West Adelaide wins a night thriller against Adelaide at Richmond Oval

WEST Adelaide’s mid-season revival continued when it hung on to take its second AFL reserves scalp in as many starts in a thrilling finish at Richmond Oval.

WEST Adelaide’s mid-season revival continued when it hung on to take its second AFL reserves scalp in as many starts in a thrilling finish at Richmond Oval on Friday night.

Ian Callinan kicked one of the goals of the season from deep in the pocket in time-on of the final term to bring the Crows to within five points late in the match before some desperate defending ensured the Bloods hung on.

It was the West’s fifth win in eight starts and came despite a goalless first term on a night dotted with heavy periods of rain.

It pushed the Bloods to within one win of the five and dealt a blow to the Crows’ chances of playing finals in their inaugural SANFL season.

The boys from West Lakes could find themselves three wins plus percentage outside the top five at the completion of the round.

Adelaide’s loss came despite teenager Matt Crouch gathering 42 possessions and 13 clearances in a remarkable performance which will ensure he is very much in the AFL selection conversation next week.

Impressive top-up player Gene Robinson showed class in the conditions when he evaded two tacklers and snapped a goal from 40m two minutes into the contest, as the Crows kicked the only two goals of the first term.

Crouch and Mitch Grigg were dominating possession and the Bloods didn’t score until 22 minutes into the quarter, as they drew the ire of their supporters several times by kicking backwards and sideways in the wet.

West changed the momentum in the second term as Travis Tuck began throwing himself into contests and getting the ball moving their way.

Ben Fisher kicked their first goal with a clever snap from the pocket eight minutes into the term before Ryan Dijksman ran into an open goal and brought the Bloods back on level terms heading into half-time.

Tempers flared in a little in the third term and a series of scuffles broke out.

The Bloods went a goal clear when Fisher converted well from a set shot before the Crows hit back when Angus Graham was paid a dubious free kick in the goalsquare.

Tuck gave the Bloods the edge again heading into the final term when he crumbed and goalled in traffic.

West looked to have the match under control before Callinan’s brilliant late goal ensured a frantic final few minutes.