The Moment on Monday: Crows kicking themselves but it was a handball that summed up Adelaide’s forwardline woes against Geelong
With one minute to go in the first half on Thursday, Adelaide couldn’t hit a target by foot going inside 50m. But it was a handball that summed up the Crows’ forward woes. That plus game notes, Power Rankings, Mr 1 Per Center and more.
Reece Homfray
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- Power positive injured pair will tackle Tigers
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- Veteran Boak is beating the clock
- McDermott: Time for Crows to drop ‘F’ word
WITH one minute to go in the first half on Thursday night Adelaide couldn’t hit a target by foot going inside 50m but it was a handball that said it all about the Crows’ woes.
Trailing 56-32 they were winning enough of the ball but were crippled by indecision going forward, and no more evident that when Josh Jenkins handballed directly out of bounds.
The build up started with Daniel Talia marking the footy deep in defence and finding the Crouch brothers in the middle. Chayce Jones released Rory Laird who went wide to Jenkins in space and he either had too many options and was over-thinking it or not enough and hesitated.
With two unmarked teammates running inside 50m he held the footy and bounced it twice within 15m before a look-away sideways handball missed Tom Lynch and went over the boundary line.
The TV camera flashed to Don Pyke who smiled but you’d love to know what he was thinking at the time.
“I’m watching up the ground and Tex Walker had made three or four leads, he had 20 metres on Harry Taylor and wasn’t used,” expert commentator Wayne Carey said.
Jimmy Bartel added: “Sometimes when you kick that inside 50 you’re not going to find the perfect one but just kick it to his advantage and let him go to work.”
Jenkins had some good moments against the Cats. His pack mark and goal from the top of the square highlighted what he’s capable of and he was sent into the ruck to support Reilly O’Brien which is never easy for a forward.
But he also made some poor decisions when his team needed cool, composed heads particularly from its leadership group.
Jenkins’ snap from the pocket in the third quarter was a dribble along the ground instead of kicking it either in the air or centring it to a teammate was another one.
But he wasn’t alone. Bryce Gibbs, David Mackay and Rory Laird also turned the footy over with seemingly straightforward kicks which is uncharacteristic of them as individuals and the team which is struggling to kick a score this season. After three games, Adelaide’s leading goalkicker is midfielder Brad Crouch with four. Good for Crouch but worrying for the forward line.
Going into Round 3 Adelaide was ranked 18th in the competition for goal assists and 16th for scoring assists.
It was ranked 17th for marks inside 50m and 16th for scoring accuracy and with 12 marks inside 50 and 10.15 on the scoreboard against Geelong that won’t improve much this week.
“Clearly we’re not happy with where we’re sitting, we don’t sit here at 1-2 and say we’ve had a great start to the season,” Pyke said post-match.
“We’ve got some work to do. Our ball use at the moment is not at the level we want, our connection going inside 50 we ripped a few of those up.
“That’s combination of our midfielders bringing the ball through and our patterns.
“The good thing is we’re generating the opportunities but we’re not maximising them and that doesn’t put pressure on the opposition consistently.
“We need to look at what’s breaking down there whether it’s our patterns, whether it’s the way we’re kicking the ball — obviously if we’re kicking at 60 per cent (efficiency) it makes it pretty hard.”
The Crows had four more inside 50s than Geelong yet lost by 24 points.
“We missed a lot of easy shots and it’s all about scoreboard pressure against the best teams,” Pyke said.
“We’ve got to finish and that’s what the best teams do.”
The big question now is what will Pyke do at selection for Saturday’s game against North Melbourne.
A team that started the season with almost its entire list fit and available now has a mounting injury toll and some players out of form.
We’re yet to see Darcy Fogarty, Cameron Ellis-Yolmen, Hugh Greenwood or Andy Otten at AFL level this season and small forward recruit Tyson Stengle looms large.
That led to the final question of Pyke’s press conference ‘your front six have been so reliable for a long period, will you stick with them?’
“That’s something we’ve got to look at and what’s the mix we’ve got,” Pyke said.
“Riley Knight has come back and is playing consistently and Chayce Jones is playing his role. We’re creating the opportunities and I’ll look at it in more detail and make those decisions as we need to.”
GAME NOTES
POWER V LIONS
CONNOR Rozee played his first four league games as a forward with North Adelaide last year before they moved him to half-back for the finals and subsequent premiership.
But after 11 goals in 12 games for the Roosters, Rozee eyed a spot in Port’s forward line after being drafted and after his five-goal haul on Saturday night that is definitely where he will be staying for a while. Rozee played half-back, wing and forward in the under-18 national championships but his goal sense and pace makes him a lethal prospect inside 50m. His foot speed midway through the second quarter was a highlight on Saturday night. He started five metres behind Alex Witherden when they were chasing a loose ball on the wing and went straight past him. By the time he’d won the footy Witherden couldn’t lay a hand on him and Rozee had time to steady and kick to a teammate.
YOU don’t have to be wearing No. 1 to lead at Port Adelaide and you don’t even need to be captain. Travis Boak has played some outstanding footy this season but Saturday night was his best game in years. With the game in the balance at the start of the final quarter, Boak delivered. He tackled Lachie Neale at the first clearance, handballed to Paddy Ryder and ran forward to get on the end of it and kick the opening goal of the term. He also had a hand in Ryder’s goal soon after when he released a handball above his head to a running Tom Clurey in the middle and won an aerial contest in a 1v2 scenario to keep the ball inside 50m.
THE surprising thing about Port Adelaide’s missed opportunities in front of goal was they came from experienced and reliable players. Robbie Gray had an off night with two set shot misses in the second quarter, Brad Ebert missed running into an open goal and Justin Westhoff missed what he would have usually put straight through. What also hurt just before half-time was Dan Houston’s decision to take the advantage after Tom Rockliff had won a free kick straight in front of goal. Houston’s hurried snap never looked like a goal and at 38-52 down would have given them some nice momentum going into the main break.
THIS week is 12 months to the day since Sam Powell-Pepper’s late night out cost him four games last season and after a brilliant pre-season he showed on Saturday night that he’s going to deliver. He finished with 29 disposals and a game-high 11 inside 50s many of which came in the third quarter when he helped lift his side. As good as Port’s midfield was, it surrendered the last three centre clearances to the Lions after leading 90-87 with five minutes to go. It went Mitch Robinson, Stefan Martin, and Jarryd Lyons out of the middle and Port didn’t score. Another reminder of how deadly momentum from the centre bounce with the new 6:6:6 formation can be.
CROWS V CATS
THE best part of Adelaide’s weekend came at 1:28pm on Friday when they released a statement saying Paul Seedsman had not ruptured his ACL. Seedsman is so important to the Crows’ team it’s no wonder Don Pyke walked in with a solemn look on his face and spoke at barely above a whisper when at his post-match press conference he said the club feared the worst and he had a suspected ACL injury.
The best, and possibly only end-to-end transition the Crows strung together on Thursday night involved Seedsman twice. He kicked the ball in and hit Brad Crouch with a 40m pass up the middle at a time when Adelaide was struggling to move the ball out of defence. Seedsman then got on his bike and got it back from Riley Knight at half-forward and kicked it deep inside 50m where Rory Sloane did everything but take the mark at the top of the goal square.
BRYCE Gibbs could be in for a nervous week at selection. Commentators Kane Cornes and Bernie Vince — stablemates at Footy SA — have taken aim at Gibbs after both of Adelaide’s losses this season. On Thursday night Bruce McAvaney called Gibbs’ set shot ‘non committal’ when it fell short and his switch kick that missed its target and resulted in a Cats goal in the second quarter was part of a worrying trend for the night. Gibbs had 16 disposals against Hawthorn, was better with 23 against Sydney but at times let himself down with his kick with his 27 against Geelong. Cameron Ellis-Yolmen had 36 disposals and nine clearances in the SANFL on Friday night and is knocking on the door.
DRAFTEE Chayce Jones has been hailed for his pressure and it directly resulted in a goal on Thursday night. His and Lachy Murphy’s work on the wing when outnumbered by Cats kept the ball alive and Jones’ lightning-fast hands released Paul Seedsman. It finished with Brad Crouch’s set shot with five minutes to go in the third quarter.
ALEX Keath produced the best game of his 15-game career on Thursday. He took eight marks across half-back including an intercept mark on the wing, and his tackle on Patrick Dangerfield to catch him holding the ball with 4:50 to go in the second quarter lifted his team which at that point was struggling to stay in the contest.
MR 1 PER CENTER
Who are the unsung heroes of SA footy? The players who have an impact on their team without hitting the stats sheet. Champion Data records one-percenters by tallying spoils, knock-ons, shepherds and smothers every game. Here’s the leaderboard from Port Adelaide and Adelaide after Round 1:
27: Tom Jonas (Power)
22: Daniel Talia (Crows)
21: Jake Kelly (Crows)
17: Tom Clurey (Power)
16: Alex Keath (Crows)
14: Scott Lycett (Power)
12: Wayne Milera (Crows), Paddy Ryder (Power)
10: Brodie Smith (Crows), Brad Ebert (Power)
9: Rory Laird (Crows), Jack Watts (Power), Darcy Byrne-Jones, Dan Houston (Power)
8: Justin Westhoff (Power)
7: David Mackay, Kyle Hartigan (Crows), Riley Bonner (Power)
6: Rory Sloane, Taylor Walker (Crows), Travis Boak (Power)
5: Sam Jacobs, Chayce Jones (Crows), Connor Rozee (Power)
SUPERCOACH TOP 10
LOYAL Travis Boak fans were rewarded on Saturday night when he wound back the clock to record 136 SuperCoach ranking points against Brisbane — second only to the Lachie Neale freak show at the Gabba.
Re-injected back into Port’s midfield this season, Boak had 35 disposals and importantly they came at 71 per cent efficiency which was a nice response to critics of his ball use under pressure. He was also clean in front of goal with 2.0 on a night when his teammates blew a lot of chances.
Most of the SuperCoach love for Port’s rookies has centred around Zak Butters early in the season but Connor Rozee repaid the faith in those who also had him with 116 points from his five goals against Brisbane.
Top 10 SA SuperCoach scores from Round 3:
Travis Boak (Port) 136
Tom Lynch (Adel) 121
Matt Crouch (Adel) 119
Connor Rozee (Port) 116
Sam Powell-Pepper (Port) 115
Brad Crouch (Adel) 114
Wayne Milera (Adel) 109
Rory Sloane (Adel) 107
Patrick Ryder (Port) 98
Robbie Gray (91)
QUOTED
“That would come under the definition of clinic.”
— Fox Footy’s Alastair Lynch on Connor Rozee’s game on Saturday night.
TIPS
Round 4: SYDNEY haven’t been convincing but should continue Melbourne’s misery at home, COLLINGWOOD over the Bulldogs and GEELONG over the Giants in match of the round. Brisbane will start favourites but I’ll go with a rejuvenated ESSENDON at the G, then PORT ADELAIDE should beat a wounded Richmond lacking significant star power. WEST COAST to win the derby, CARLTON in an upset over an in-form Gold Coast to open their account and HAWTHORN will be too good for St Kilda.
Last week: 4. Running Total: 16
POWER RANKINGS
1. GEELONG (3-0)
There’s no knocking Geelong off top spot of the ladder — or the power rankings — after a third super-impressive win in a row. That’s Collingwood, Melbourne (granted they’re playing like a bottom four team) and Adelaide in Adelaide to open the season.
2. BRISBANE (3-0)
They just might be the real deal this year. Not premiership material yet but certainly a top eight contender. And Lachie Neale firming in Brownlow Medal betting by the minute.
3. WEST COAST (2-1)
Seems like the Round 1 loss to Brisbane wasn’t a premiership hangover but more like sleeping through the alarm. Beating Collingwood in Melbourne (again) was a statement game.
4. GWS (2-1)
Took care of business with a 49-point win over Richmond. Jeremy Cameron had a career-high 16 score involvements, which is elite.
5. PORT ADELAIDE (2-1)
First slip-up for the season and really they should have won it when they led by 10 points with six minutes to go. Connor Rozee kicked 5.2 but he also had 13 score involvements, and Sam Powell-Pepper had a game-high 699 metres gained.
6. GOLD COAST (2-1)
Stunning win over the Dogs in Melbourne. And to think if that one-point loss to St Kilda went the other way the Suns would be 3-0.
7. HAWTHORN (2-1)
Too good for North Melbourne and what a way for Chad Wingard to win over the faithful — three goals, and a big smother and tackle in the last quarter.
8. ST KILDA (2-1)
Bubble has burst at the Saints after a tough trip to Perth where they nearly snatched the points.
9. WESTERN BULLDOGS (2-1)
Looked like two stunning comebacks in a row against the Suns but fell short. The good news was Tom Liberatore’s game, which included 22 contested possessions.
10. FREMANTLE (2-1)
Blew the game open with six straight goals against the Saints in the first half.
11. COLLINGWOOD (1-2)
Didn’t expect them to drop that to West Coast given it was in Melbourne and the form they showed the week before. Have a tricky fortnight against the Dogs and Lions coming up.
12. RICHMOND (1-2)
They’re not imploding at Tigerland are they? Were always up against it without Rance and Riewoldt, and now Cotchin has reportedly done his hamstring and Martin may also miss this week.
13. ADELAIDE (1-2)
Last week’s win over Sydney masked a few issues the Crows are still having forward of the ball. Brad Crouch the leading goal-kicker with four isn’t ideal after three games. Will Pyke make changes?
14. SYDNEY (1-2)
The Swans are on the board albeit with a fighting win over Carlton but importantly played Isaac Heeney into form with four goals.
15. ESSENDON (1-2)
Spirited win and boy did they need it. Essendon’s leaders were questioned in the first two weeks and Dyson Heppell responded.
16. CARLTON (0-3)
Patrick Cripps the star of the show for Carlton but Sam Walsh reminded everyone why he went pick No. 1 at the draft with 28 touches.
17. NORTH MELBOURNE (0-3)
Better than previous two weeks but still winless after Round 3.
18. MELBOURNE (0-3)
So typical of the Demons. Put an ounce of expectation on them and they can’t cope. Maybe now at 0-3, and with everyone jumping off them, they can get going but don’t hold your breath.
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