Adelaide beats Sturt in testing weather conditions at Unley Oval
Adelaide maintained its top-of-the-ladder spot, but it had to overcome challenging conditions and a spirited Sturt to get the points.
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Adelaide conquered Sturt by 21 points in a spirited battle in the Unley Oval mud and wet on Saturday to maintain its reign at the top of the SANFL premiership ladder.
There was nothing pretty about this contest, it was simply an old fashioned slog in challenging conditions where characters are tested.
Just push the ball forward with any method. And the Crows did it best for four quarters, taking control in the final term when they added 3.2, while keeping Double Blues scoreless.
Crows coach Heath Younie described the confrontation as a field position game where the team which had the mentality to compete in the conditions harder and longer gets the result.
“Sturt came with a real appetite to compete,” Younie said. “Credit to our guys, that last 20 minutes they played really, really strong football.
“This game was back to what traditional football was built on and their ability to adapt to the conditions quickly and play a brand of footy conducive to the weather, they should be really proud.”
The Double Blues missed prime opportunities to apply scoreboard pressure early with missed set shots for goal and they failed to capitalise on a territorial advantage.
They did not go unpunished, Crows captain Matt Wright nailing the first goal of the game after 12 minutes on just their second visit inside 50.
Andy Otten was outstanding for the Crows in defence, while Double Blues onballer Aidan Riley thrived in the conditions.
Young Double Blues ruckman Daniel Fahey-Sparks, playing just his eighth game, was given some valuable lessons from highly experienced Sam Jacobs and the Crows were constantly given first look at the ball.
But the home side was persistent and committed, and they hit the front eight minutes into the third quarter. It was to be their final score, however.
The Crows nailed the final four goals, including two soccered efforts from first gamer Ty Farrell in the final term.
“It’s frustrating,” Double Blues coach Nathan Grima said. “We missed easy opportunities to score early.
“I can live with that, but we simplified the game like any coach would in the wet, kick it long and direct when in doubt.
“Too many times we tried to invent short and we had an extra 13 turnovers on the back of that. I can’t question the intent or the younger guys, just our ability to follow instructions for long enough was probably the difference in the end.”
SCOREBOARD
ADELAIDE 1.3 2.5 3.6 6.8 (44)
STURT 0.3 2.4 3.5 3.5 (23)
BEST — Adelaide: Otten, Jacobs, Wright, Wilson, Jones, Mackay. Sturt: Riley, Crocker, Stephens, Illman, Battersby, Greenslade.
GOALS — Adelaide: McAdam, Farrell 2, Mackay, Wright. Sturt: Hone, Sutcliffe, Penfold.
UMPIRES — Morgan, Phil, Harris.
CROWD — 1227 at Peter Motley Oval, Unley
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