AFL Round 22 Adelaide Crows v North Melbourne: Confidence training behind the rise of Riley Thilthorpe and Darcy Fogarty
Two young talls arrived at the Crows touted as stars of the future, and battled at times under the weight of external expectation. But a unique method has helped both thrive.
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Confidence-building exercises are proving instrumental to the emergence of Adelaide young guns Riley Thilthorpe and Darcy Fogarty.
In the past few months, Thilthorpe and Fogarty have been working with Melbourne-based Rob Walker on improving their self-belief.
The duo are undertaking a six-month course that includes repeating daily activities and they also chat via Zoom with Walker once a week.
Fogarty linked up with Walker earlier this season, before Thilthorpe followed.
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Thilthorpe told News Corp he was already seeing the benefits and it had been a big influence on his teammate’s strong form.
Before Saturday’s 29-point home win against North Melbourne, Fogarty ranked sixth in the AFL for goals since round 11 with 24.
The 22-year-old added four more majors against the Kangaroos, in a bullocking, straight-shooting performance.
Thilthorpe, 20, was also impressive on Saturday, kicking one goal from 10 disposals, flying for marks and toiling at ground level.
“I’d heard about Rob through Seedo (teammate Paul Seedsman), who went to him a couple of years ago and only said good things and Fog started going to him and said good things, so I thought I’d give it a crack,” Thilthorpe said.
“(Self-belief) is one area I really wanted to work on and (the course) has been amazing for me.
“It makes you walk a bit taller.
“I feel like I’m more confident on the ground, not dropping my head as much, really trying to believe in myself and know what I can do.
“(Previously) I let games and situations affect me.
“If I’d made a mistake I’d get really down and think about it a lot.
“Self-confidence has always been a big one for me and I’m so happy I’ve finally found someone I can really work on that with.”
The two forwards arrived at the Crows touted as stars of the future, having to cope with the weight of external expectation on high draft picks.
Thilthorpe is Adelaide’s highest in club history at pick 2 in 2020.
Fellow South Australian Fogarty was taken 12th in 2017.
Last year Thilthorpe kicked five goals on debut and finished the season with 18 majors from 14 matches, but he was dropped after the opening round this year.
He has responded by booting six goals and averaging 10.25 disposals from eight games.
A focus with Walker is on changing how he views himself.
Positive self-talk has become part of his routine.
“I’m trying to change my self-image, so it’s all through repetition,” said Thilthorpe, who was now about a quarter of the way through the course.
“I’m trying to be more confident and back myself in and I’m slowly getting there, which is good.
“I think it (self-belief training) is such an untapped thing and it’s really paying off.”
Thilthorpe being out of the AFL team for nine consecutive games after his omission raised eyebrows outside of West Lakes.
Adelaide is fielding a young side and rebuilding so why not give the talented youngster experience?
“Obviously it didn’t go how I’d wanted it to, I would’ve loved to have been playing but my footy just wasn’t there,” explained Thilthorpe, who also battled niggles and Covid earlier this year.
“Nicksy was really open and honest about that, so I knew where I was at.
“I had to get the body right … and I worked on my game a lot to be more persistent in the marking contests so I’m more consistent for everyone else.
“It’s so good to be back in the team and winning.”
Fogarty was also dropped earlier this campaign.
He had little influence during the opening three matches, booting a combined 2.3, before having a five-game SANFL spell.
Recalled for round 9, his first two matches back yielded zero goals and 15 disposals.
Then a bustling, gritty three-goal showing in the away loss to Geelong sparked his season.
His subsequent returns have been: 3.0, 2.0, 4.1, 1.1, 2.1, 2.0, 1.2, 2.1, 4.1, 4.1.
But he has been much more than a sharpshooter over the past two-and-a-half months.
Fogarty is playing with power, aggression, smarts and poise while running just as hard off the ball as he is to win it.
Fitness had been an issue before last season.
Then work-rate, finding more of the footy and competing aerially became areas he needed to improve to play well consistently.
His first three seasons yielded 26 goals from 24 AFL games.
In 2021, he improved, playing 17 matches and slotting 24 majors.
This past week, Fogarty was named in the AFL Players’ Association’s 40-man 22 Under 22 squad.
“He’s playing with so much confidence and he’s up and about,” Thilthorpe said.
“I knew he could do all this before but it’s so good to see him finally playing so great and getting rewards.
“He puts a lot of work in, especially on the mental side lately and it’s really paying off for him.
“I 100 per cent believe (the self-belief work) has had a massive impact on him.”
Fogarty has now booted 80 goals from 57 games.
It is worth noting that is more majors than champion forwards such as Geelong’s Tom Hawkins (77) and Jonathan Brown (57) after the same number of matches.
Crows coach Matthew Nicks said Fogarty was not only playing with confidence but his teammates were backing him.
“Put the ball in an area where we know he’s got some weapons and he just gets the job done,” Nicks said.
Thilthorpe is enjoying playing alongside Fogarty in what is becoming a dangerous forward line with veteran Taylor Walker, high-flying Shane McAdam and small forwards Ned McHenry and Lachlan Murphy.
But Thilthorpe may not spend the bulk of his career in attack.
The Crows are trying to increase his ruck time, giving him the chance to back-up Reilly O’Brien.
“It can be tough up forward because you’ve got defenders following you around all day so it’s good to get up the ground, get a touch and get some confidence that way,” he said.
Where does Thilthorpe see himself playing long-term?
“Hopefully inside mid, I don’t know,” he said with a laugh.
“We’ll have to wait and see but next year definitely forward and second ruck.”
Nicks did not know the answer either.
“I would’ve said two months ago I think Riley might be a ruckman,” he said.
“His best football has been up around the ruck, but that’s where he’s played a lot of junior footy.
“I thought today he was great in the contest ahead of the ball.
“He continues to develop as a target.
“He moves off ball like a 185cm player, he’s got amazing hands below his knees, so he brings a fair bit to the game.”
For someone who has had to be reined in a little by Adelaide’s high-performance staff for running too much and going “a bit too hard, too early” after being drafted, Thilthorpe’s body is feeling good, adding to his improved mental strength.
He is excited for the club’s final match of the season, next Saturday night’s Showdown.
“That’s obviously our focus now, it’s a massive game and we definitely want to win,” he said.
Nicks lauds Crows after final-term blitz
Adelaide’s finals chances might have been dashed long ago, but with one game left in the home-and-away season, coach Matthew Nicks believes the Crows are at last playing a style of football that will stand up in September.
The Crows were challenged by a fired-up North Melbourne outfit at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, but Nicks was thrilled with the way that his charges responded with a five-goals-to-nil final term setting up a 29-point win.
“We’re not playing finals this year, and we’re disappointed that we’re not, but we’re excited about the future and we’re developing well,” Nicks said.
“We’re playing a finals brand, we strongly believe that, so we’ll continue to play that way.”
There was a lot of chatter about the slow progress of Adelaide’s rebuild as Nicks’ struggling side racked up 10 losses from 12 games this season.
The coach has often been at pains to stress his team should be judged on the level of effort and style of play during this part of its redevelopment, but there’s no doubt Saturday’s win was significant.
The Crows recorded three wins in a row for just the second time under Nicks and surpassed last season’s tally of seven wins to improve to an 8-13 record.
“It’s a nice reward for where we’re at, but the more important part is the footy that we’ve been playing,” the coach said.
“That’s the bit that we look at.
“The most pleasing part is the consistency of our full squad across the year.
“There haven’t been results at times when we would’ve loved to have got across the line, there are games we’ve dropped this year that may have had us knocking (on finals).”
“But overall we’re looking to play a brand of footy that people will walk out afterwards and they’ve enjoyed watching that they’re satisfied with what the boys have put out on the park and we’ve done that a lot this year, especially in the past month.”
Jordan Dawson starred once again, while Darcy Fogarty continued his breakout season with another four-goal haul.
Nicks was particularly pleased with the contributions of younger players like Jake Soligo, Harry Schoenberg, Sam Berry and Josh Worrell.
On a sour note, Shane McAdam was subbed out of the game and looks likely to miss next week’s season-ending Showdown.
“We think that might be a hamstring (tear) for Shane and that’s really disappointing for him because his form has been so consistent and strong for us.
“We’re not 100 per cent sure but it seems like a hammy up pretty high.”
Wayne Milera was a late withdrawal with back soreness but Nicks is hopeful he will put his hand up to play against Port Adelaide.
Match report: Roos’ injury carnage as Crows given scare
Adelaide has seen off a ferocious challenge by a Ben Cunnington-inspired North Melbourne to make it three wins in a row with a hard-fought 29-point victory on Saturday.
Crows coach Matthew Nicks expected the Kangaroos would be fired up in Cunnington’s AFL return following his cancer battle, and with Luke Davies-Uniacke putting on a midfield masterclass, the visitors led by a point early in the final term at Adelaide Oval.
But a star turn from Jordan Dawson and four goals to Darcy Fogarty helped Adelaide put on a five-goals-to-nil last quarter that set up an entertaining 15.13 (103) to 10.14 (74) win.
The brave Roos kept coming but their cause wasn’t helped by a bad run of injuries.
Jack Ziebell (shoulder), Jaidyn Stephenson (back) and Jed Anderson (concussion) all left the game after half-time.
Anderson was clearly unsteady on his feet after copping a Nick Murray knee to the face, but briefly returned to the field in what is sure to be a talking point in the post-match review.
Davies-Uniacke was on track for 50 possessions after a stunning first-half display, and while he slowed in the second he was still the standout player on the ground with 37 disposals and 11 clearances.
AFL game No.228 will always be a special one for Cunnington, who was all smiles as he ran through the banner with his three kids.
In his first game since Round 19 last season, Cunnington finished with 17 touches.
Harry Schoenberg with the blind turn through traffic and the amazing goal!@cryptocom | #AFLCrowsNorthpic.twitter.com/WGoj0bn6ah
— AFL (@AFL) August 13, 2022
LACHIE’S LEG
Much was made of Adelaide’s good fortune when super boot Dawson was handed an injured Lachie Murphy’s free kick in the dying seconds of this season’s first Showdown.
Many believed Murphy didn’t have the leg to kick the after-the-siren winner as Dawson did, but the small forward took a set shot from roughly the same spot, perhaps even a slightly tougher angle, in the first quarter on Saturday.
From just inside 50m out near the boundary, Murphy’s laser-guided kick didn’t look like missing.
It was one of four first-quarter goals that saw the home side jump out to a 23-point lead.
LDU LIGHTS UP
The Crows led by 10 points at the first break, but Davies-Uniacke provided the spark for the visitors, who kicked four unanswered goals to take the lead early in the second term.
Taylor Walker booted his second to steady the ship, but rampant Roos slammed through the last three goals of the half to lead by eight points at the main break.
Ben Keays was hastily sent to do a tagging role on Davies-Uniacke, but he couldn’t curb the star Kangaroo, who had 24 possessions and a stunning seven centre clearances to half-time.
North could have been further in front given its centre square dominance and a lopsided 39-19 inside 50 count at half-time.
The Kangaroos had kicked eight of the last 11 goals when Davies-Uniacke strolled inside 50 and stroked home the first major of the second half.
LDU is unbelievable! #AFLCrowsNorthpic.twitter.com/bEOsMXa8TH
— AFL (@AFL) August 13, 2022
KANGAS CRUNCHED
Ziebell and Dawson showed tremendous courage to go hard and low at a loose ball two minutes into the third quarter, but the North skipper came off second-best in the bone-jarring collision.
Ziebell soon had his left arm in a sling, with former Crow Hugh Greenwood subbed into the match.
Stephenson followed suit soon after, with Anderson also ruled out.
With blood coming from a wound on his cheek, Anderson struggled to the bench after he was collected by Murray in a marking contest in the centre square, but was initially cleared to return to the match before sitting out the final term.
SCOREBOARD
CROWS 4.7 7.7 10.10 15.13 (103)
KANGAROOS 3.3 8.9 10.10 10.14 (74)
PHELAN’S BEST
CROWS: Dawson, Laird, Fogarty, Soligo, Schoenberg, Worrell.
KANGAROOS: Davies-Uniacke, Simpkin, Goldstein, Scott, Hall, Cunnington.
GOALS
CROWS: Fogarty 4, Walker 3, Rowe 2, McAdam 2, McHenry, Murphy, Thilthorpe, Schoenberg.
KANGAROOS: Zurhaar 2, Curtis 2, Ziebell 2, Larkey, Coleman-Jones, Davies-Uniacke, Goldstein.
INJURIES
CROWS: McAdam (hamstring), Milera (back – late withdrawal).
KANGAROOS: Ziebell (shoulder), Stephenson (back), Anderson (concussion).
UMPIRES Haussen, Tee, Fleer.
ADELAIDE OVAL
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
JASON PHELAN’S VOTES
3 Davies-Uniacke (NM)
2 Dawson (Adel)
1 Laird (Adel)
NICKS QUIZZED ABOUT CROWS’ JHF INTEREST
Matt Turner
Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks has steered clear of discussing the omission of South Australian young gun Jason Horne-Francis ahead of Saturday’s clash with North Melbourne.
Horne-Francis was surprisingly dropped for the match, when he would have had the chance to play in front of family and friends at Adelaide Oval for the first time since being taken at No. 1 in November’s national draft.
The South Adelaide product is contracted for next season and at this stage is said to be keen to honour his deal.
Both SA clubs have reportedly made inquiries this season about the future of the highly-touted 19-year-old, who is averaging 16.31 disposals and 3.6 clearances from 16 games.
Before last year’s draft, North Melbourne rejected Adelaide’s offer of pick 4 and two 2022 first-round selections for the opening call and a future second-rounder.
Asked what his reaction was when he saw Horne-Francis had been axed for Saturday’s game, Nicks said: “I say this every week, they’re ins and outs, so no different”.
The coach did reiterate that the club targeted South Australian players and was always looking to improve its squad.
“We’ll continue to work on our list management strategies, (but) we don’t take any notice of what the team we’re playing this week are doing,” he said.
“We look at the ins that come in because that’s what we’re coming up against.”
The Crows have made two changes for the game, recalling forward Riley Thilthorpe and defender Tom Doedee, while losing backman Will Hamill (concussion) and spearhead Elliott Himmelberg (omitted).
Nicks said Hamill’s concussion history was concerning but he had recovered really well since sustaining his sixth one in his 38th AFL game last weekend.
He said the club would take no risks with him as it kept working with him and his family.
“At the moment for him it’s more frustration for Will,” he said.
“The weekend was one of those incidents where it’s pretty hard for him to avoid that, the way he plays his footy (and) puts his body on the line for his teammates.
“But he’s in great spirits, feels fantastic, no headaches and so on.”
Hamill spoke with youthful exuberance earlier this year when asked about concussion and his playing future, saying his life would be boring if he retired now.
Nicks said he did not know when the point was that the club and Hamill reconsidered his career.
“Our priority is Will’s welfare so any decision we make or he makes with our support is about welfare,” he said.
Adelaide is on a two-game winning streak and is five victories clear of bottom-placed North Melbourne.
Nicks expected the Kangaroos would be motivated by the return of star veteran Ben Cunnington in his AFL return from treatment for testicular cancer.
“What an incredible effort and inspiration for them,” he said.
Roos explain No. 1 pick’s shock axing as Port circles
- Jon Ralph
North Melbourne admits there is a “risk” in dropping No. 1 pick Jason Horne-Francis given the go-home factor and strong Port Adelaide interest in the former South Australian.
The Roos have demoted Horne-Francis to the VFL with development coach Brent Harvey saying on Friday he needed to get his Monday-to-Friday routine to a higher standard.
He said the decision to drop him was a combination of factors including his form, his adherence to structures on game-day and the heightened professionalism demanded by caretaker Leigh Adams.
Harvey told RSN Radio Horne-Francis was a competitive “beast” on field who was still developing elite habits, with the Roos aware of the speculation around dropping him.
“The risk is there, we know the risk, everyone knows the risk,” Harvey said.
“If you draft and they are from Adelaide or Perth the go-home factor will always be there. “But you can’t get held to ransom for these little things. You have to make sure your culture is No. 1 and that is what our coach is doing and I absolutely love it.”
Horne-Francis is contracted for next year after the Roos knocked back significant draft offers to secure him including Adelaide’s pick 4 and two future first-rounders for pick 1 and a future second-round pick.
Port Adelaide has made regular inquiries to Horne-Francis’ management about his future but at this stage he is keen to honour his 2023 contract.
They have received no inclination that position will change ahead of the trade period, despite the obvious link with his stepfather Fabian Francis a former Port Adelaide player.
The Roos are hopeful Alastair Clarkson might accept their offer of coaching the club as early as next week, and he would surely knock back any offer for the No. 1 draft pick.
But Horne-Francis, who put contract talks on hold earlier this year, has not settled as much as the club might have hoped amid a turbulent first season.
Harvey said the club had to be faithful to selection integrity as it taught Horne-Francis elite habits.
“There is some stuff we call Monday to Friday. It’s preparation stuff where you need to tick the boxes. This is not just about Jason, this is about everyone at a football club
Leigh Adams has very good standards and I have to be a little careful but we have got players not in our team and I will name one in Kayne Turner who would run through brick walls for every single one of his teammates and supporters and he does everything right.
“You would want to be doing everything right to make sure you‘re holding up your end of the bargain. We call that Monday to Friday. And if you haven’t got your Monday to Friday in order, that’s not good enough right now.
“Was it good enough in rounds 3-5. Maybe, but with Leigh Adams in charge the standards have gone to another level and players have to play their part. So Monday to Friday is just as important as performing on game day for us.”
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