Lachlan Murphy says Adelaide has highlighted wins against GWS and Richmond as crucial to season
Adelaide can go into the bye satisfied its season and premiership ambitions are back on track if it can beat undermanned Richmond at home on Thursday as its new high-pressure approach pays off.
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Lachlan Murphy personifies an Adelaide side living on the edge as it sets sights on Richmond to take control of its 2019 destiny.
Adelaide has pencilled the scalps of title contenders GWS and Richmond for an 8-5 win-loss record entering the bye that remedies a shocking first month and restores its premiership credentials.
A 21-point defeat of GWS on Saturday night armed Adelaide with momentum to take down undermanned Richmond on Thursday in consecutive home games.
“That is what we spoke about, the two games before the bye were going to be really important for us,” Murphy told The Advertiser.
“We haven’t been great at home so to come out in front of our home fans and win gives us a lot of confidence individually and as a collective that we can play some serious footy.”
Murphy, 20, responded to a disappointing showing in Adelaide’s late escape against Melbourne in Darwin with a super-charged night against GWS. Half-forward Murphy slotted a critical third term goal, had 11 contested possessions and five inside 50s.
Diminutive Murphy is hellbent on making every post a winner at West Lakes having been the first player drafted from Adelaide’s development squad and a former Crows shop sales assistant.
“I had a disappointing week last week so the emphasis for me was to train hard on the track and know my footy is good enough at this level,” said Murphy who has figured in every game this season for 13 goals.
“I am trying to bridge my good and no so good games so to come out after a poor performance was pleasing for me.”
“As long as the team is winning and I am doing my job I am a happy man.”
The ruthless omission of Bryce Gibbs had put pressure on those in Adelaide’s 22 against GWS to deliver.
“He is a quality player and played really well in the SANFL. Competition is a good thing for the footy club,” said Murphy.
Three decisive goals “showed the quality player Josh Jenkins is” noted Murphy. However, Adelaide will unleash a defensive game plan against Richmond contrasting with the attacking blueprint that failed in the 2017 grand final.
Adelaide changed to high pressure, dour tactics after one win across the opening four rounds.
“We know what creates winning for us so if we stick to that and everyone plays to their role hopefully that can lead us to the result,” said Murphy, while lauding the “physicality” and ground coverage in Reilly O’Brien’s game against GWS ruck counterpart Shane Mumford.
The Tigers have an extra 24 hours to recover from a 67-point loss against Geelong but the five-day turnaround won’t be an issue for Adelaide says Murphy.
“It is more recovery focused. We review the game quickly and move on. Less training the better. We set our sights on Richmond for Thursday night,” said Murphy.
“They are have been a top-notch footy side and we don’t take any team lightly in a competition as even as this year. We will definitely have to play our best to knock them off. If we play the way we did against GWS it should be enough to get over the line.”
Adelaide pinned GWS inside its defensive 50, restricting the rebound that saw Leon Cameron’s side prevail in two previous encounters. Adelaide’s forward pressure and watertight backline is reminiscent of Richmond’s 2017 model.
“To be able to come out and produce was a really good feeling,” said Murphy of Adelaide’s win against GWS.
“We knew they were going to keep coming so it was a great effort for us to be able hang in the fight and run over the top.”
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