After a quiet first half, Don Pyke shifted Bryce Gibbs onto Clayton Oliver in a match-changing move

At half time the Demons were in charge and Clayton Oliver was running amok. Then Crows coach Don Pyke made a crucial move that turned the tide of the match.

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For a player who has been out of favour and scorned for his lack of defensive work, Bryce Gibbs was one who proved a point in the Crows’ stunning steal of a match against Melbourne in Darwin.

And Josh Jenkins, the other one who had been in the selection panel’s bad books, had enough moments to suggest he, too stays in the side after some magic moments.

Gibbs, a former Carlton champion, started with a bit of energy but didn’t have much influence in the first half as the Demons had more of the ball and cut through the crows through the centre corridor of the ground.

But it was what Gibbs did in the third quarter that caught the eye, because his stopping work on Clayton Oliver was from the top drawer.

Clayton Oliver of the Demons celebrates after kicking a goal in DarwinPicture:Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Oliver had been one of the Demons’ standouts with 16 disposals in the second quarter; Gibbs held him to just a couple in the third.

It’s not the sort of role in which Gibbs has made his name, but it adds not only to his game but also the Crows’ arsenal.

The club will need every ounce from its midfielders over the next few weeks with co-captain Rory Sloane hurting his hamstring in the second quarter.

But there are some blue skies ahead.

Sam Jacobs is expected back next week and he would have been handy against Max Gawn, because as manfully as Reilly O’Brien battled against the dual All Australian Gawn had much more influence around the ground.

The Crows selection money earned its money this week.

Josh Jenkins finished with two goals and 16 disposals but typically, he was at his best late in the game — when it was decided this week.

Rory Sloane of the Crows, with his hamstring on ice, sits on the bench next to Eddie Betts. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

When Jenkins handballed to Lynch to bring the Crows within three points it summed up the value of work rate.

Lynch was one of the Crows’ best players on the night and he gets to more contests than most in a game of football.

Jenkins’ ability to outrun his opponents is often overlooked — the reason he tends to get goals out the back is because he’s left his opponents out of puff half way up the ground.

On a warm night with slippery conditions tall men who can run — like Jenkins and Lynch — are worth as much as a cool drink in the outback.

Others stood out.

Eddie Betts was outstanding in the final minutes and summed it up when a mike was put to him on the ground after the game.

Eddie Betts of the Crows takes a shot at goal at TIO Stadium in Darwin. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Peled

“You just want the ball in your hands,” is how he summed up the crucial last few minutes.

That’s exactly what he played like.

Brad Crouch played a fine game and it is heartening to see a player who have been so many long injuries finally have a decent run at it.

When he first suffered his groin injury that derailed his season last year he said with a wry smile, “If I was a racehorse they would have shot me by now.”

In Darwin on Saturday night he was storming down the Flemington straight.

But it was the three who returned — Gibbs, Jenkins and Lynch — who stood out in making the Crows look like a more mature and balanced side than the one that had narrowly lost the previous two weeks.

QUARTER-BY-QUARTER UPDATES

FIRST QUARTER

Demons 6.3 (39)

Crows 4.0 (24)

Persistance pays off for James Harmes!#AFLDeesCrows pic.twitter.com/GVeab5pipA

— AFL (@AFL) June 1, 2019

Melbourne started better with the first two goals but after that the teams went goal for goal for most of the quarter. Demons ruckman Max Gawn gave great service to his onballers and both sides moved the ball quickly — often from end to end.

Eddie Betts kicked a peach of a goal before leaving the field for treatment and Tom Lynch, returning from injury, served as an important linkman for Adelaide. James Harmes was busy for the Demons and Rory Laird for the Crows.

SECOND QUARTER

Demons 9.4 (58)

Crows 5.3 (33)

Gooch hears the calls and puts through a very important snag 🎧 #weflyasone pic.twitter.com/o5FCm4xT0p

— Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) June 1, 2019

Melbourne kept owning the centre corridor of the ground while the Crows had to take the long route on the way to goals.

The Demons were ahead in disposals, clearances and contested ball and what was worse for the Crows, co-captain Rory Sloane came off with what looked like a hamstring injury and was put on ice as Betts also continued to have work on a tight hamstring. Tom Lynch was one of the Crows’ most prominent.

THIRD QUARTER

Demons 11.8 (74)

Crows 9.4 (58)

Rory Sloane did not return after injuring his hamstring in the second quarter. #AFLDeesCrows pic.twitter.com/OigSwrAyUZ

— AFL (@AFL) June 1, 2019

Goals from Brad Crouch, Taylor Walker and Tom Lynch — who was a standout for the Crows with more than 10 marks by three-quarter time — kept the Crows in it but it always looked like Melbourne was on top.

Marks inside 50 and inside-50s overall was the greatest illustration of the game; the ball was mainly in the Demons’ attacking half and players such as Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver had the ball on a string.

FOURTH QUARTER

Demons 12.16 (88)

Crows 14.6 (90)

Who else?

Eddie.#AFLDeesCrows pic.twitter.com/mUA4Sm3OSo

— AFL (@AFL) June 1, 2019

A stunning comeback sealed it for Adelaide, which kicked five goals to Melbourne’s miserable 1.8 for a win in which they only took the lead with minutes to go.

Eddie Betts was outstanding in the most crucial moments but others, such as Hugh Greenwood and Brad Crouch, held their nerve when it mattered most.

It was a matter of one side making the most of its chances and one not.

Definitely the sweetest sound in the world! 🔊😍 #weflyasone pic.twitter.com/7tspggyH7O

— Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) June 1, 2019

MELBOURNE V ADELAIDE

TIO STADIUM (DARWIN)

SATURDAY 7.10PM

WEATHER: Fine, max 31C

TV: Fox Footy, Channel 7

RADIO: TripleM, FIVEaa, ABC891

LIVE STREAM: Kayosports.com.au

DEMONS

B: Hibberd, Frost, Wagner

HB: Kennedy-Harris, O. McDonald, Hunt

C: Brayshaw, Viney, Baker

HF: Jones, T. McDonald, Petracca

F: Garlett, Smith, Harmes

Followers: Gawn, Hannan, Oliver

Interchange: Weideman, Spargo, Stretch, Fritsch

Emergencies: Jordon, Wagner

IN: Hibberd, Hannan, Salem, Kennedy-Harris, Weideman

OUT: Lockhart, Petty, Wagner, Hore, Salem

CROWS

B: Brown, Talia, Mackay

HB: Smith, Keath, Laird

C: Milera, B. Crouch, Atkins

HF: Seedsman, Walker, Lynch

F: Murphy, Jenkins, Betts

Followers: O’Brien, Gibbs, Sloane

Interchange: Greenwood, Gallucci, Kelly, Ellis-Yolmen

Emergencies: Knight, Jones, Himmelberg

IN: Lynch, Jenkins, Gibbs, Mackay

OUT: Knight, Himmelberg, Jones, Hartigan