AFL 2022: All the Adelaide Crows news and reaction after thrilling win against the Western Bulldogs
Billy Frampton was always a forward, but he was never able to find a consistent spot at the Crows or the Power. We take you inside his unlikely rise.
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To salvage his AFL career Billy Frampton had to go into unfamiliar territory.
All through his junior career, and since he was drafted by Port Adelaide with pick 84 in the 2014 Draft the 201cm tall Western Australian had always played as a forward – with a bit of pinch hitting in the ruck on the side.
But Frampton was never really able to find a consistent spot in the AFL in this role.
He played just three games for the Power across five seasons.
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When he crossed the divide and moved to West Lakes he only managed five games in which the Crows finished bottom of the ladder in 2020.
He kicked two goals in Adelaide’s shock Round 1 win over Geelong to start 2021, but did not register another major from his other seven games as a tall forward.
But in the last of these games, a mauling at the hands of Essendon in Round 17 at Marvel Stadium, a change was made that had paid big dividends for both the Crows and Frampton himself.
After Tom Doedee was substituted out of the game following a heavy collision, Frampton was shifted down back and showed enough to pique the curiosity of Matthew Nicks.
The next week Frampton, in the SANFL, had 31 disposals and 13 marks for the Crows and the seed was sown.
He played two more games for the Crows as a key defender in 2021 but found himself behind Nick Murray for Round 1 against Fremantle and Round 2 against Collingwood.
But in the wake of the heavy loss to the Pies, in which the Crows were poor in moving the ball out of defence, Frampton returned to the side.
Since then with Frampton’s poise with ball in hand, the Crows have only lost to Essendon – by less than a kick.
Against the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat, Frampton went at an incredible 89 per cent efficiency for his career-high 26 disposals, with 502 metres gained.
But he showed that wasn’t all he is as a key defender, with 10 intercepts and nine marks.
Adam Cooney and Kane Cornes both said it was the best game Frampton had ever played.
Nicks said it was part of an increased connection among the Crows backline, who had their best intercepting performance of the season by some margin against the Dogs.
“I think our whole backs group was outstanding,” Nicks said.
“They seemed to have their timing right and their positioning.
“I don’t want to take anything away from Bill’s games but it takes six or seven down there.”
Frampton himself told News Corp after the Crows impressive win over Richmond that he was enjoying the switch down back.
“I’m loving it there to be honest, it is a little bit easier there with a starting point and I can sort of create with my skills and that,” Frampton said.
“I love it, it’s a fair bit easier than playing forward and I have loved the transition.
“I’ve never played at all in defence in my life.
“So things like coming back to a body and having someone to put them away, learning that back craft has been challenging.
“But in terms of offensive and creating I’m a bit more natural. I think that’s the initial reason why I went there (to be a playmaker from defence) but I’m also a key so I have to defend well also.”
It’s taken longer than he would have liked, and in a completely different position to the one he grew up playing.
But Frampton has well and truly found a place at AFL level.
‘Exciting time’: Nicks says Crows rising at breathtaking speed
— Dylan Bolch
Adelaide Crows coach Matthew Nicks said that it is an “exciting time” for the football club in the wake of the Crows thrilling one-point over the Bulldogs in Ballarat.
Nicks ranks the past month as one of the most enjoyable of his coaching career, with the side having defeated Port Adelaide, Richmond and now the Western Bulldogs in quick succession.
“It would be up there [as my favourite], the last couple of weeks have been really enjoyable,” Nicks said. “The feeling of such pride in the group.”
It was a scrappy affair at Mars Stadium, with both sides inaccurate in front goal and failing to execute skills on numerous occasions.
“It turned into a fight, my word it was.”
“There were moments where it looked like it was getting away from us a tiny bit, but we answered and brought it back to where we wanted it.”
The Dogs threatened to get a real handle on the game early in the second quarter, but the young Crows showed incredible fight and spirit to remain in the contest.
“We try to stay positive on where the game is at. We didn’t panic, they are remarkably composed this young group.
“Considering their age and experience, or lack thereof.”
Taylor Walker was impressive in the clinches, booting three goals including the match winner, as he became the 61st member of the 500 career goals club.
“What a fantastic day for him,” Nicks said.
“An amazing effort and a credit to what he has done in a long period of time in the game.”
The sky is the limit for the Crows, who Nicks thinks he has a “finals brand” ready to challenge big sides.
“We are developing and developing fast. Our goal is to challenge as soon as possible,” Nicks said.
“We are confident we can take it up to anyone in this competition, but in saying that, we are still learning.”
The Crows take on the GWS Giants next Saturday at the Adelaide Oval in search of their fourth win of 2022.
Thilthorpe injury sours success
A knee injury to Riley Thilthorpe has soured Adelaide’s 25-point SANFL victory over Central Districts at Elizabeth Oval.
The key forward hobbled from the ground midway through the second quarter and did not play any further part in clash.
Despite re-emerging to the bench on crutches in the second half, Adelaide stand-in coach Nathan van Berlo said that he hoped the injury was on the minor end of the scale.
“He was quite uncomfortable at halftime, he had some soreness in his knee,” van Berlo said.
“We didn’t want to risk that in the second half, we will assess it in the coming days but hopefully there is not too much to it.”
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