Sam MAYES

2017 Digest:   Facing a career-defining year. Enters fifth season having failed to deliver on top 10 draft status. Is this the year?

2017 NAB Cup:  

2017 Season

1	GCS	Solid in defence and was more than willing to fight hard for the contested possession.	6
2	Ess	Used his speed to great effect although he did have trouble keep guard of McDonald-Tipungwuti.	6
3	StK	Started on Weller, who was lively early, but then settled down. The Saint got on top again at times in second half.	5
4	Rich	Disposal count was high but that was negated with in his inability to cover Rioli who he lined-up on.	5
5	WB	Made some mistakes off half back with his disposal and decision making. Got the experience to be better than he was.	4
6	Port	Spent most of the night on Robbie Gray who took the honours.	4
7	Syd	Followed Towers and Florent. Quiet day and wasn’t able to provide enough quality rebound.	4
8	Haw	Was the loose man in defence often and didn’t make an influence. Applied just four pressure acts all game.	3
9	Adel	Cleaned up goal umpire attempting spoil and had an unsuccessful stint on Betts.	5
10	Coll	Deployed in defence and while he ended with 19 disposals the influence with those touches was negligible.	4
11		Bye.
12	Frem	One of his best games. Playing off the half back flank he took care of a few opponents while racking up 29 disposals.	7
13	Port	Offensive play at halfback just as impressive as his defensive duties.	7
14	GWS	Had one of his most productive games this season on a night when some his better-known teammates struggled.	7
15	Ess	Marked strongly and was good across all four quarters.	7
16	Geel	Not only smothered Guthrie but also equal second highest in disposals for Lions.	7
17	Rich	Member of the back six and was okay mostly but also made a few errors.	5
18	Carl	Solid four quarter effort and arguably his best game for the season.	7
19	WCE	Quiet first half and then got into the game.	4
20		Foot.
21	GCS	Accumulated possessions without really being noticed both in defence and attack.	6
22	Melb	Rebounding half-back flitted in and out of the game; 19 possessions but only three contested.	5
23	NM	Low key defender who toiled hard.	4

2016 Season

1	WCE	Needed to do more with the ball. His possessions had little impact.	4
2	NM	Nope, just didn't work for him.	2
3	Geel	Have to question his commitment. Nine kicks, one inside-50 and two clearances.	4
4	GCS	Won the battle with Harbrow and among the better performers.	6
5	NEAFL	Responded well to AFL omission with 32 touches and a goal.	–
6	Syd	Floated in and out. Needs a more sustained effort in the future.	5
7	Port	Another medium defender who struggled with the Power half forwards.	3
8	Coll	Only Lion to gather more than 20 disposals which was sadly a feat in itself.	6
9	Melb	Won a lot of uncontested possessions (13) but played with little urgency or creativity.	4
10	Haw	Won a lot of ball in the back half and used it fairly well. Confidence-boosting performance.	6
11	Carl	Needs to provide more damaging outside run. No tackles.	5
12	Frem	Safe with his disposal which meant he offered little attacking value.	4
13	WCE	Could claim a “points” win on Hill, however not much else.	6
14	Rich	Possibly his best game this year at half back where he used the ball fairly well.	7
16	GCS	Solid in defence though did get caught out on occasions.	5
17	GWS	Battled on and better than most on a dark day for the Lions.	6
18	Ess	Outstanding job on Fantasia for three and a half quarters but the Don got a few cheap late ones.	7
19	Port	Found the like of Boak, Ah Chee and Amon too hot to handle.	4
20	Adel	Despite conceding an early goal to Cameron, held him well for the rest of the game.	6
21	Carl	Did a fair job minding Buckley and Armfield and also used the ball well coming out of defence.	6
22	Geel	Nothing sort of game. All his ball was uncontested and didn’t hurt the Cats.	4
23	StK	Just an ordinary game.	4

2015 Season

1	Coll	Subbed on in third quarter. Made the most of limited game time.	3
2	NM	In attack picked up by Atley. Didn’t do much.	3
3	Rich	As wingman, needs to find more of the ball and provide rebounding options.	3
4		Foot.
5		Foot.
6		Foot.
7		Foot.
8		Foot.
9	NEAFL	Worked into the game after sluggish start to play a nice role.	–
10	GWS	Had 13 touches but hasn’t found early career form this season.	4
12	NEAFL	Worked into game from slow start. 22 possessions.	–
13	NEAFL	A star with six goals from 29 possessions. Too good.	–
14	Frem	Sub. Had a couple of touches after coming on.	1
15	Syd	Spent time on Hannebery early then released but struggled to get the ball.	5
16	Melb	Got talent but has to play with some urgency. One tackle and little impact.	3
17	NM	Had some effect in minding Turner on a tough night in defence.	6
18	Geel	Handy at times but needs to do more for a player of his ability.	5
19	GCS	Had a tough time minding Suns' small forwards.	6
20	Carl	Red hot in opening term, two of the Brisbane’s first three goals. Faded.	6
21	Adel	Shut down Cameron’s productivity.	5
22	Haw	Did some handy things but needed to find more of the ball.	6
23	WB	Only the two disposals in last term when game up for grabs.	6

2014 Season

1	Haw	Pushed forward to kick two handy goals and his touches have a glint of class.	6
2	Geel	Great game. Got dangerous a lot inside 50 to end with four goals.	8
3	GCS	Kicked a nice goal but well held.	3
4	Port	Clever player who knows where the goals are and how to find a teammate.	6
5	Rich	Slowish start then good apart from missing two shots he would normally nail.	6
6	StK	OK without dominating.	5
7	Syd	Found Parker too hot to handle. Otherwise workmanlike in defence.	5
8	Ess	Solid game in defence.	6
9		Concussion.
10		Concussion.
11	Carl	Steady performance and continues to develop.	6
12	WB	Played down back and did a decent job on Dahlhaus.	5
13	GWS	Apart from one huge leap for attempted mark wasn’t noticeable.	3
14	Frem	One of the better performed Lions.	5
15	NM	Found Thompson a tough opponent.	4
16	Rich	Hardly sighted early and while lifted slightly late he was not a factor.	3
17	WCE	Bagged a goal in third quarter and work rate was solid.	6
18	GCS	Disposal efficiency not great, but able to find the footy.	5
19	Melb	Had some nice touches early but wasn’t a big factor.	3
20	Adel	Could lay claim to winning his position.	6
21	Coll	Loose on Broomhead early but when team got on top so did he. Handy.	6
22	Frem	Subbed in at half time and did better than several teammates.	5
23	Geel	Used back and struggled defensively and offensively. Not sure he’s a defender.	3
QF		–
SF		–
PF		–
GF		–

2013 Season

1	NEAFL	Kicked two goals in first game and played a part.	–
2	NEAFL	Had 22 touches and laid six tackles. Looks promising.	–
3	GCS	Superb debut and looked very composed with the footy.	7
4	NM	Second-gamer kept plugging away.	5
5	Melb	Got better as the game wore on and used the ball generally to advantage.	7
6	Syd	Quiet early but worked into the game fairly well.	5
7	WCE	Showed great endeavour. Ran to position and laid strong tackles.	6
8	Ess	Sub. On late for six touches.	1
9	Carl	Started on the bench and had trouble having an influence.	5
10		Soreness.
11		Soreness.
12	Frem	Came into his own in an impressive second half on a wing.	6
13	Geel	Found going tough and coach subbed him out late in third term.	1
14	NEAFL	Played on the ball and on the wing, impressed with 27 touches.	–
15	GCS	Solid four quarters.	7
16	NM	Solid contributor across four quarters and kicked three goals.	7
17	Melb	Looked composed each time he had ball. One for fans to get excited about.	6
18	Port	Elegant midfielder who is settling well at the elite level.	6
19	StK	Kid showed willingness to run from defence through lines.	5
20	Rich	Really lively in patches and could have kicked a bag with more service.	6
21	GWS	Shining light on a rather dull match with four goals.	7
22	WB	Worked hard but didn’t feature prominently.	4
23	Geel	Great experience for the youngster. Played a small role.	4
QF
SF
PF
GF