Player Ratings: vs North Melbourne, Round 8, 2017

What a superb way to the put the Swans season back on track with another resounding win. Even though the last two teams have been firmly entrenched in the bottom four, you've still got to win those matches. The Swans have done just that, and look like building form and momentum leading into the bye.

Season is far from over for the boys in red and white.

B: Nick Smith, Heath Grundy, Harry Marsh
HB: Jarrad McVeigh, Lewis Melican, Callum Mills
C: Isaac Heeney, Josh P. Kennedy, Zak Jones
HF: Harry Cunningham, Sam Reid, Will Hayward
F: Callum Sinclair, Lance Franklin, Tom Papley
FOL: Sam Naismith, Luke Parker, Dan Hannebery
I/C: Dean Towers, Nic Newman, George Hewett, Jake Lloyd

	40: Nick Smith	6	Better than his normal season form and played out the match even with a heavily corked thigh.
	39: Heath Grundy	6.5	Kept Sideshow Bob quiet, aided by him having an absolute nightmare, but clean with disposal and defensively sound throughout the match.
	31: Harry Marsh	7	Played really well and has taken this opportunity by the scruff of the neck. There's no way Laidler should play in front of this guy.
	3: Jarrad McVeigh	6.5	Played out the first half with hamstring soreness and bagged two goals in the 2nd quarter. Well done.
	43: Lewis Melican (R)	5	He's not AFL ready. He's got the tools, but easily beaten by his opponent on numerous occasions, doesn't take the body when he should and vice-versa. Needs a good season in the NEAFL to develop.
	14: Callum Mills	7.5	Another great performance from the youngster, flying the flag, taking great intercept marks and spreading the ball with great accuracy. Still makes an occasional blunder.
	5: Isaac Heeney	8	The Swans fortunes are indeed tightly tied into the return to fitness and form for this guy. When you've got him taken marks at every corner of the ground, he takes pressure off the three best mids. Overall fantastic performance.
	12: Josh Kennedy	9	Beast mode 1st half, reminiscent of the grand final and carried the Swans through. Cannot fault anything he did against the Roos.
	10: Zak Jones	6	Well down on his usual best, especially his arguable best on last week, had 5 clangers from 15 disposals, but managed to kick a goal.
	7: Harry Cunningham	6	Solid if unspectacular role player. Looks like he's settling into his run-with/wing role well.
	20: Sam Reid	8	What a superb game from the talented big man. 12 marks, 3 goals and lead everywhere. He was the most important Swan on the ground for much of the game and his hands were like glue.
	9: Will Hayward	4.5	Couldn't inject himself into the game at all. Tried all night, laid just 1 tackle and scored the last goal of the match, to go with his two frees against for holding the ball.
	18: Callum Sinclair	5.5	Looked good and positive early on, but faded as the match wore on. Competed well, got high, but he's an odd one, the stats don't match the eye.
	23: Lance Franklin	6.5	He's a full forward that had himself 21 disposals, a ridiculous goal 8 marks and 8 inside 50s. If his disposal efficiency wasn't so bad (47.6%), he'd be in the best on ground discussion.
	41: Tom Papley	7	He's like a little terrier snapping at the heels, but boy oh boy does he know where the goals are, and sure loves to kick one. Great lead up presence and fantastic pressure in the forward line created opportunities for the Swans.
	35: Sam Naismith	5	Doesn't look quite fit enough, another rushed back from injury, and to rub salt into the would, hurt the same knee late in the 3rd in a ruck contest. Far out.
	26: Luke Parker	8.5	Fantastic return to form, was close to his impetuous best, getting stuck in, tackling, running and kicking goals. 11 clearances, 8 of them centre clearances, 5 tackles and 7 inside 50s. His disposal efficiency was poor, but hey, 2 goals.
	4: Dan Hannebery	8.5	He looks close to full fitness, still a yard or two off full pace, but you can never knock his work rate. Worked his ass off all game, kicked two great goals and had 4 tackles to go with his 33 disposals.
	22: Dean Towers	7.5	Really good game from the not-so-young inexperience forward. 20 disposals, lead up target and got himself a goal. 6 marks and 5 tackles just goes to show how much he's lifted his work rate his time around.
	28: Nic Newman	9	Not much can be said about this guy. Kennedy will get the three votes, but he was best on ground. 35 disposals, 13 contested to go with 11 marks, I don't even know how many were intercept, 4 tackles and 3 rebound 50s. He did all this with just 75% total on ground time. Wow.
	29: George Hewett	7	Just keeps building and keeps getting stronger every week. He's benefiting from having Mills, Jones and Heeney in the midfield, so he's not going head to head with the best week in, week out. 7 inside 50s from 29 disposals capped off another solid performance.
	44: Jake Lloyd	7	Continues to accumulate, but still struggles to do much damage with the ball. Not much of a defender and always looks dodgy when taking kick outs. Important link player in the midfield, backed up by 8 marks.

Bonus Rating: 10/10 for Brad Scott's face palm early in the 3rd quarter - priceless!

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