Mathew STOKES

2016 Digest:   Decorated small forward/midfielder whose career came to an end at Geelong but was always keen to continue to play. Has been playing in the NT over summer and will add some experience and smarts.

2016 NAB Cup:   Like Kelly he put off start until last NAB Challenge game when he had immediate impact. Puts pressure on in attack and hits targets.

2016 Season

Played for : Essendon

1	GCS	Some uncharacteristic fumbles but booted three goals.	6
2	Melb	Not as good as previous week but won some important touches and used ball with precision.	5
3	Port	Another experience campaigner trying his best to assist a club in need.	4
4	Geel	Relished crack against former side to grab a bevy of touches, four clearances and 12 kicks.	7
5	Coll	Failed to make an impact, registering just 12 disposals.	3
6	Carl	Didn’t get into the contest to any great degree. Six kicks and one inside-50 in a quiet day.	4
7		Hamstring.
8		Hamstring.
9		Hamstring.
10		Hamstring.
11		Hamstring.
12	Haw	Didn’t have a significant night. Understandably lacks the spark of old.	3
13	GWS	Tried to shadow Shaw at times and ok early but then he got away. Quiet day in the end.	3
15	WCE	Couldn’t replicate excellent pre-season game against Eagles.	3
16		Groin.
17		Groin.
18		Groin.
19		Groin.
20	VFL	First game back from injury netted 18 touches and a goal but certainly didn’t star.	–
21	GCS	Won lots of ball up through midfield but lacked penetration with kicking. Good final term.	7
22	WB	Started like a rocket in his 200th and possibly farewell game. Worthy effort.	7
23		Retired.

2015 Season

Played for : Geelong

1	Haw	Quiet game. When he did find the ball its wasn’t in damaging positions.	4
2	Frem	Struggling. Leg speed and lack of presence around the ball is hurting him.	2
3	GCS	Copped an ankle injury in second term was did not return.	1
4		Achilles.
5		Achilles.
6		Achilles.
7	Syd	Won his share of ball and work tirelessly. Three clearances, four inside-50s.	7
8	Carl	Solid again. Tackled well, used footy and kept midfield wheels turning.	7
9	WCE	Sub. Gave some life when he came on. Did what he could.	2
10	Ess	Nipped in for five inside-50s and some handy touches rotating through middle.	6
11	Port	Got into some good spots and gave great midfield support. Five clearances.	6
12	Melb	Racked up stats and worked hard but not huge in terms of metres gained.	6
15	NM	Subbed after one kick (for a goal) in nearly two-and-a-half quarters.	1
16	WB	Sub. On late in third term to replace Gregson. Involved a couple of times.	1
17	VFL	Had ball on a string in narrow loss. 35 possessions.	–
18	VFL	Played on a wing and was good with 29 touches, two goals.	–
19	Syd	One goal in final term but struggled to get into game. One inside-50.	3
20	Haw	Won some ball but not hugely damaging. Two inside-50s says as much.	5
21		Soreness.
22	VFL	25 possessions and might have earned one last swansong.	–
23	Adel	Farewelled football with a feisty effort highlighted by brilliant ball use.	8

2014 Season

Played for : Geelong

1	Adel	Work-rate enormous (13 hb receives) and kicked a goal. Won a heap of ball.	7
2	Bris	Set up Hawkins first goal and workrate lifted after half time – 13 cont poss.	7
3	Coll	In space all night (23 uncontested possessions) and a factor in the win.	7
4	WCE	Gone to another level again this year. Efficient through the midfield.	9
5	Haw	Typical productive effort through the middle. Doesn’t play bad games these days.	7
6	Port	Among best with 11 contested possessions and 10 handball receives.	7
7	Rich	Productive again through the middle – five inside-50s and great ball use.	8
9		Suspended.
10	NM	Slotted back in for 10 contested possessions, five inside-50s, three tackles.	7
11	Syd	Won plenty of footy but only one inside-50, one clearance. Efficiency down.	5
12	Carl	Close to Cats’ best with three goals, 12 cont. possessions, some great marks.	8
13	StK	Close to best with 14 contested possessions, seven inside-50s, six clearances.	8
14	GCS	Injured ankle in second term and had to be subbed out in big blow for Cats.	1
15		Ankle.
16		Ankle.
17		Ankle.
18	GWS	Workmanlike performance first-up after injury. Five inside-50s his highlight.	6
19	NM	Didn’t have greatest night despite good numbers. Battled away.	6
20	Frem	Lowest disposal tally (injury game aside) since mid 2012. Played defensive role.	4
21	Carl	Steadily worked into contest. Four clearances and four inside-50s handy.	6
22	Haw	Back to his best with plenty of ball, six inside-50s and four clearances.	7
23	Bris	Started sluggishly but worked into it for six inside-50s and a goal.	7
QF	Haw	One of few Cats to play better in second half (18 disp) than first. Gave all.	6
SF	NM	Horror night. Struggled to get hands on ball and lacked spark in his play.	4
PF		–
GF		–

2013 Season

Played for : Geelong

1	Haw	Underdone and tired late but battled away.	6
2	NM	Arguably the best game from a sub the Cats have seen – seven inside-50s.	5
3	Carl	Arguably his best game for club. Ran hard, won the footy and used it well.	9
4	Syd	Great form continues – 11 cont. poss, three inside-50s and two goals.	8
5	WB	Handy as part of the midfield rotation – six inside-50s and four tackles.	7
6	Rich	Huge again. Did some key things at key times. Contributed two goals as well.	8
7	Ess	Brilliant form continues. Workrate and clean hands a feature of his game.	8
8	Coll	Grand again with 14 contested possessions and five inside-50s. No goals.	8
9	Port	Shadowed by Logan and after quiet first half he got going after the main break.	7
10	GCS	If he was a horse he’d have to be swabbed! Where has this form come from?	7
11	GWS	In and around the action all afternoon – 11 contested poss, five tackles.	7
13	Bris	One of few players to lift when the game hot.	8
14	Frem	Grabbed 20 second-half disposals to be a key in putting a gap on opposition.	7
15	Haw	On his form this year down a little but still contributed to the effort.	6
16		Groin.
17	Adel	Lifted intensity after a quiet first half but one of his quieter games for the year.	5
18	StK	Linked well with handball (14) through the middle. Helped keep pressure on.	7
19	NM	Battled hard for 12 cont poss but only three inside-50s and one clearance.	6
20	Port	Not as productive as some weeks but did some good things working into back half.	6
21	WCE	Celebrated game 150 in style with two goals, 12 cont poss, five inside-50s.	8
22	Syd	Racked up 27 handballs to go with 15 cont poss, five inside-50s, seven tackles.	8
23	Bris	Huge again, particularly early when Lions were making their charge.	7
QF	Frem	Crowley went to him early in surprise move. Only had one clearance/one inside-50.	6
SF	Port	Quiet first half then grabbed 14 disposals in the third term to get side back into it.	7
PF	Haw	Solid all night. Copped big hit from Birchall but soldiered on with 5 clearances.	7
GF

2012 Season

Played for : Geelong

1	Frem	No goals from his 15 disp. (missed a sitter) and copped a heavy hit late.	4
2	Haw	Had a quiet one. Only six disposals and no goals.	2
4	Rich	Chimed in with two handy goals, four tackles and four inside 50s.	6
5	Bris	Chimed in at times then injured ankle late in third term and subbed off.	3
8	Coll	Three opportunistic goals to go with five inside 50s in best game for season.	7
9	WB	Not as productive as previous week but important late in game.	4
10	GWS	One of his quieter games. Didn’t hit scoreboard and influence not huge.	4
11	Carl	Bounced back to form with a lively effort up forward. Had six goal assists.	8
13	Syd	Didn’t impact the game at all and laid just one tackle.	2
14	Port	Gathered all his disposal in final term after being subbed on. Lively.	2
15	GCS	Early goal to start third term about his only real highlight.	4
16	Coll	Not the worst but for some reason subbed off in third term. Injured?	4
17	Ess	Looked as lively as he has in a while – six inside-50s and seven tackles.	7
18	Adel	Tackle pressure first class (six) and finished game with two important goals.	6
19	Haw	Did some tough work and pressure first class – six inside-50s, three tackles.	6
20	WCE	Battled hard but tackling discipline off at times – did kick two goals.	5
21	StK	Found form – four clearances, three inside-50s, four tackles, six marks, a goal.	7
22	WB	Played his role as a small forward – a goal, three inside-50s and three tackles.	6
23	Syd	Numbers not huge but played a role inside 50 and up the ground.	5
EF	Frem	Nice goal and got crunched a few times but not dangerous often enough.	4