Nick DAL SANTO

2016 Digest:   Veteran playmaker embarking on his 15th season. Played some good footy late last year after missing nine games with a serious hamstring injury. Got through pre-season thus far and has the experience and nous to be a key player again.

2016 NAB Cup:   Strong 21-disposal effort against Hawthorn after similar effort against Magpies underlined the veteran’s strong pre-season work-rate.

2016 Season

Played for : North Melbourne

1	Adel	Provided great support with six clearances and an even workrate throughout.	7
2	Bris	Not his normal silky self, but in good form and managed two useful goals.	5
3	Melb	Not as influential as he’d wish but had composure in a hectic final term.	5
4	Frem	Important with his cool head under pressure and didn’t waste too many possessions.	7
5	GCS	Great four quarter performance, amassing the footy and tackling well.	8
6	WB	Low-key game but still did plenty of useful things.	5
7	StK	Highly effective off the wing against his old side.	7
8	Ess	Even effort highlighted by usual superb ball use. Two inside-50s and no tackles.	6
9	Carl	Did as he pleased for long periods in midfield and cruising half back. In good touch.	7
10	Syd	Veteran’s touches amounted to little but tried hard. Five clearances and seven tackles.	6
11	Rich	Determined from word go to make up for poor game previous week and had a huge night.	8
12	Geel	Won a bit of ball but only two clearances, one inside-50 and two tackles.	5
13	Haw	Quiet early but then became a significant player with calm usage.	7
14	Adel	Kept the Roos in the game with a 10 possession first quarter.	7
16		Ill.
17	Port	Most of disposals were handballs, which reduced his incisiveness.	5
18	Coll	Got his hands on the footy a lot, but still high proportion of handballs	6
19	StK	Much higher kick to handball ratio and was more damaging.	7
20	WB	Consistent and even game across four quarters.	7
21	Haw	Won a fair bit of ball but often wanted to go backwards. Not hugely penetrating.	6
22	Syd	North’s best in first half. Worked hard on the outside in all four quarters.	7
23	GWS	Rolled back behind ball to free up Hansen. OK without being at brilliant best.	6
EF	Adel	Battled hard but a lot of his disposals amounted to very little. Six clearances.	6

2015 Season

Played for : North Melbourne

1	Adel	Six inside-50s but little else from the former All-Australian.	5
2	Bris	Steady ball-getter in first half. Hamstring twinge was problem in third term.	6
3		Hamstring.
4		Hamstring.
5		Hamstring.
6		Hamstring.
7		Hamstring.
8		Hamstring.
9		Hamstring.
10		Hamstring.
11		Hamstring.
12	GWS	Back with a bang! 34 touches, nine clearances and barely wasted one.	8
14	GCS	Mopped up at half back but ball use uncharacteristically horrendous.	4
15	Geel	One great chase and tackle epitomised his effort that was first class.	7
16	Ess	Added some class and poise when required, especially in second half.	7
17	Bris	Quiet achiever with 25 disposals off a wing.	7
18	Carl	Didn’t waste many possessions and exuded coolness when Blues’ surged early.	7
19	Melb	Six inside-50s, six clearances and four tackles. Steady without starring.	7
20	StK	Consistently effective in midfield.	6
21	Frem	Cool user of the ball and did plenty of work around the ground.	7
22	WB	Prominent early, but was then subdued.	4
23		Rested.
EF	Rich	Only four touches in first half, but lifted rating after main break.	4
SF	Syd	Lifted from second quarter and made an important contribution.	6
PF	WCE	Touches oozed class in first half but knock to hip hampered run late.	6

2014 Season

Played for : North Melbourne

1	Ess	Slowish start then had a strong third term.	5
2	WB	Excellent four quarter performance highlighted by pinpoint disposal.	8
3	Port	His best game thus far for his new club. Kicked two goals late.	8
4	Syd	Settling in well at his new club, he put in a complete performance.	8
5	Coll	Shadowed early by Macaffer and influence down. Rarely decisive.	6
6	Frem	Escaped the Crowley tag and relished the freedom. 28 touches and a classy goal.	8
7	GCS	Started on the interchange and was a bit sloppy by foot. Not his best outing.	5
9	Bris	Strong start and picked up touches at will.	8
10	Geel	Battled away but telling he had only one inside-50, no goals.	5
11	WCE	His delivery off half-back sliced up the Eagles all night.	8
12	Rich	Quiet day in which he spent time in defence. Couldn’t find the ball.	3
13	Adel	Started slowly but created three scoring assists from his three inside-50s.	7
14	Melb	Used the ball pretty well when he got it but not a huge influence.	6
15	Bris	Racked up the disposals but impact not as great as numbers suggest.	7
16	Haw	Kept purring along in middle. 38 touches was emphatic answer to criticism.	8
17	StK	On Savage and had to work for kicks but still had a fairly good game.	6
18	Carl	Not a big night by his standards.	4
19	Geel	OK but coach would have expected more. Not influential.	6
20	GWS	Despite big win, didn’t have any influence. In a rough patch of form.	2
21	WB	Quiet first half apart from settling goal. Boyd never conceded an inch.	4
22	Adel	Cool delivery a real asset in a tight game.	7
23	Melb	Sub. On at half time with Cross for company. Glided about in classy manner.	4
EF	Ess	Ran hard to be an option. One of few to play an even four quarters.	7
SF	Geel	Showed why North bought him: cool head, precise delivery in big game.	8
PF	Syd	Won some footy but most of it deep in defence or play-on from full back.	5
GF		–

2013 Season

Played for : St Kilda

1	GCS	Looked to hurt his groin early. Played on and was one of his team’s best.	5
2	Rich	Started OK and got his hands on it but his efficiency was well down.	5
3	GWS	Went with Green from second term and had unusually high handball numbers.	6
4	Ess	Stats belied his lack of major influence.	5
5	Syd	Not enough impact early and his efficiency was down.	4
6	Coll	Well held by Macaffer and form is well down.	3
7	Carl	10 possession opening term to respond well. Best game this year.	7
8	Adel	Steady and positive in the middle.	6
9	WB	Contained by Lower. Finding it hard to break shackles each week.	4
10	NM	Battled on and worked well across half-back in second half.	6
11	WCE	Coming off half back flank and set up attacking moves. Good return to form.	7
13	Melb	Got his hands on it a lot but mainly used handball which his lessened impact.	6
14	Rich	Got a lot of the ball but not able to cut through for the Saints.	5
15	Frem	OK without setting the world on fire.	5
16	Carl	Tagged by Cachia who kept him within reasonable bounds.	5
17	Port	Slowish start but then won a heap of the ball.	7
18	Geel	Work-rate solid and showed class at times around the ball – only one inside-50.	7
19	Bris	Very good game tainted by inaccuracy shooting for goal.	7
20	Haw	Again won a lot of the ball.	7
21	Syd	Had the edge over O’Keefe without having big influence on game.	5
22	GCS	Gathered touches at will and had a good day.	7
23	Frem	Took advantage of no close tag. Did as he pleased.	7
QF
SF
PF
GF

2012 Season

Played for : St Kilda

1	Port	Saints best and always looked assured with ball in his hands.	8
2	GCS	Strong and accomplished game.	7
3	WB	Fairly well held by Picken but possessions still classy..	6
4	Frem	Subdued by Crowley for most of night.	4
5	Melb	Dees had hard tag on him from start, but kept ticking with 30 touches.	7
6	Haw	Wretched night for champ. Coach didn’t hold back post match, either.	3
7	Carl	Head to head with Judd initially. Tackled hard but taken out by Armfield.	4
8	WCE	Broke the shackles after a couple of quieter weeks. Strong game.	7
9	Syd	Learning how to handle tags better. Won a lot of it against Bird.	6
10	Rich	Handling tags better and was creative at times.	6
11	GCS	Slowish start but then had a handy game.	7
12	Adel	One Saint who was able to find space and use the ball to good effect.	8
14	NM	Quiet overall and not as damaging as usual.	5
15	Ess	Stuck to Watson and also created his own chances. Responsible contribution.	7
16	Bris	Well held by Raines until closing stages. Seemed to tweak his knee.	4
17	Syd	Had trouble shaking off in-form tagger Jack.	5
18	WB	Tagged by Picken and Smith at various stages but was still prolific ball winner.	7
19	Coll	Good battle with Thomas for most of night. Showed class at crucial times.	7
20	Melb	Ball use unusually wayward in first half. Better later in day.	6
21	Geel	Battled on well but didn’t have a decisive impact on proceedings.	5
22	GWS	Enjoyed a comparatively pressure free day.	6
23	Carl	Started on Judd but didn’t have big impact after the Blue went off.	4