Melbourne Demons player ratings from first wildcard final vs Carlton, analysis, stats, best and worst players

From top-four contenders to eliminated in the wildcard round — a sudden fall from grace for Melbourne, who “were a bit selfish tonight at times”, according to dual premiership Kangaroo David King.

Foxfooty.com.au rates all 23 Melbourne players out of 10 from its wildcard finals clash against Carlton, with seven receiving fails.

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4. Harvey Langford

Probably Melbourne’s most influential player. Cracking early wing battle with Blake Acres. Showed off his elite workrate in the early stages, pushing hard forward to run onto a loose ball and nail a brilliant goal on the run. Had a moment to forget in the second term when he didn’t attack a defensive contest hard enough, which allowed Matt Cottrell to take an easy mark. Hit back in the third term with nine disposals, but quiet again in the final term. Still, you walked away from this game thinking ‘he’s built for finals’. 7

5. Xavier Lindsay

Went to Talor Byrne at halfback when he came onto the ground. Showed good composure and decision-making with his left boot. 5

6. Caleb Windsor

A bang-for-buck game. Started across half-forward and was prominent early, directly assisting goals to Bailey Laurie and Harvey Langford. Had just one touch in the second term, but was important in the third term with six touches, including another goal assist after setting up Harry Petty’s major. 6

7. Jack Viney

First game in over a year and was serviceable. Started on the bench then came on halfway through the first quarter and was injected straight into the guts. Just under 50 per cent game time and had 13 touches 5

9. Jack Steele

Busy early with nine first-term disposals on his way to 23 for the game. Laid six tackles, but just one clearance for the game. 6

10. Daniel Turner

A topsy-turvy night on Harry McKay. Intercept game was strong, but Fox Footy’s David King noted in the second term Turner was “really struggling with McKay’s size”. McKay probably took the points, but Turner was solid. Missed Jake Lever. 5

11. Max Gawn

Threatened to break the game open at times. Won a couple of early free kicks to set the tone at ruck contests then got forward to mark inside 50 and goal in a first term where he had six touches, three clearances and didn’t come to the bench once. Fox Footy’s runDavid King declared: “He is the man right now … he’s an ever-present problem for the coaches’ box of the Blues.” Was the best ruck on the ground, but didn’t have the dominant four-quarter game he was tracking towards early. 7

12. Koltyn Tholstrup

Went to Frankie Evans early in defence but also had a crack at Ben Ainsworth. Had 15 touches and seven intercepts, but not as influential as previous weeks. 5

14. Changkuoth Jiath

Took Mitch McGovern early, but tried to give the Demons drive and dash off halfback as often as possible. Couldn’t maintain that energy for the rest of the game. 5

15. Ed Langdon

Kept his width on the wing as per. Tried to lift his team in the fourth term, but not a massively influential game. 4

16. Bailey Laurie

Started on the bench then came on and drifted forward to kick Melbourne’s third goal. Very little impact outside of that. 4

17. Jake Bowey

Melbourne’s biggest ball-winner with 26 touches, eight rebound 50s and 723m gained. The high halfback stood next to Ben Ainsworth at the opening ball-up but rotated through various opponents. Can hold his head high. 7

18. Jake Melksham

Produced a cracking intercept mark and kick inside 50 that set up Max Gawn’s opening-quarter goal. But missed his own opportunities in front of the sticks with 0.3. An admirable career comes to an abrupt end on wildcard weekend. 3

19. Xavier Taylor

Talk about a baptism of fire! Just his third AFL game and had the job on Brodie Kemp early. Was OK early, but was moved off Kemp late and had a costly fourth-term turnover. 3

24. Trent Rivers

Played mainly across halfback and provided rebound (7 rebound 50s), but the Dees probably would’ve liked a more prolific output. 3

25. Tom McDonald

Journeyman and a premiership Demon fought until the end. Started forward next to Jacob Weitering in what seemed to be a run-with role. Took a crucial contested mark then kicked a goal on the half-time siren to give Melbourne the lead. Did switch back at times to provide defensive support, especially in the last quarter to take Brodie Kemp. 3

30. Harry Sharp

Rollercoaster start to the game at half-forward on Lachie Cowan. A Harry Petty free kick in front of goal reversed after Sharp’s “cheap shot” on Harry Dean, per David King. Made amends minutes later, drifting towards the goalsquare and running into an open goal to nail the first major. Then pulled off a crucial defensive spoil that set up Bailey Laurie’s goal. 5

31. Bayley Fritsch

Had Nick Haynes at the opening ball-up before the Blue got injured. Worked up the ground to present as an option between the arcs then snapped a classy goal in the third term. 5

32. Tom Sparrow

On the ball at the opening ball-up. Laid nine tackles, but just nine touches and two clearances — and finished as Melbourne’s second-lowest rated player, according to Champion Data. 3

35. Harrison Petty

Manned up by Harry Dean. Plucked a couple of big marks, including at the start of the third term that led to a goal, but dipped in and out of the game too much. 4

36. Kysaiah Pickett

As Leigh Montagna told Fox Footy post-match, your classic “almost game”. Had Cooper Lord trying to apply a tag. Broke away early to set up Melbourne’s first goal to Harry Sharp and had eight touches in the first term. Could’ve buried the Blues with multiple early goals, but didn’t make the distance on two attempts and missed a snap you would’ve thought he’d nail. Perhaps his night was summed up by a third-quarter moment when he plucked an impressive intercept mark — over Harry McKay, if you don’t mind — but fluffed the kick across the goalface. Finished with 0.3 from 19 disposals, five tackles and four clearances, but King said Pickett had a “night he’d rather forget”. 6

37. Kade Chandler

Had Ollie Florent on him across half-forward at the start of the game and was well held early. Pushed up onto the ball in the third term and had an influence at stoppage. Finished with 16 disposals, a team-high 13 contested possessions and six clearances. 6

47. Joel Fitzgerald

Played across half-forward with stints rotating through the midfield. Finished with 15 touches and four clearances. 5