Adelaide’s thrilling come-from-behind win puts massive dent in Port Adelaide’s finals hopes
THE Showdown delivers again as Adelaide produces a thrilling come-from-behind win to remain in the finals hunt and put a massive dent in arch-rival Port Adelaide’s September hopes.
ADELAIDE just won’t go away.
Knowing one more loss will be a knockout finals punch, the Crows kept their slim September hopes alive - and seriously dented bitter arch-rival Port Adelaide’s top four chances - with a remarkable three-point win in Showdown 45 at Adelaide Oval.
A controversial goal to key forward Josh Jenkins with 2:38 left handed Don Pyke’s outfit an amazing win after Adelaide trailed by 15 points in the third quarter and 13 points early in the final term.
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Jenkins thought his snap had clipped the inside of the goalpost but it was given as six points after a goal review.
The Crows then held their nerve to win the fifth Showdown decided by a goal or less and take a 23-22 lead in Showdowns.
Adelaide trailed for most of the game but hit the front through Matt Crouch 14 minutes into the final term.
Port broke to a 10-point advantage when stars Robbie Gray - who won his fourth Showdown Medal as best afield - and Chad Wingard booted their fourth goals in time-on.
But Eddie Betts, who had endured a nightmare day, bobbed up with his first goal on the run from 40m and Jenkins then kicked the match-winner.
It was the Crows’ sixth win in the past seven Showdowns after the Power snapped their five-game derby losing streak in Round 8 by five points.
This one again went down to the wire as the game that stops a state lived up to the hype.
Adelaide controlled much of the play but nearly paid a steep price for its inefficiency.
The Crows had 22 more inside 50s, eight more scoring shots and 62 more disposals but nearly lost.
They booted 13.18 to the usually-inefficient Port’s 14.9.
Former Blue Bryce Gibbs was outstanding for Adelaide with 29 disposals and nine inside 50s while he was given great support from vice-captain Rory Sloane and fellow midfielder Matt Crouch while Jenkins (three goals and 18 disposals) and defender Tom Doedee (nine marks) were terrific.
Gray and Wingard were excellent for Port while defender Dan Houston stood tall, along with wingman Jared Polec.
The Power made the first key tactical move when it employed regular defender Darcy Byrne-Jones as a lockdown forward on Crows backline playmaker Rory Laird, who was averaging 33 disposals but was held to just 18.
Jasper Pittard was the surprise choice to stand pocket rocket Betts, with Tom Jonas given the job on Gibbs, who started in a forward pocket.
Brodie Smith - playing his first AFL game for 331 days following a knee reconstruction - began on the interchange bench before making his long-awaited entrance at the six-minute mark.
By that stage, Adelaide - kicking with the wind - was already two goals up after Jenkins outpointed Jack Hombsch to haul in a clever one-handed mark and Taylor Walker caught Polec holding the ball.
Walker, who spent the build-up to the Showdown dealing with questions about his future as Crows captain, was up and about early, leading well and laying strong tackles.
Smith made an instant impact, with his first disposal - a brilliant pick-up off the ground and clever handball to Rory Atkins - leading to a goal to Sloane as Adelaide jumped to a three-goal lead.
But Port quickly found its feet, using the ball better than it has for much of the year, and found a new cult hero when Kane Farrell made his presence felt.
Playing just his second game, the classy left-footer bagged three goals in 15 minutes as the Power came roaring back into the match.
A brilliant kick, he snapped two goals and ran into an open goal for another as Port tied the scores at quarter-time at 5.3 apiece.
The 10 goals for the term equalled the most in the first quarter of a Showdown, with both derbies in 2000 also producing 10.
Gray gave the Power its first lead early in the second quarter with two quickfire goals where he illustrated his brilliance, first goaling from a strong mark from 50m and then losing opponent Luke Brown to run into an open goal.
Wingard - the five-goal hero of the final Showdown at Football Park five years ago - followed Gray in showcasing his magic.
Straight after Sloane kicked his second major, Wingard burst from the centre circle and bounced his kick through the white uprights from 65m.
He then took two bounces and goaled on the run from 40m as Port grabbed a handy 15-point advantage, despite being smashed in inside 50s.
ADELAIDE 5.3 7.8 9.14 13.18 (96)
PORT ADELAIDE 5.3 9.5 10.9 14.9 (93)
BEST
Adelaide: B.Gibbs, R.Sloane, J.Jenkins, M.Crouch, T.Doedee, H.Greenwood, R.Atkins
Port Adelaide: R.Gray, C.Wingard, D.Houston, J.Polec, D.Byrne-Jones, T.Boak
GOALS
Adelaide: J.Jenkins 3, R.Sloane 2, H.Greenwood, J.Gallucci, T.Walker, E.Betts, T.Lynch, T.Doedee, L.Murphy, M.Crouch
Port Adelaide: R.Gray, C.Wingard 4, K.Farrell 3, T.Boak 2, D.Byrne-Jones
INJURIES
Adelaide: D.Talia (leg)
Port Adelaide: Nil
CROWD: 50,377 at Adelaide Oval.
UMPIRES: B. Rosebury, M. Nicholls, A. Mitchell.
VOTES
3. Bryce Gibbs (Adel)
2. Rory Sloane (Adel)
1. Robbie Gray (Port)
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