Adelaide’s finals hopes snuffed out by Giants on a cold August night in Canberra
BOOK the surgeons and European vacations; Don Pyke’s men are out of their misery after a 14-point loss to the GWS Giants on a cold August night in Canberra.
THEY’RE done and dusted but went down swinging.
Adelaide’s hopes of a miraculous surge to September ended with a 14-point loss to GWS on Saturday night.
Book the surgeons and European vacations. Don Pyke’s men are out of their misery.
It was a dirty postscript for Adelaide skipper Taylor Walker who risks not playing again this season after a nasty sling tackle that concussed GWS superstar Josh Kelly.
Walker hadn’t laid a glove on GWS before his third quarter knockout of Kelly. It was an unsavoury incident but one that gave Adelaide a shot at victory down its elite midfielder, Sam Reid (ankle), then Heath Shaw (knee) who had blanketed Eddie Betts.
GWS extended an 11-point final change buffer through Aiden Bonar, Jeremy Cameron Jacob
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Hopper’s second then Coniglio sealed the win, path to the top four and Adelaide’s fate, stranded on 40 points.
Goals from Richard Douglas and Josh Jenkins (three) were mere consolation.
Crows defender Brodie Smith (29 touches, 14 contested) was an intercept king showing Adelaide what it has missed this season while Tom Lynch (two goals) was also instrumental in keeping the visitors afloat. Rory Sloane was a one man clearance machine (12) while Matt Crouch and Rory Laird were valiant but GWS’s class prevailed for a ninth win in 10 games and ninth straight in Canberra.
David Mackay in his 200th game, reduced the margin to seven points after cashing in on a generous 50 metre penalty. Wasteful Bonar’s first goal and last gasp snap from Hopper meant Adelaide needed a massive finish.
Kelly and Dylan Shiel slotted majors to start the third quarter, signalling danger and a game-high 18 point lead but Adelaide enjoyed a stay of execution when Bonar missed two gimme set shots. Superb vision from Douglas and Lynch resulted in a Bryce Gibbs goal that gave Adelaide a pulse.
Kelly had just begun to shake close attention from Hugh Greenwood when concussed.
Adelaide bombed the ball forward in a bid to destabilise a formidable GWS defence. It was a high risk strategy that worked on occasion but punished on the counter attack.
Adelaide dominated inside 50s 31-21 in the first half but GWS’s lightning spread meant it needed less chances to hurt the Crows and they did after half time with six goals.
Walker looked out of sorts which was emphasised with Mitch McGovern overlooked.
In a reverse of their round 11 clash, it was GWS dominating contested possession early through Shiel, Lachie Whitfield, Callan Ward, Rory Lobb and Coniglio.
Everything had to go right from the outset for Adelaide and Jenkins took just 18 seconds to boot the first of two for the first term but Harry Himmelberg instantly replied.
Rory Lobb’s pace and athleticism would prove a problem all night, running ahead of Sam Jacobs to an open goal for the Giant’s second.
Whitfield’s station at half back has been a master move by Cameron after losing Zac Williams to injury and Nathan Wilson to Fremantle. Whitfield has provided searing rebound this season, on display as he burnt off Bryce Gibbs to score GWS’s fourth goal unattended.
Adelaide had gambled on the mobility of a small defence built around impressive Tom Doedee in slippery conditions against GWS’s forward behemoths. Every mistake would be swooped on and five of the Giants first six goals were within 15 metres from the sticks. It’s first of the second term came from a defensive turnover with Ryan Griffen strolling for the Giants fifth. Adelaide had to slug it out for its goals while the Giants were raffling theirs in waves with Cameron soccering its second of the term all alone. Alex Keath had done a sterling job until Cameron struck.
Adelaide had to dig deep but had Sloane winning nine first half clearances was just the tonic.
Lynch’s second goal from an intercept mark was just reward for gun linkwork. The Crows had a four-point lead and belief at half time but couldn’t hold on in the story of a season.
SCOREBOARD
GWS 4.4 6.9 11.14 15.16 (106)
ADELAIDE 4.3 7.7 10.9 13.14 (92)
GOALS
GIANTS: Bonar 2, Himmelberg 2, Coniglio 2, Hopper 2, Lobb, Whitfield, Coniglio, Griffen,Cameron
CROWS: Jenkins 3, Lynch 2, Murphy 2, Betts, Mackay, Walker
BEST
GIANTS: Whitfield, Shiel, Ward, Lobb, Davis, Coniglio, Shaw, Kelly
CROWS: B Smith, Lynch, Sloane, Crouch, Laird, Keath
INJURIES
GIANTS: Reid (hamstring), Kelly (concussion), Shaw (leg).
UMPIRES
Andrew Stephens, Ray Chamberlain, Shane McInerney
CROWD: 13,249 at Manuka Oval