The Advertiser’s Chris McDermott rates Adelaide Crows players in preliminary final success
INAUGURAL Adelaide captain Chris McDermott rates the Crows players after their 61-point preliminary final win against Geelong at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
- Match report: Scintillating Crows steamroll the Cats
- Analysis: Is Crows flag now a formality?
- Coach’s verdict: Pyke says ‘we can still improve’
- Colour: A memorable night for Adelaide fans
- SuperFooty: All the latest on Richmond vs the Giants
BRAD CROUCH 7
Great all round game in the midfield with strong offensive and defensive game.
RILEY KNIGHT 6
Fumbly early but coupled it with some good minutes shutting down Selwood in a strong but unspectacular game.
JOSH JENKINS 5
Unsighted in a dominant first quarter by the Crows. Needs to be better next week.
JAKE LEVER 6
Not asked too much of early but reliable and clean
as usual and his strong tackling was a feature of his third term.
JAKE KELLY 6
Had the job on Troy Menzel and did it to perfection holding him to just a couple of kicks to the half time break.
RORY SLOANE 6
Had Scott Selwood as his minder and worked hard without too much input in opening term. Great team game.
DANIEL TALIA 8
Had the job on Hawkins and kept him quiet and almost insignificant in the first half. Typical ultra defensive game.
TAYLOR WALKER 6
Little to talk about in first half as others did the scoring and the skipper had no impact on the scoreboard. Got his reward late with a long goal to ice the game.
DAVID MACKAY 5
Quiet start and hardly sighted in the opening half of the game with just two kicks to the long break.
KYLE HARTIGAN 6
Had Dangerfield early and dodged a bullet as Danger missed his first shot but didn’t give him a look after that.
LUKE BROWN 6
At his usual unobtrusive best but another of the Crows back six to put on a faultless display .
EDDIE BETTS 6
Had Bews as his minder but got on the board early with snap goal from 15m out as the Crows got off to a flyer.
CHARLIE CAMERON 9
A star was born and his name is Charlie Cameron. He was brilliant and for once Eddie Betts played second fiddle.
HUGH GREENWOOD 4
Unsighted for much of the first half and had just one kick until half time. Even less effective in the second half.
RORY ATKINS 6
Pace and endurance outstanding and plenty of ball early but dropped right out of it in the second as the Cats pressed.
SAM JACOBS 6
Dominated hit outs especially around the ground giving his midfield plenty of ball.
RICHARD DOUGLAS 6
Brilliant early smother gifted the Crows the first goal . Very good when and where it mattered.
TOM LYNCH 7
Brilliant all night and while he copped a head knock late in the game he returned to action and is in no doubt for next week.
RORY LAIRD 8
Plenty of ball and strong rebound early gathering 10 touches in the opening quarter and maintained his form all game.
MATT CROUCH 7
Had Blicavs as his minder and struggled to find much ball early but worked himself into the game and finally on top of his tagger and had him moved.
PAUL SEEDSMAN 7
Explosive start with nine disposals in a dominant first quarter and goaled twice early in the second.
ANDY OTTEN 5
Worked himself into the game after a slow start and again did not let the team down.
Second chances rarely pay off for AFL coaches
History suggests strongly that if you miss out on a premiership at your first try as a coach, you should not get another chance — unless you’re Mick Malthouse or Malcolm Blight, writes Chris McDermott.
When two tribes go to war
It was the game that stopped a state — the first Showdown between the Crows and Power on April 20, 1997. Chris McDermott shares his memories for Part 1 of The Greatest Showdowns series.