Adelaide Crows show they are the real deal with win over Geelong
THE curse is broken. Finally, Adelaide has got the better of Geelong. And it came on the game’s biggest stage in a top of the table blockbuster.
THE curse is broken.
A ferocious Adelaide on Friday night emphatically ended four years of misery against Geelong — and sent an ominous warning to the rest of the competition that it is the real deal — with a statement-making 21-point triumph in the top-of-the-table clash at Adelaide Oval.
In snapping a five-game losing streak against Chris Scott’s side and showing they can play tough, uncompromising football, the Crows gained a stranglehold on the minor premiership and dramatically boosted their flag credentials.
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With vice-captain Rory Sloane overcoming concussion to star with 28 disposals and three goals, veteran utility Richard Douglas an unlikely hero with a career-best four goals and ruckman Sam Jacobs controlling the airways, the comprehensive win was Adelaide’s first against Geelong since round 17, 2013.
And it gave Don Pyke his first win against the Cats as coach, meaning he has now beaten every club in his two-year reign at Adelaide.
Significantly, the victory was built on elite clearance and contested ball work — two areas Adelaide has been smashed at in previous losses to Geelong.
However, the night was marred by a flare being lit on the hill next to the scoreboard midway through the final term.
The Crows dominated clearances 47-27 with Sloane, Matt and Brad Crouch and impressive rookie Hugh Greenwood combining for 33.
Adelaide, which physically roughed-up its former star Patrick Dangerfield, who played despite being in a moon boot two days ago and who was jeered by the crowd all night, was brilliant in the clinches.
And when it won the ball in traffic it moved it at breakneck speed which didn’t allow the Cats’ defence to find any rhythm.
The Crows’ forward 50 pressure was so intense the Geelong defenders were continually under siege and forced into mistakes.
Labelled judgment night for Adelaide by Australian Football Hall of Famer and former Essendon star Matthew Lloyd because of the psychological damage another loss to the Cats could do, the home side hit the ground running.
It goaled in the opening 20 seconds through Josh Jenkins and led by 37 points at the last change before Harry Taylor kicked the only three goals of the final quarter for Geelong.
The Crows won despite star small forward Eddie Betts failing to score.
Former first-class cricketer Alex Keath, who became the first player to come from the Big Bash League to play an AFL match, started at centre half-back for the Crows on Daniel Menzel, who had kicked seven goals in his previous two games against Adelaide.
The Crows had a goal on the board before the ball could get to the former Victorian all-rounder’s end of the ground.
Forward Jenkins, who was on his sick bed in the middle of the week after suffering food poisoning, swooped on a loose ball close to goal and snapped truly after just 22 seconds to get the home side off to a flyer.
Brownlow Medallist Dangerfield, who started in the midfield but moved to full forward after just five minutes, made his presence felt immediately.
After his match-winning five-goal performance on one leg against Hawthorn last week, he capitalised on a strong tackle from teammate James Parsons on Daniel Talia to sprint away from the pack and brilliantly goal with a right-foot checkside kick.
Dangerfield’s surprise showing after his foot injury means he has now played 41 consecutive matches for Geelong since controversially quitting the Crows at the end of the 2015 season.
But his early joy didn’t last long.
The Crows were fierce in their attack on the body and ball and were given a lift when Sloane caught Tom Stewart holding the ball and goaled from 40m.
Douglas then bagged two goals in seven minutes and when Greenwood spectacularly soccered the ball out of mid-air from 30m to goal Adelaide’s lead was out to 21 points.
The Crows had a 6-1 centre clearance dominance in the opening term while Riley Knight, who ran with Cats star midfielder Joel Selwood all night, held him to just two disposals.
In the back half, Rory Laird had got off the chain for 10 disposals while Sloane was having an influence with eight.
Surprise packet Douglas bobbed up with his third goal early in the second term and by midway through the quarter Adelaide had broken clear, extending its lead to six goals.
Small defender Luke Brown ensured the Crows would keep the Cats at arm’s length early in the third quarter when he intercepted a defensive-50 pass from Steven Motlop and goaled brilliantly on the run from 40m.
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