Benny Round 8 v Sydney at MCG

Votes and notes this week by Sean Ross, originator of The Benny

What a difference a shot after the siren can make, hey? I don’t know about anyone else but I’ve gone from draft watching back to the trusty ladder predictor all on the back of a 49 metre kick at goal.

Didn’t Lloyd club it? As soon as it left the boot it was never missing, quite the achievement after two hours of playing against Sydney.

We won without Cotch and weren’t reliant on Deledio, Dusty and Jack to get us over the line, though each were very good.

Maybe that’s the win that gets things going, and maybe it isn’t. I’m inclined to side with the later option but I’d love to be incorrect.

Right now I’d love them to be fronting up at the G again this weekend but alas, we are off to Perth to front a wounded Freo.

My votes:

5: Ben Griffiths. It was the game we hoped he had in him, but I’d given up on ever seeing. He hit the ball hard, worked back towards goal and kicked truly. Maybe Sheeds’ 50 game apprenticeship rule still holds true. 

4: Brett Deledio. He threw his hat in the ring to be captain, and I suspect he enjoys running out as skipper whenever he gets the chance because he sure played like one. Got us going from the very start and don’t we look a better team with him playing well.

3: Jack Riewoldt. As much as I love watching dual Coleman medallist Jack Riewoldt play, I am thoroughly enjoying future Brownlow medallist quasi half forward midfielder Jack Riewoldt. If Griff (or Ty) can become the guy full time, Jack will be able to do more of it.

2: Shaun Hampson. Stats wise unimpressive, but hit outs and presence wise in the middle he was immense. He’s playing like a guy who is the first choice ruckman in a team for the first time in his career.

1: Dustin Martin. Hasn’t he worked into the season nicely? I’d love to see him up forward more often and that might be possible with Cotchin back, but he has assembled a very nice body of midfield work over the last few weeks.

Unluckiest: Anthony Miles, didn’t stop getting the footy.

Unlucky: Alex Rance, another great battle with Buddy and his last few minutes were better than sex but Buddy still managed to get five goals on him.

The Benny
22: Riewoldt
11: Cotchin, Rance, Houli
10: Martin
8: Miles
7: Hampson
6: Lloyd, Deledio
5: Lambert, Castagna, Griffiths
3: Townsend, Short, C. Ellis
2: Rioli
1: B. Ellis

Blair Hartley Appreciation Award
11: Houli
8: Miles
7: Hampson
3: Townsend

Anthony Banik Best First Year Player
5: Castagna
3: Short
2: Rioli

Joel Bowden's Golden Left Boot
11: Houli

Greg Tivendale Rookie List Medal
5: Castagna
3: Short

Next week’s votes will be cast by our beef industry correspondent Corbo.