Adelaide Crows march into the bye at 8-5 and with a new-look but chasing the same goal

Don Pyke has reinvented the Crows in the space of 12 weeks and, at 8-5 going into the bye, the question is — how far can they go? Plus; recap with quarter-by-quarter updates.

• Match centre: All the stats and SuperCoach scores
• Match report: Injury-hit Crows climb into top four

Adelaide is marching into the mid-season bye at 8-5 and in a commanding position to play finals which begs the question — just what is this team capable of?

In the past three weeks the Crows have beaten Melbourne, GWS and Richmond — three teams that made the semi or preliminary finals last year.

They’re three notable scalps irrespective of injuries or form, but perhaps the better guage will come in a fortnight when after the bye Adelaide plays Geelong who at 11-1 are seen as the premiership favourites.

But the Crows are in the hunt, David King and Malcolm Blight are on board, and coach Don Pyke is being praised for leading his side out of an early-season haze when at 1-3 things could have gone either way.

“He was a one-trick pony — wasn’t able to change the game plan — but we’ve got to give him a tick,” Garry Lyon said on Fox Footy on Thursday night.

“He’s getting this right at the right time.”

It’s hard to argue with Pyke’s timing — like his call to drop Josh Jenkins who’d kicked four goals in four games to open the year.

Jenkins returned six weeks later and has kicked 9.8 in his past three and looked a completely different player. Cruelly, Crows fans are now holding their breath for good news on his knee/leg after he was stretchered off in the final minute last night.

Adelaide’s gritty win over the undermanned Tigers had glimpses of everything that’s turned their fortunes around, and they’ve got a new-look about them. So much so that their SANFL side on Saturday has 1020 AFL games’ experience in it.

So how have they done it?

Josh Jenkins of the Adelaide Crows lies injured at the end of the game on Thursday night. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

THEY’VE found a ruckman. Reilly O’Brien had not played an AFL game since 2016 when he came in for Sam Jacobs in Round 3 and he’s been exceptional. He had 54 hit-outs and 19 disposals at 90 per cent efficiency last night.

BRODIE Smith missed almost the entire 2018 season with a knee reconstruction has returned with his game-breaking run off half-back, such as that which led to Rory Sloane’s final quarter goal last night.

SLOANE only played 12 games last year due to a foot injury but hasn’t missed in 13 this season and has relished his role as co-captain.

HIS partner in crime Taylor Walker, who only played 14 last year, is back to his best. He is running at the footy, taking pack marks and hitting the scoreboard.

Adelaide’s Brad Crouch under pressure from Richmond’s Bachar Houli. Picture: Sarah Reed

BRAD Crouch didn’t play at all in 2018 but has been their prime mover this season. Last night he had a career-high 43 disposals against the Tigers.

ALEX Keath has gone from fringe defender to probably top three in their best-and-fairest. Last night Wayne Carey described him as the most improved player in the competition this year.

CAM Ellis-Yolmen who has been in-and-out of Adelaide’s side more than anyone over the past five years has cemented himself as a big-bodied midfielder and now with ball-use to match.

With minimal injuries (before this round at least), constant pressure on selection and an 8-5 start, a top four finish should now be where the bar is set and from there as Pyke has shown, it's all about timing.

QUARTER-BY-QUARTER UPDATES

FIRST QUARTER

What a Chol! 🙌

Late in, no worries!

Follow #AFLCrowsTigers live in the Macca’s Match Centre: https://t.co/M2PG0ErYqh pic.twitter.com/DHpAr1exu1

— AFL (@AFL) June 13, 2019

Adelaide 1.1 (7)

Richmond 3.2 (20)

Adelaide went in as the red-hot favourites but crumbled under Richmond’s early pressure to trail by 13 points at quarter-time.

A goal to Josh Jenkins just before the break got the Crows on the board after the Tigers kicked the first three through Maboir Chol, Tom Lynch and Dustin Martin.

There is also a major injury concern surrounding small forward Lachlan Murphy who left the ground mid-way through the term after appearing to lose his front teeth in a friendly-fire collision with teammate Taylor Walker.

Adelaide gave its opponents far too much space with the footy and made uncharacteristic errors with it — such as Luke Brown missing an easy handball, Wayne Milera a straightforward kick and Brodie Smith being caught holding the ball.

SECOND QUARTER

Adelaide 3.7 (25)

Richmond 5.6 (36)

Lachie Murphy will take no further part in tonight's match #weflyasone

— Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) June 13, 2019

Richmond is making Adelaide pay for its inaccuracy by taking an 11-point lead into half-time at Adelaide Oval.

The Crows kicked consecutive goals to open the second term through Rory Sloane and Eddie Betts but they weren’t able to capitalise on winning more of the footy and inside 50s by +14.

A goal at the 21 minute mark to Dan Butler helped the Tigers maintain their advantage with the Crows kicking a wasteful 3.7 including Josh Jenkins missing a sitter from 15m out and Taylor Walker registering 0.3.

Brad Crouch has been everywhere for 24 disposals and seven clearances which explains Adelaide’s midfield dominance, but they must put it on the scoreboard in the second half to avoid a horror loss at home.

THIRD QUARTER

The former basketball player hits them with the Ginobili euro-step 🇪🇺

Greenwood extends the Crows lead! #AFLCrowsTigers pic.twitter.com/DIPfcXe5E1

— AFL (@AFL) June 13, 2019

Adelaide 10.10 (70)

Richmond 8.9 (57)

The Crows seized control of the game in the third term and have done everything but land the knockout blow.

Big goals from Josh Jenkins, Hugh Greenwood and Taylor Walker — who finally got reward for hitting packs and taking contested marks — has put the home side up by 13 points at the final break.

Two late goals to Dustin Martin and Daniel Rioli has however kept the undermanned Tigers in with a sniff as they attempt to pull off a miracle.

The Crows also lost Daniel Talia for 10 minutes in the third term with a suspected quad injury which allowed Tom Lynch more space to work in.

FOURTH QUARTER

Adelaide 15.11 (101)

Richmond 9.14 (68)

Josh Jenkins had to be stretchered off the ground after the siren due to this incident. #AFLCrows Tigers pic.twitter.com/4ndt11dnuS

— AFL (@AFL) June 13, 2019

Adelaide has romped to a 33-point win over Richmond with a final-quarter blitz finally cracking the game open.

Josh Jenkins continued his stunning return to form since coming back into the side to finish with four goals but his night ended with him lying on the ground clutching his right leg. Jenkins took a mid-air swing at the ball in the final 30 seconds and was in instant pain in the hands of the trainers before being stretchered off.

Taylor Walker added three goals but none had the shine of Eddie Betts who slotted another miracle from his scoreboard pocket which drew a high-five from even his opponent in Sydney Stack.

Game recognise game.

Sydney Stack shows his appreciation for Eddie's brilliance! #AFLCrowsTigers pic.twitter.com/nVWOdOdWho

— AFL (@AFL) June 13, 2019

ADELAIDE V RICHMOND

Adelaide Oval, 7.20pm, Thursday

Weather: A few showers, max 17C

TV: Channel 7, Fox Footy

RADIO: FIVEaa, TripleM, ABC

LIVE STREAM: Kayosports.com.au

CROWS

B: Keath, Talia, Brown

HB: Kelly, Hartigan, Laird

C: Smith, Greenwood, Milera

HF: Sloane, Walker, Gallucci

F: Betts, Jenkins, Murphy

Foll: O’Brien, B Crouch, M Crouch

I/C: Seedsman, Atkins, Douglas, Ellis-Yolmen

No change

TIGERS

B: Garthwaite, Vlastuin, Grimes

HB: Balta, Broad, Houli

C: McIntosh, Prestia, Ellis

HF: Rioli, Castagna, Butler

F: Baker, Martin, Lynch

Foll: Chol, Graham, Caddy

I/C: Stack, Higgins, Menadue, Naish

Emg: Maverick Weller, Derek Eggmolese-Smith, Shai Bolton

In: Brandon Ellis, Nathan Broad, Connor Menadue, Mabor Chol

Out: Trent Cotchin (hamstring soreness), Shane Edwards (hamstring tendinitis), Jacob Townsend (omitted), Ivan Soldo (ill).