Richmond VFL coach Tim Clarke provides an exclusive summary of how the AFL-listed players performed at VFL level in Saturday’s loss to Essendon.

Matt Dea
27 disposals, 6 rebound 50s, 4 tackles
Got a lot of the ball with a focus on offensive footy. Helped set up our play off half-back. Apart from the third quarter, where he allowed a couple of opposition goals, he was one of our better players.

Brad Helbig
24 disposals, 5 clearances
Played a combination of midfield and half-back. He was very hard inside and he continues to keep performing this season, hopefully he can finish it off well.

Matt Arnot
23 disposals, 9 clearances
Very slow to get going but ended up having 12 touches in the last quarter. We expect a better effort from him but to finish the way he did was very pleasing.

Sam Lloyd
2 goals, 22 disposals, 5 tackles
Very good offensive game but defensively we needed our forwards to be better to put more pressure on Essendon’s backs.

Chris Knights
20 disposals
Was going very well playing as a high forward but then hurt his quad in the third quarter, which is unfortunate for him because he’s had such a tough road back from his knee injury and was just finding some form.

Todd Banfield
1 goal, 18 disposals, 8 tackles
Continues his form run and found the ball, and a couple of shots on goal but was still able to tackle strongly.

Aaron Edwards
3 goals, 17 disposals, 10 marks
Aaron was good again. He’s been solid all year playing as both a high and deep forward. Like the rest of our forwards, we expect more defensively from him.

Brett O’Hanlon
17 disposals, 4 tackles
Played a combination of wing and half-forward. Gave us some run from the wing and out of stoppages but we expect more.

Orren Stephenson
16 disposals, 30 hit outs
Dominated hit-outs again, like he does every week. Took a bit to get going, not many touches in the first quarter, but then really got going. His second efforts continue to be a highlight.

Shaun Hampson
1 goal, 15 disposals, 6 marks
Very dominant in the ruck when he was in there. Won plenty of hit-outs and marked well around the ground, which was very pleasing but needed him to finish better and hit the scoreboard more.

Cadeyn Williams
15 disposals
Played across half forward and through the midfield. One of his better games in terms of his hunt of the football. Plenty of clean possessions inside, getting the ball to the outside runners. Good performance.

Ben Darrou
14 disposals, 5 rebound 50s
Played Essendon’s key forward and kept him to no goals and just two or three marks, which was a very pleasing performance. Continues to get the job done on the opposition key forward each week and he also contributed offensively.

Daniel Jackson
14 disposals (9 contested), 6 tackles
Was good inside but we expect more from the reigning Jack Dyer medallist. The leadership out on the field was noticeable and helped set up our stoppage structures.

Todd Elton
11 disposals
Was good defensively. Had many opportunities to mark but dropped three or four that he should’ve taken. Continues to improve as a defender and we’ve really seen some good signs from him.

Kamdyn McIntosh
10 disposals, 3 inside 50s
Was a little bit disappointing off half-back. Went to a wing and got some touches in the last quarter to have some involvement but we expect better.

Liam McBean
2 goals, 8 disposals
Was disappointing. Managed to hit the scoreboard but we expect more of on an impact from him. Kicked an important goal from a stoppage late in the game.