Knock-outs to Doedee and Murphy put Crows through another tough Queensland trip

ADELAIDE was tested to the limit by the energetic Lions’ speed - and big hits to young players Tom Doedee and Lachlan Murphy in the third term - at the Gabba last night as the Crows advanced to a 9-8 win-loss record.

QUEENSLAND does test the Crows these days. Six months after that infamous pre-season camp on the Gold Coast, Adelaide found playing in Brisbane a demanding road trip again.

The Crows left the Gabba last night with a vital five-point win after their toughest work-out in six years against the Lions in Queensland.

This puts Adelaide in the positive with its win-loss count again (9-8) and still alive in the crowded race to September’s top-eight AFL finals.

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The Crows survived the test from the speed of the energetic Lions - and the brutal loss of young defender Tom Doedee and young forward Lachlan Murphy in the third term.

Key forward Mitch McGovern’s direct return to the AFL, after missing 10 weeks with an ankle injury, will generate much hindsight debate on the merit of judging players on the training track. He had no disposal in the first half, highlighting just how difficult it is to switch into match form after lengthy stints on the injury list. His first kick was in the third minute of the third term.

Allen Christensen of the Lions competes with Daniel Talia of the Crows. Picture: AAP Image/Jono Searle

What Adelaide did not get from McGovern at the goalfront was covered by Pyke working more creative rotations from the midfield, including Eddie Betts in the centre square rather than just the goalsquare. And this week it was midfielder Hugh Greenwood - after Bryce Gibbs road-tested the role against Geelong last week - being the threat when working inside-50.

Greenwood’s three-goal burst in three minutes, starting seven seconds before the quarter-time siren, proved the value of setting up an “unexpected” threat in an attack that seems primed to supply McGovern and fellow key forward Josh Jenkins.

Adelaide’s six-goal second term was built on the return of one key part of the Crows game when it was the AFL pacesetter last season - locking the ball in its forward half. The Crows probably should have scored more for its inside-50 dominance in this term.

Brisbane’s ambitious in-the-corridor play - built on the confidence of a three-game winning streak - tested Adelaide, just as Collingwood did in Round 4 at Adelaide Oval when the Magpies wanted to own the middle of the park. One critical difference between the Lions and Collingwood was the damaging turnovers when Brisbane made basic disposal errors in the eagerness to load up strong-marking forwards.

Lachlan Murphy of the Crows is helped by trainers last night. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Match review officer Michael Christian faces a telling moment when he assesses the illegal, head-high tackle from Brisbane forward Daniel McStay that forced Rising Star-contending defender Tom Doedee off the field early in the third term. Remarkably, there was no free kick for Doedee.

There also is Christian’s need to review the third-quarter crunch that left rookie-listed Crows forward Lachlan Murphy bloodied as he was sandwiched between two Lions in a marking contest.

Queensland is certainly a tough gig for the Crows these days.

FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED

1. MALCOLM Blight’s call for Crows coach Don Pyke to be more adventurous has been answered with Adelaide working its midfielders - in particular Bryce Gibbs and now Hugh Greenwood - in dangerous roles in attack. Greenwood’s unanswered sequence of three goals in three minutes at the end of the first term and start of the second were prime examples of the bonus in some creative thinking.

Adelaide’s Hugh Greenwood celebrates with Eddie Betts after kicking a goal at The Gabba. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

2. BRISBANE’S revival - with promising youth playing with ambition - is being built by coach Chris Fagan empowering his team with a bold playbook. The Lions were brave with their eagerness to work the centre corridor and too bold with their want to put pace on the game with their running game. With more maturity, these new-age Lions will be roaring in the AFL jungle again.

3. MITCH McGovern’s return to AFL football - after a two-month absence with an ankle injury - without a competitive game in the SANFL began with no possession in the first half as he played in attack. He did have one tackle in that half, but very little influence. Recalled to cover the loss of suspended captain Taylor Walker, McGovern finished with 0.2. The hindsight experts will ask if first-year forward Darcy Fogarty was better prepared for this game.

4. ADELAIDE’S clearance numbers - after being a record 27 behind Geelong last week - were less concerning last night as the Crows marginally lost this count 39-41.

5. ACTING Crows captain Rory Sloane has known some determined shadows in recent years. And there is an interesting new tagger in Brisbane’s ranks with Jarrod Berry carrying the energy to sit tightly on the All-Australian - and the eagerness to have his own influence on the scoreboard for the Lions.

Compiled by Michelangelo Rucci