Walters/Ballantyne/Mayne and was handy without starring.	4
GF	WCE	Began on Darling. At it the whole way through and never conceded an inch.	6

2014 Season

1		Hamstring.
2		Calf.
3	VFL	First game back and didn’t miss a beat. Ready for senior return.	–
4	VFL	Solid game in defence. Composed and assured with ball in hand.	–
5	Geel	Eased back into senior footy but didn’t impact as a rebounding option.	2
6	Rich	Had match-up on Martin at start. Subbed off at three-quarter time.	5
7		Hip.
8	Syd	Defensively OK but offered zilch the other way. Still finding his feet.	2
10	Port	Had the better of Westhoff keeping him goalless.	6
11		Groin.
12		Adductor.
13		Groin.
14	VFL	Composed effort at half back. Ready to resume senior duties.	–
15	GCS	No-frills effort in back half.	5
16	NM	Black troubled him early then he improved.	3
17	Adel	Played as the plus one in defence and did not impact the game.	3
18	Syd	Rotated through a few opponents and spoiled hard when required.	5
19	WB	Good job in defence on Crameri.	6
20	Melb	Ran hard off half back to get back to some OK form. Gave away four frees though.	5
21	Frem	Had Mayne and did his role by keeping him goalless. Not big numbers.	6
22	Geel	Steady at half back and played a key role in the win.	7
23		Calf.
QF	Geel	Started deep back on Johnson and slowly got the better of the duel.	6
SF		–
PF	Port	First match-up on Wingard who wasn’t able to fire in attack.	5
GF	Syd	Had demanding role on Goodes and also had to help thwart Buddy. Did OK.	5

2013 Season

1	Geel	Battled manfully in the back half and Ok in that role.	6
2	WCE	Tracked Josh Hill at times	5
3	Coll	Went to Elliot after quarter time and did a fine job quelling him.	7
4	Frem	Gave inches to Bradley and had his hands full at times. Rebounded solidly though.	5
5	NM	On Thomas briefly at start then Black. Not a big impact.	4
6	Adel	Kept Porplyzia quiet for the majority of the game.	6
7	Syd	Defensively sound and gave some drive when he could.	7
8	GWS	Given job on Tomlinson and lowered his colours.	4
9	GCS	On May. Started well and constantly tried to get forward to provide run.	6
10	Melb	Steady all day and his attack on the ball set a standard for teammates.	7
12	Carl	Attacked ball well from the back half and made some decisive spoils.	7
13	WCE	Thrown task on Darling and did a fine job to keep him to one goal.	7
14	Bris	Did a solid job on previous week’s match-winner McGrath.	6
15	Geel	Went to Motlop and for the most part did well on him in a great battle.	6
16	Port	Subbed in the third term after a high hit to the head.	3
17	WB	Good intercept marking and quite creative off half back.	6
18	Ess	Patrolled across half back with aplomb. Really steady with what he had to do.	6
19	Rich	Really quiet down back. OK defensively but very little going the other way.	4
20	StK	Honest job in defence.	6
21	Coll	Often the spare in defence.	5
22	NM	Worked diligently. One of the most underrated players in the AFL.	6
23	Syd	Matched on Rohan and played a solid game.	5
QF	Syd	Had his hands full with Rohan’s pace at times, but stuck to task.	5
SF
PF	Geel	Low key down back.	4
GF	Frem	Started on Mayne and unflustered down back. One howler when ran too far.	6

2012 Season

1	Coll	Didn’t get a lot of the ball but played his defensive role without incident.	4
2	Geel	Johnson kicked two on him in first 10 minutes	4
3	Adel	Steady worker down back.	5
4	WCE	Formed a good defensive unit.	5
5	Syd	Had Everitt and Goodes and couldn’t put the brake on.	4
6	StK	Kept close eye on Stanley. Seeing stars after head clash with Armitage in first.	5
7	Melb	To Howe after Birchall had first crack. Unobtrusive.	5
8	Frem	Matched on Mayne for part of game. Effective.	5
9	Rich	Plugged away in back half and certainly not the worst despite low disposals.	5
10	NM	Minded Black for the most part and kept him goalless. Good effort.	7
11	Port	Stole the ball away from Schulz in the goal square with a goal saving mark.	3
12	Bris	Solid defensive job.	6
14	Carl	Just the nine touches across half back.	4
15	GWS	Started as the sub, activated mid-way through the third term.	3
16	WB	Gave some run and defended reliably from half back. Solid.	7
17	Coll	Rotated on Dawes/Tarrant and covered them with aplomb.	6
18	Ess	Formed part of a good defence.	4
19	Geel	What he did was good but attacking streak down on previous weeks.	5
20	Port	Matched up on Brett Ebert and enjoyed an even tussle.	5
21	GCS	Not greatly troubled down back.	4
22	Syd	Defended OK but offered little by way of offensive threat.	4
23	WCE	Locked onto Hill and had him covered from start to finish.	6
QF	Coll	Had job on the dangerous Fasolo and efficient in keeping him goalless.	7
PF	Adel	Last quarter tackle was a match winning moment.	5
GF	Syd	Troubled by Roberts-Thomson early. On Morton in third. Defended OK.	5