Crows step up as star Sloane goes down, record big win over Melbourne

RORY Sloane and Tom Lynch epitomised courage under fire against Melbourne as Adelaide found another way to win without its club champion in a stirring, debut, Darwin triumph.

RICHARD EARLE

3 min read

July 15, 2017 - 11:05PM

Taylor Walker celebrates one of his four goals against the Demons. Picture: Getty Images

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RORY Sloane and Tom Lynch epitomised courage under fire against Melbourne as Adelaide found another way to win without its club champion in a stirring, debut, Darwin triumph.

The key talking points from the sellout clash will be a third term concussion to Sloane which could see the vice-captain and Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield sidelined from next Friday’s heavyweight bout at Adelaide Oval.

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Adelaide captain Taylor Walker celebrates one of his four goals against the Demons. Picture: Getty Images

Key defender Jake Lever also finished the game with a heavily iced hamstring. Bernie Vince again quelled Sloane but a clash early in the second term with Richard Douglas attracted the wrath of former Adelaide teammates and the Demons tagger will face the Match Review Panel. Douglas’ head was over the ball when Vince made contact with an elbow.

Linkman Lynch (27 touches, three goals) made a remarkable return after missing two games with viral meningitis to boot crucial majors at the start and end of the final term after the Demons made a concerted charge. Skipper Taylor Walker’s two final term goals sealed the 46 point win and top spot for the Crows.

Lynch’s resumption from viral meningitis meant Adelaide coach Don Pyke was able to collectively unleash his imposing forward quartet for just the second time this season. Closing down Lynch, Taylor Walker, Josh Jenkins and Mitch McGovern was beyond a Melbourne defence deprived of shelter by a depleted midfield.

Brad Crouch had a mountain of it for the Crows. Picture: Getty Images

Rory Sloane struggled to shake Bernie Vince, before copping a head knock in a heavy tackle and taking no further part in the match. Picture: Getty Images

A concussion to Sloane and 70 metre after the siren long bomb from Jayden Hunt blew the game open with Adelaide holding a 22 point lead at the final change.

Adelaide had led by 45 points after Josh Jenkins opened the third stanza with an easy goal but a sling tackle from Dean Kent saw Sloane appearing to be knocked out on impact with the surface. Courageous Sloane had to be compelled by skipper Walker and club medicos to leave the ground. Sloane did not return while goals from Alex Neale-Bullen and Max Gawn ignited the Demons as Adelaide lost momentum.

Hunt’s third quarter knockout in round eight against the Crows had the catalyst for Melbourne’s surge and win and his Malcolm Blight-esque goal from threatened to unsettle the Crows.

Clayton Oliver was dynamic in Melbourne’s second half swamping of Adelaide two months ago impressive again last night and but this time there would be a reduced chop out without Nathan Jones, Jack Viney and Dom Tyson.

Vince had put time into Sloane with just eight touches but Matt (31 touches) and Brad Crouch (28) got off the chain and shared 26 contested possessions. The Crouch boys continue to silence the doubters while Rory Laird does no wrong in defence with 34 touches (14 contested).

A dazed Sloane had to be encouraged to leave the ground by teammates after copping a heavy knock. Picture: Getty Images

And he wasn’t the least bit happy about it. Picture: Getty Images

David MacKay had got the ball rolling for Adelaide after capitalising on a customary break from Charlie Cameron who had won three contested possessions in the first three minutes. It took seven inside 50s for Melbourne’s first goal with Hunt capitalising on a superb mark to find Jake Melksham on the lead. Adelaide won consecutive centre bounce clearances — not its strongest suit this season — to free Mitch McGovern and Walker for goals before MacKay conjured a second in heavy traffic. A confident MacKay streaming through the attacking 50 is a barometer for a potent Adelaide. Riley Knight, Walker with his second then Brad Crouch cashed in as Adelaide smashed Melbourne on the rebound with six straight goals and reward for its first quarter dominance and 46-37 contested possession superiority.

Melbourne had been jumped in the first term but goals from Dean Kent and Christian Petracca evoked memories of turning a 28-point deficit into a 41-point win at Adelaide Oval in round eight. Lynch slotted a goal to underline his amazing recovery while Mitch McGovern also pegged the Demons back.

Melksham did his best to spook the Crows, pick pocketing Jake Kelly then followed from long range with the Demons kicking four goals before Don Pyke’s men accelerated. Sam Jacobs added some polish to a cool display against Max Gawn with a walk in goal.

Eddie Betts had been blanketed by Neville Jetta before finally breaking free for Adelaide’s 11th. Melbourne had controlled vast passages of the second term, won clearances 12-10 but were outscored, paying for poor kicking efficiency.