Adelaide youngsters Jordan Gallucci and Lachlan Murphy have taken different roads to the same destination
HOW Adelaide’s Lachlan Murphy and Jordan Gallucci both ended up at West Lakes, helping the Crows towards their goal of making the AFL finals in 2018.
JORDAN Gallucci and Lachlan Murphy arrived at the Adelaide Football Club together in 2016 but only one of them was on the list.
They both played in Victoria’s TAC Cup that season - Gallucci with the Eastern Ranges and Murphy the Northern Knights - but while Gallucci was selected by the Crows with Pick No.15 in the national draft Murphy was overlooked by everyone.
So he came across to play in the Crows reserves team in SANFL with no profile or reputation but an appetite for hard work which 12 months later was rewarded with a rookie contract. That he won the Dean Bailey Award as the club’s most dedicated development league player speaks volumes for his attitude.
Gallucci meanwhile toiled away alongside him in the SANFL, making just one AFL appearance in his first season but showing enough to suggest he would be a regular in the senior side very soon.
On Thursday night, nearly two years after they arrived at West Lakes, they were both in Adelaide’s AFL side together and combined for 26 disposals and 5.1 on the scoreboard in the Crows’ win over Geelong at Adelaide Oval.
Murphy has played seven games this season and kicked goals in five of them. Gallucci has played 10 and kicked goals in five.
They played together in the Round 9 win over the Western Bulldogs but the following week Gallucci was dropped for Murphy to play GWS.
What Thursday night showed is that along with Eddie Betts, there is room for the three small forwards to co-exist in the same team. Myles Poholke is a fourth option and he too arrived at Adelaide from the TAC Cup in 2016 and has played nine AFL games this season.
Murphy and Gallucci might have contributed five goals on Thursday night but their influence went well beyond the scoreboard. Murphy heaped pressure on the Cats all night while Gallucci had two huge final-quarter moments.
His tackle on Scott Selwood when Adelaide led by 14 points with five minutes to go caught the Cats midfielder holding the ball then his mark over Tom Stewart minutes later helped halt Geelong’s final charge.
Their contrasting paths to get to the club, to get a game and then a game together reinforces that it doesn’t matter how you get your chance just so long as you take it.
1. RICHMOND (12-4)
It’s not like the Tigers didn’t have their chances and if Castagna kicks straight they win. Credit also for fighting back from four goals down in the third term. But still they’re 0-4 on the road this year and that isn’t pretty.
2. PORT (11-5)
Port Adelaide great Tim Ginever said the Power will “rue this day” but that’s probably a bit dramatic. No Ryder or Robbie Gray for basically the second half and still could have pinched it late. Makes the run home more interesting however.
3. SYDNEY (11-5)
How good to see Aliir Aliir kick the winning goal for Sydney with his first ever goal in AFL footy. Swans had to dig really deep for this one.
4. WEST COAST (12-4)
Devastating for Nic Nat but the Eagles have Scott Lycett who is a more than handy replacement. Have now won their last two to consolidate.
5. COLLINGWOOD (11-5)
Looked untouchable in the first quarter then stalled after that. Now face North Melbourne, Richmond and Sydney in the next three weeks. Crunch time.
6. GWS (9-6-1)
Their on again, off-again season is back on after a spirited win over the Tigers. Toby Greene’s two goals after three months off were sublime.
7. GEELONG (9-7)
Well beaten by the Crows who kept them at arm’s length most of the night. Now there’s more noise about Gary Ablett Jnr despite him playing reasonably well on Thursday.
8. MELBOURNE (10-6)
Valuable percentage in the win over the Dogs and found their mojo again with the way they put their foot down in the third quarter.
9. N. MELBOURNE (9-7)
Pinched one against the Dogs a few weeks ago, this time they coughed one up against Sydney in the dying stages.
10. ADELAIDE (8-8)
Eddie Betts kicked one goal on Thursday night but laid seven tackles in a selfless performance, and so did Riley Knight who brings a physicality and attitude that makes teammates walk taller around him.
11. ESSENDON (8-8)
Ugly win that wasn’t overly convincing but it still keeps Essendon’s season alive albeit mathematically. Zach Merrett is in some great form.
12. HAWTHORN (9-7)
Bit of a worry when the coach concedes the team lost faith in the way it wants to play. But they’re still alive and with Carlton, Fremantle, Essendon and Geelong coming up they control their own destiny.
13. FREMANTLE (7-9)
Port was off the boil but even kicking nine consecutive behinds in the second and third quarters, the Dockers still found a way to win.
14. BRISBANE (4-12)
When Charlie Cameron and Harris Andrews went down I’m not sure many expected this to happen. Three in a row and loved their pre-game jumper ritual in the rooms.
15. ST KILDA (4-11-1)
Capped a pretty good month for the Saints with a big win over Carlton to keep the wolves from the door. The Jacks all fired but Jack Steven was the pick of them.
16. W. BULLDOGS (5-11)
Had their moments against Melbourne but never a threat.
17. GOLD COAST (3-13)
Nick Holman celebrated his new contract with three goals but not a win.
18. CARLTON (1-15)
Well beaten by a bottom-four side for the second week in a row would be distressing for some Blues fans.
GOOD WEEKEND FOR ...
St Kilda. They’ve now won three of their last four after losing seven in a row and Friday night’s thrashing of Carlton was one they had to win to appease their fans.
ONE TO FORGET FOR ....
Jason Castagna. The premiership player cost Richmond the game against GWS on Saturday night. Kicked 0.5 and looked seriously out of sorts.
BURNING QUESTION ...
Is Brisbane a danger-game for the Crows? Absolutely it is. The resurgent Lions can end Adelaide’s season if the Crows are not 100 per cent on.
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