Adelaide Crows’ finals hopes take another hit as West Coast Eagles hang on in Perth
He gave Adelaide a clear advantage in the first half, before tiring late. So will the Crows stick with veteran ruckman Sam Jacobs against Collingwood gun Brodie Grundy or recall protege Reilly O’Brien? Plus, re-cap every quarter.
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It was the return of the veteran ruckman — the fan favourite who’d spent most of this season sitting in the stands watching as his protege, Reilly O’Brien, more than proved his worth.
O’Brien had battled for 17 games and, in the process, won over the fans and earnt himself a two-year contract extension.
But for Sam “Sauce” Jacobs, despite not having played since Round 2 after injuring his knee and then having to prove his worth in the SANFL, finally his long-awaited recall came.
Playing his 199th game of AFL footy, Jacobs looked right at home in the big league early in the match, dominating the ruck battle against West Coast’s Tom Hickey on the Optus Stadium surface.
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The Crows — who were brave in their 10-point defeat — won the hitout 39-30 and, for the first time in three weeks, they also won the clearance battle, albeit narrowly, 35-34.
After losing clearances against St Kilda last weekend 42-31 and being smashed in that area by Carlton 52-29 the week before, finally the clearance work for Adelaide came together, thanks to the deft touch of Jacobs who is known for his tap accuracy.
As the second quarter was rapidly disappearing, the Crows were leading in the “hitout to advantage” count 10-3, and AFL online statisticians noted that 41 per cent of Jacobs’ 22 hit-outs had been to advantage, which was helping his midfielders win clearances.
By halftime, brothers Matt and Brad Crouch and Rory Sloane had recorded 15 clearances between them and were winning centre clearances 8-5.
Re-cap the quarter by quarter action below
As a result, the Crows began to have a clear advantage going forward.
But at the long break — and with Adelaide only a point down and winning the clearance count 24-17 — Mark Bickley, commentating on FIVEaa, wondered whether the 200cm Jacobs, who didn’t have AFL-level match fitness, could keep up his output.
And early in the third term, it seemed that question was being answered when Hickey upped his game and at one point had six hit-outs to Jacobs’ one.
After halftime the battle between Jacobs and Hickey became an arm wrestle that finished in a draw — with the latter narrowly winning the second-half hit-outs.
But Jacobs will be better for the run.
So where to now for O’Brien? After playing 17 games in 2019 and averaging 34 hit-outs a game (his highest number was back in Round 13 against Richmond when he had a mammoth 54), he’d still be in the mix for selection after a well-earned rest.
Particularly given that his worth this season has been in his follow-up work, his second efforts.
In last week’s win over St Kilda, O’Brien had 12 disposals, 31 hit-outs, laid seven tackles and had three clearances.
But Jacobs’ numbers were equally solid: 11 disposals, 37 hit-outs, six tackles and two clearances. So, did coach Don Pyke make the right call in dropping O’Brien? You’d have to say yes. But has Jacobs done enough to play his 200th game against Collingwood next week?
That call will come at match committee. But there’s a touch of irony about it all if Jacobs again steps in for O’Brien when Brodie Grundy — who has been the subject of intense speculation that he could be lured to West Lakes with a lucrative offer — comes to play in Adelaide for the first time in 2019.
Many footy lovers were looking forward to the Grundy versus O’Brien clash, but they may need to wait a bit longer to see those two go against each other.
FIRST TERM
West Coast 3.4 (22)
Adelaide 1.4 (10)
The Eagles kicked the first goal of the game, but it took 11 minutes of hard work to get it and it wasn’t for lack of the Crows trying either.
As Oscar Allen kicked the opener, the Crows had three kicks at goal — all that were gettable, including a set shot to Taylor Walker — but failed to find the middle of the big sticks.
Adelaide continued with its new possession-heavy game style as the Crows defenders were put under huge pressure, with West Coast winning the inside-50 count 21-6.
And the Eagles should have been further ahead at quarter time were it not for behinds to Dom Sheed and Jack Darling. A late goal to Darcy Fogarty — who marked the ball after being fed a beautiful kick from Rory Atkins — kept the Crows in touch. Liam Ryan scored an impressive goal after smothering a pass from Bryce Gibbs.
SECOND TERM
West Coast: 6.6 (42)
Adelaide: 6.5 (41)
Darcy Fogarty kicked his second goal early in the term after he broke a tackle 20m out just as Atkins threw a handball into space and he snapped beautifully.
The Eagles responded quickly through Jack Darling before Lachlan Murphy kicked truly on the run.
The goal of the quarter went to co-captain Taylor Walker who stabbed at a Brodie Smith clearing handball and it bounded along the ground for a goal. After this, Walker spent some time on the sidelines having his left leg looked at.
Adelaide’s defence continued to be put under pressure, and West Coast continued with their inside-50 dominance — going into half-time 37-21 in that department.
But after weeks of losing the clearance count — including the atrocious 52-29 clearance count against Carlton last month — the Crows are up in that count 24 to 17.
Two quick goals to Willie Rioli and Jake Waterman were answered with goals to Rory Sloane and another to Fogarty, and the Eagles are up by one point at half time.
Matt Crouch has 22 first-half disposals while Sloane has 18.
THIRD TERM
West Coast: 11.9 (75)
Adelaide: 8.5 (53)
After West Coast opened the quarter with a goal in the first minute to the dominating Darling (who then had three to his tally), the Eagles paid the price of captain Shannon Hurn “rushing” through a behind from a good 2m outside of the goal square and Walker slotted through his second.
But West Coast’s class began to shine and the likes of Andrew Gaff and Luke Shuey picked up touches at will. Their play kickstarted a string of four unanswered goals that was only broken when Fogarty booted his fourth goal of the day.
Sloane came off after copping a “friendly” elbow in the face from Matt Crouch. As he underwent a concussion test in the rooms, his presence on the field was dearly missed. And the Eagles go into three-quarter time 22 points up.
FOURTH TERM
West Coast: 13.12 (90)
Adelaide: 12.8 (80)
Five goals to youngster Fogarty — playing his second game of AFL football this year — was the highlight for the Crows as they bravely went down to West Coast by 10 points.
Crows midfielder Matt Crouch was dominant across the ground and ended with 43 disposals — eight more than anyone else on the field, and the closest was his brother Brad who collected 35 — and Eddie Betts kicked his 599th career goal, as the Eagles’ engine room dominated the game:
Jack Darling was just that for the West Coast and he booted three majors (as did Jake Waterman and Oscar Allen). The Eagles had a massive 63 inside-50s for their 50 points. Andrew Gaff and Luke Shuey had 29 disposals each.
A knock to Sloane’s right eye and cheek ended his day just as he was helping Adelaide to a win in the clearance count.
