BRISBANE Lion Josh Green ended a frustrating season personally by playing a starring role in the win that ensured his side avoided the wooden spoon on Saturday.
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Green, who was sidelined between rounds 15 and 20 due to a foot problem, looked as dangerous and lively inside 50 as he has all season, kicking 4.0 from 16 possessions, six marks and five tackles with eight score involvements as the Dogs rested their three most experienced defenders.
It was Green’s best haul for the season, and he finished with 25.12 from 16 games to win Brisbane’s goal-kicking award for the second year in a row.
Teammate Mitch Robinson, of Lauderdale, went head-to-head with Marcus Bontempelli, with both players collecting 28 touches. Bontempelli also kicked 2.0.
Robinson finished his fine debut year in Queensland with 15 contested touches and went at a disposal efficiency rate of 85.7 per cent, laid six tackles, had seven clearances, took five marks and had eight score involvements.
In Adelaide, Burnie’s Brady Grey collected 20 touches at 75 per cent disposal efficiency rate and laid three tackles in his AFL debut for Fremantle.
Teammates Lachie Weller, also of Burnie, had 16 possessions at 67.8 per cent disposal efficiency rate and laid five tackles off half-back, while Ulverstone’s Alex Pearce played in defence on John Butcher, collecting 12 touches and keeping the forward to 1.3.
Launceston’s Jake Kolodjashnij had the tough task on Adelaide’s Eddie Betts in the Cats’ win on Saturday, with the Crow kicking 4.2 on him. Kolodjashnij finished with 12 touches.
Jackson Thurlow, also of Launceston, also finished with 12 touches at 66.7 per cent disposal efficiency rate off half-back for the Cats.
Fellow former Launceston boy Kade Kolodjashnij finished his outstanding season for Gold Coast with 23 possessions (12 contested) at 73.9 per cent efficiency and six score involvements in the loss to the Swans.
The hot finish to 2015 by Hobart’s Aaron Hall continued, with the midfielder collecting 31 touches (10 contested) at 71 per cent disposal efficiency rate and five score involvements.
North Hobart’s Henry Schade played both forward and back, with nine touches and two marks, Launceston’s Jesse Lonergan had 12 touches and laid four tackles and Luke Russell had 14 touches and laid four tackles after starting as the sub.
Burnie’s Maverick Weller tried hard in St Kilda’s big loss to West Coast, collecting 19 possessions at 84.2 per cent disposal efficiency rate and kicking 0.1, while Glenorchy’s Jimmy Webster finished with 18 touches playing on Josh Hill.
Devonport’s Grant Birchall tuned up for another finals campaign with 20 possessions at 95 per cent disposal efficiency rate with eight marks, six score involvements and 1.0 in Hawthorn’s win over Carlton.
Jeremy Howe, from Dodges Ferry, celebrated his 100th game with 11 touches, seven marks and 1.0 and a trademark screamer playing forward in Melbourne’s loss to Greater Western Sydney.
It could be the out of contract 25-year-old’s final game for the club, with speculation rife about his future.
Wynyard’s Colin Garland played on Cameron McCarthy, and finished with 16 touches, five marks and three tackles, while McCarthy kicked 0.2.
Clarence’s Jack Riewoldt came alive in the second half as Richmond came from behind to defeat North Melbourne on Friday.
Riewoldt kicked all of his 2.2 after the long break, finishing with 10 touches and taking six marks with Robbie Tarrant his opponent.
It was a similar story for Devonport’s Ben Brown for the Roos, who kicked 2.0 in the final quarter.
Brown finished with 13 touches and took six marks with Troy Chaplin looking after him.