Hugh Greenwood says Adelaide can snap its second funk of the season against Melbourne
Hugh Greenwood says Adelaide can climb out of another pickle despite a ‘bitterly disappointing’ defeat against West Coast that jeopardises its top eight status.
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Hugh Greenwood says Adelaide can climb out of another pickle despite a ‘bitterly disappointing’ defeat against West Coast that jeopardises its top eight status.
Adelaide has followed a run of four wins by narrow failures against Brisbane and the Eagles that leaves it vulnerable with a 5-5 win-loss record.
Adelaide endured a 1-3 start to the season but must respond against tougher opposition than Gold Coast, St Kilda, Fremantle and a depleted Port Adelaide represented.
A trip to the Top End against enigma Melbourne then GWS and Richmond at home precede the bye.
“We dug ourselves out of a hole to start the year and unfortunately we have dropped the last two but know we can dig ourselves out again,” Greenwood told The Advertiser.
“You can’t afford to have an off night in the competition at the moment, everything is so tight and everyone is so good.
“We know how poor the start to the year was and then we played some really good footy and just been slightly off in the last two.
“That is how even the competition is. We have Melbourne in the NT. It doesn’t get any easier going into the bye.”
Wayne Milera’s second quarter goals on Jeremy McGovern and third in the final term salvaged the lead but Adelaide wasn’t efficient enough to cash in.
“To come in and pick up the forward role super natural is awesome for him. It was great to have him out there. He was the difference in the first half and almost the game,” said Greenwood of Milera who suffered a dislocated shoulder in Round 5 against the Suns.
“It is a credit to him, he has been out for weeks and worked with the backline all off-season and last year.”
Adelaide led West Coast by 33 points in the third term but Luke Shuey and Dom Sheed split 21 clearances to prove the difference with three-goal spearhead Josh Kennedy.
Adelaide believes in the revised, defensive game-plan that has made it a tough nut to crack since the Round 4 capitulation against North Melbourne that started Josh Jenkins’ banishment.
“We are right around the mark. Our brand of footy has changed a little bit from this free flowing stuff. It starts with our pressure that won us four in a row and got us close last week. We know our best footy is good enough,” said Greenwood.
West Coast booted six goals from clearances after half time. The premier’s fourth centre clearance of the last term provided Jack Darling’s sealer.
Greenwood relished a return to the engine room with supreme Cam Ellis-Yolmen — sharing 34 contested possessions — but lamented West Coast’s late charge.
“I though Curly was great, set the scene for the day. I feel like our midfield for the most part was super strong all day and their midfield got a couple in critical moments that let us down,” said Greenwood.
Rookie Elliott Himmelberg’s goalless display should afford Josh Jenkins a recall while Bryce Gibbs would bolster Adelaide against a deep Demons midfield rotation.
“We know the sort of player JJ is when and if he comes back. It was disappointing for Bryce to be dropped but we know what he brings as well,” said Greenwood.
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