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Crows lead ruckman Sam Jacobs watched the game turn - rather than crash - in the third term

CROWS ruckman Sam Jacobs feels Adelaide has rediscovered its best football when most challenged by West Coast at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

Sam Jacobs of the Crows celebrates after kicking a goal against West Coast.
Sam Jacobs of the Crows celebrates after kicking a goal against West Coast.

ADELAIDE has rediscovered the football that makes it a winner.

And Crows lead ruckman Sam Jacobs says the pieces came back together when Adelaide was in its biggest hole - at least on the scoreboard - by falling almost five goals behind West Coast in time-on of the third quarter at Adelaide Oval last night.

“We were pretty confident in the third term,” said Jacobs contradicting the image left by the Eagles’ third-quarter dominance that was wiped out by Adelaide’s six-goal last term on the back of captain Taylor Walker’s firepower.

“Even though the scoreboard did not show it, we were actually playing the way we wanted to. Our contested ball, our tackling, our clearances were pretty good as indicators. The difference was West Coast was scoring the goals (five in the third term) to put the pressure on us.”

Adelaide’s 10-point win puts the Crows win-loss count square at 7-7.

Sam Jacobs of the Crows competes with Scott Lycett of the Eagles.
Sam Jacobs of the Crows competes with Scott Lycett of the Eagles.

The last-quarter blitz against the AFL’s second-ranked team was built on the confidence the Adelaide players found in watching their definitive Crows style revived.

“It came from knowing we were playing the right way,” Jacobs said. “Compare that to Hawthorn (at the MCG) two weeks ago - we were getting smashed in those key areas we value and the Hawks the scoreboard.

“But if you are still able to play your game - as you want to play it - the reward will come. It had to turn. When we took the game on in the last term, we were able to score pretty well.”

That scoring surge was sparked by Walker’s three goals from time-on in the third term to putting Adelaide level nine minutes in the last quarter.

“He was fantastic,” Jacobs said of Walker. “All the leaders were all fantastic. It is amazing how different it is when you can share the load. Everyone gets back to playing their roles - and effectively.”

Jacobs’ critical battle with West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanui was a turning point for the Crows ruckman after pushing through the injury barrier before the mid-season bye.

“I needed the break,” Jacobs said. “After 13 straight games, I definitely needed it. The grouped needed it as well to refresh and get some good training in. We also assessed where we are at and found some new perspective which helped us play as we did tonight.”

Adelaide’s equation to reach September’s top-eight finals for the fourth consecutive season is still needing six wins from the remaining eight home-and-away games to be sure of staying in the premiership race.

“We just have to keep controlling what we can at the moment,” Jacobs said. “We’re still very optimistic we can get something out of our season. We see ourselves as one the top teams, even if we are not playing like that.

“But we feel once we can get our game going we should get something out of our year.”

Adelaide returns to the MCG on Friday to face its grand final conqueror, Richmond, for the second time this season after beating the Tigers in the first rematch at Adelaide Oval.

“The hysteria of the grand final has been done,” Jacobs said. “But it is now what each individual wants to get out of the game. For me it is another fantastic opportunity to show what we can do at the MCG.”

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/teams/adelaide/crows-lead-ruckman-sam-jacobs-watched-the-game-turn-rather-than-crash-in-the-third-term/news-story/4b2c4155772f2d7c8a780459b25c2168