Glenelg beats Adelaide in a thrilling clash at the Bay to close in on the minor premiership
Glenelg has confirmed its favouritism for the SANFL flag, but it was forced to withstand a committed challenge from a star-studded Adelaide outfit.
Glenelg held off a final-quarter charge from Adelaide to claim a two-point triumph at the Bay on Saturday.
The thrilling clash reflected the ladder positions with the Tigers and Crows the top two and challenging each other with an impressive brand of football.
Crows veteran Richard Douglas had a chance to snatch a win, only for his set shot fall short. The siren sounded just seconds later with the ball deep in the goalsquare as the Tigers hung on desperately.
The win has lifted the Tigers two games clear of the Crows and takes them a massive step towards the minor premiership.
The Tigers tore the game apart early, winning the clearance battle and moving the ball with so much confidence and method to have the Crows under the pump.
Three goals in the opening eight minutes enabled the home to escape to a handy lead with Brad Agnew and Matthew Snook constantly getting their hands to the ball.
Needing to find some answers, the Crows got more influence from Bryce Gibbs and Hugh Greenwood, while Richard Douglas’ impact increased as the first quarter lengthened.
The Crows bagged four successive goals to secure the lead with ruckman Sam Jacobs putting himself on the highlights reel with a couple of terrific moments.
After pouncing on a loose ball deep in the pocket, he curled the ball back with a tremendous snap for a goal and then took a great one-handed mark before nailing the set shot.
At the other end of the ground, the competition’s leading goalkicker Liam McBean had his own special actions. He took two clever marks in six minutes, despite talented Crows defender Jordon Butts doing little wrong.
The Crows pressure, especially in the forward line, became a factor and they were able to disrupt the Tigers’ movement. The hard work was rewarded on the scoreboard with the Crows building a 15-point buffer.
Eddie Betts had an intriguing battle with former Carlton teammate Aaron Joseph and he got his first goal midway through the second term.
This time it was the Tigers needing a response, and they banged home the final two goals of the quarter to eat into the deficit.
The two sides traded blows early in the third term, that was until the extremely accurate Luke Reynolds went bang with three goals in four minutes to give the Tigers the ascendancy.
Young Tigers defender Will Gould gave the AFL scouts plenty more to ponder when he flattened Gibbs with a tremendous bump to clear a path for a teammate. Seriously, the 18-year old is a bully.
When improving Brad Close kicked a goal on the siren, the Tigers led by 20 points and the Crows were on the ropes.
There is plenty of quality in this Crows’ line-up, however, and they kept coming at the Tigers in the final quarter.
The Crows’ charge was kick started by a trademark Betts kick along the ground for a goal from deep in the pocket. The veteran was at it again when he kicked a goal after his tackle on Gould, who had played on after a great mark, earned him a free kick.
SCOREBOARD
GLENELG 4.2 8.3 15.4 15.6 (96)
ADELAIDE 4.4 8.7 11.8 14.10 (94)
BEST - Glenelg: Snook, Partington, Agnew, Curran, McBean, White, Proud. Adelaide: Douglas, Gibbs, Betts, Greenwood, Hutchesson, Seymour.
GOALS - Glenelg: McBean, Reynolds 4, Agnew 2, Close, White, Le Cornu, Partington, Motlop. Adelaide: Betts 4, Douglas 3, Jacobs 2, Gallucci, Fogarty, Greenwood, Jones, Wright.
UMPIRES - Hundertmark, Lewis, Broadbent.
CROWD - 4011 at ACH Group Stadium, Glenelg.