AFL Round 5 Carlton v Adelaide: All the news, analysis and fallout as the Crows win a thriller

The Crows were under plenty of pressure heading into their clash with Carlton, and looked down and out late until it all changed for the better to grab their first win of 2024.

Dane Heverin

6 min read

April 14, 2024 - 8:29AM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA. April 13, 2024. AFL. Round 5. Carlton vs. Adelaide at Marvel Stadium. Josh Rachele hugs senior coach Matthew Nicks after tonightÃ•s win over Carlton. Pic: Michael Klein

AFL

Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.

“It’s amazing what one kick can do to a change room.”

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks’ message was clear: Sam Berry’s match winning goal in the dying minutes of their two-point triumph against Carlton was the spark his side needed.

The Crows showed an enormous amount of belief and composure to boot the final three goals of the game, overcome a tidal wave of Carlton momentum away from home and snatch victory in a match that included 15 lead changes.

The win was their first of the season and it came as a reward for effort after Nicks said that his side viewed last week’s loss to Melbourne as a “bridge” game where it rediscovered some of their mojo.

Sam Berry came on, kicked and won the game for the Crows in the final term. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

Saving Adelaide’s season in the process. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

“I think it shows how quickly it can change from where we were a couple of weeks ago,” Nicks said.

“It was a great game of footy. In the balance right the way through and we came out on top in the end. So really proud of the grit they showed because for a period there with about three minutes to go it didn’t look like that would be the ending.

“We dug deep and they got so many areas of our game right in those key moments – ability to score when they are just parking the bus and then our ability to hold on.

“It was a really good moment for our group. It’s nice to learn. It’s nicer to learn when you win. Our guys will take a lot out of this game.”

Stars Izak Rankine and Taylor Walker lit up Marvel Stadium as they dominated the contest forward of centre to boot three and four goals respectively.

The pair also combined for 19 score involvements with Rankine – who slotted the second last goal of the game – pushing higher up the ground at times and making a strong impact as the pair punished Carlton whenever their teammates won the ball back further afield.

“Izak we’re slowly getting a little bit more on ball time. Not a lot more than he’s been doing but as we get our game going a little more and our system starts to click, he will find himself involved in the game more,” Nicks said.

“Similar to Josh Rachele and if you talk about our most experienced player in Taylor Walker, we gave him that chance to be dominant. That comes off our ball use and also how we compete.

“I thought in centre bounce today at times we looked challenged but at times we got on top. A few were able to drive their legs out of there and give our forwards the chance to compete. Really pleasing, something we’ve been working on.”

Josh Rachele lifted against the Blues. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

Nicks believed the work of his defenders was just as pivotal as the likes of Rankine and Walker, however.

Intercepts proved to be an extremely beneficial scoring source for Adelaide and the work of the Crows’ tall defenders to take on Coleman medallist Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay and push through the pain of some heavy collisions drew high praise from their coach.

“I thought our backs did a fantastic job against a potent forward line. The ability to come off and help each other,” Nicks said.

“It was always going to be a tough night for our key defenders but I thought Jordan Butts – who ended up pushing through some soreness – stuck it out for us as well as Keane.

“That’s another step for us in the right direction. Probably a massive step forward for Mark Keane and his footy. For such an inexperienced player over from Ireland, he’s playing some high level footy at the moment.

“For those guys to hang in there for us, we know how important it was. For their teammates to come over and help as well, I thought Josh Worrell started that tonight and was really strong in our team defence.”

Adelaide return to the Adelaide Oval next week to face Essendon on Friday night.

Match report: Crows come from the clouds to save season

Adelaide is on the winner’s list for the first time this year with a snapped goal from substitute Sam Berry with under two minutes to go ending Carlton’s run of winning close games.

The Crows stormed home with the final three goals of the game after the Blues opened up a game-high 16-point lead in the last quarter to win in an arm wrestle – that included a whopping 15 lead changes – by two points

The returning Sam Walsh did his best to will the Blues over the line in his 100th game with the most disposals, tackles and metres gained and equal most clearances and centre clearances on the ground but star turns from Izak Rankine, Taylor Walker and Ben Keays, who combined for ten goals, ensured that Adelaide were not to be denied.

Izak Rankine celebrates a last quarter goal against the Blues. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

The Crows have proved to be a bogey side for the Blues by winning their last three contests and their superb accuracy in front of goal ensured that it continued.

Carlton led most of the major statistics, but their first loss of the season was courtesy of the Crows intercepting and slaughtering the Blues on the sprint towards goal.

Adelaide racked up 18 marks inside 50 to give themselves high quality looks at goal which underpinned their stunning accuracy – a far cry from its opening four matches this year.

The Blues on the other hand were wasteful in front of goal after half time and were on the other side of a touched decision controversy this week.

There was insufficient evidence to overturn the behind decision against Matt Owies in the third quarter when it was unclear whether or not the ball had been touched.

SAM BERRY THE SUPERSUB.#AFLBluesCrows pic.twitter.com/ahjI2zuHzr
— AFL (@AFL) April 13, 2024

Keays gives Carlton the Blues

Ben Keays loves playing against Carlton. The Crows’ vice-captain is not a renowned goal kicker but he has managed to split the big sticks three times on each of the last three occasions he has faced the Blues.

Keays has never kicked more than two goals in a game against any other side as he spends most of his time dedicated to limiting the influence of an opposition defender.

In their two most recent meetings at the Adelaide Oval, Keays negated Adam Saad – who was subbed off in the second quarter with a hamstring injury on Saturday – but this time around, he gave plenty of attention to former Crow Mitch McGovern.

Ben Keays booted three goals in the win. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos

Matt Crouch could be in trouble for this bump. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Crouch in trouble

Matt Crouch’s resurgence in the Adelaide line-up may take a hiatus as the midfielder could face scrutiny from the Match Review Officer for a high bump on Jack Carroll in the fourth quarter.

Carroll got lower going for the ball in dispute and Crouch turned his body to bump, hitting Carroll high as a result.

Carroll got up and played out the remainder of the game but in recent weeks a concussion diagnosis has not been a prerequisite for suspension.

Blues’ tall timber

Adam Cerra was withdrawn from the Carlton side prior to the game with a hamstring issue and was replaced by ruckman Marc Pittonet.

It was Pittonet’s first game for the year after the Blues had, instead, opted for Tom De Koning to shoulder the majority of the ruck load with Harry McKay pinch hitting.

Pittonet showed his worth with six clearances, but the addition of an extra tall hindered the Blues around the ground with the Crows’ run catching them out repeatedly on turnover.

The addition of a rotating ruck to the forward setup also stunted Charlie Curnow’s impact in last year’s elimination final against Sydney and the preliminary final loss to Brisbane.

This time around, Pittonet and De Koning spent little time inside forward 50 and the two-time reigning Coleman medallist had no such issues kicking four goals.

Sam Walsh tackles Jordan Dawson. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Harry McKay outmarks Josh Worrell. Picture: Michael Klein

Box office Blues

Carlton has a mouth-watering five weeks of footy ahead of themselves starting with a date with the undefeated Giants at Marvel Stadium next Saturday.

Following that blockbuster clash, the Blues take on Geelong (MCG), Collingwood (MCG), Melbourne (MCG) and Sydney (SCG) with each contest having the potential to be the match of the round.

The five week stretch will paint a clearer picture of the Blues’ September ambitions as Michael Voss’ side strive to become a more consistent home-and-away side and avoid a situation like last year where they had to storm home to make the finals.