Eddie Betts magic seals victory for Adelaide in low-scoring contest against Fremantle

When the match needed a highlight, Eddie Betts stepped up and delivered with a brilliant, trademark snap to break Fremantle and send Adelaide into the top eight for the first time this season.

Eddie Betts sealed victory for the Crows. Picutre: Getty Images

Eddie Betts has done it again.

Arguably the greatest small forward to play the game finally broke a plucky Fremantle’s resistance at Adelaide Oval on Sunday as the Crows moved into the top eight for the first time this season.

With a tight match on the line in the final three minutes, Betts, who played his 300th game against Gold Coast two weeks ago, stepped up to the plate to kick a brilliant, trademark snap shot goal from the forward pocket at the southern end of Adelaide Oval to seal the deal and propel Adelaide to its first three-game winning streak in a year.

RUCCI: THREE IN A ROW FOR VALIANT CROWS

The win, which will see the Crows enter Showdown 46 against hometown rival Port Adelaide on Saturday above the Power on the ladder, followed earlier successes against Gold Coast and St Kilda after a troubled 1-3 start to the season.

Their previous three-game winning streak was from rounds five to seven last year against Sydney, Gold Coast and Carlton.

While Betts was the late hero, the 17-point win was inspired by a six-minute spell late in the third quarter.

After huffing and puffing against high-flying Fremantle for nearly three quarters in a tough, low-scoring affair, the Crows finally knocked the door down.

Eddie Betts celebrates his spectacular goal with Taylor Walker. Picture: AAP

After kicking just two goals in nearly three error-riddled quarters and after the teams had combined for just three first half goals, key forward Elliott Himmelberg — in just his fourth game — snapped truly from the goalsquare and when Lachlan Murphy capitalised on a 50m penalty and Brodie Smith kicked a trademark long bomb, the Crows had stolen a match-defining 19-point break.

There was some late drama as the Dockers refused to concede and they drew to within six points again in the final quarter.

But when defender Alex Keath kicked his first AFL goal in his 19th match and Betts popped up, Adelaide was home.

At 4-3, it is now ahead of the win-loss ledger for the first time this year.

Captain Taylor Walker emphasised the tough nature of this contest when he said it was one of the hardest, most energy-sapping matches he had been involved in.

But the Crows, while not at their best, got the job done.

LIFE OF REILLY

Crows ruckman Reilly O’Brien continues to make the most of his long-awaited opportunity.

In his fifth season on Adelaide’s list after being selected in the 2015 rookie draft, O’Brien played two AFL games at the end of 2016 and then had to wait until round three this year for another chance when ironman lead ruckman Sam Jacobs succumbed to a knee injury.

The 202cm, 23-year-old has filled in admirably for Jacobs since the veteran hit the deck but saved his best for Fremantle.

O’Brien had 22 disposals, including 13 contested possessions, and 44 hit-outs and won his battle with former Giant Rory Lobb.

He also took a team-high three contested marks.

Reilly O'Brien won 44 hit-outs against the Dockers. Picture: AAP

FAILURE TO LAUNCH

The second quarter was the equal-fifth lowest scoring second term in VFL-AFL history.

The Crows and Dockers combined for just three behinds — all kicked by Adelaide.

The least productive second quarter ever was the one behind scored between Melbourne and Carlton at the MCG in 1903, with the Demons managing the only score.

Adelaide kept Fremantle scoreless in the second stanza but still trailed by two points at the long break.

It had 16 inside 50s for the term while the Dockers had 10 but the only scores were behinds to Tom Lynch and Betts, who both hit the post, and Rory Atkins.

Himmelberg had a set shot after the halftime siren but sprayed his kick out of bounds.

The combined halftime score of 3.8 (26) was the second lowest in an AFL game played in Adelaide.

The lowest was the 1.18 (24) scored between the Crows and North Melbourne in round 18, 2004, at Football Park.

HEAVYWEIGHT CLASH

The Crows opted for the big-bodied Cam Ellis-Yolmen to go head-to-head with Fremantle captain and Brownlow medallist Nathan Fyfe and while he was able to match him physically, Fyfe was too good and clever in the clearance cauldron early.

He helped get the Dockers moving in the first quarter with five clearances and by halftime had motored to 21 touches, including 13 contested.

Fyfe finished with 32 touches, including 19 contested.

But Ellis-Yolmen, who performed strongly in a similar role against Kangaroos ball magnet Ben Cunnington in his first AFL game of the season in round four, certainly wasn’t disgraced.

He fought the game right out and finished with 33 disposals and five clearances, doing his job for coach Don Pyke.

Lachlan Murphy disposses Nat Fyfe with a bump. Picture: AAP

BACK TO THE FUTURE

The reincarnation of Bryce Gibbs continues.

Since being sensationally dropped from the Crows side for the round four clash against North Melbourne, the one-time midfield star has been recast as a half-back flanker in Pyke’s side.

Carlton’s 2006 No.1 draft pick played in defence when he was brought back into the AFL team against Gold Coast in round five following a one-week spell in the SANFL.

He missed last week’s clash against St Kilda with a virus and lined up on a half-back flank against the Dockers.

Pyke’s hand has partly been forced by a shoulder injury which has sidelined backline playmaker Wayne Milera but it is clear he sees the 30-year-old Gibbs’ best value now as a distributing defender.

He had 26 disposals in his return game against the Suns but followed with just 13 against Fremantle.

ADELAIDE 1.3 1.6 5.9 7.9 (51)

FREMANTLE 2.2 2.2 3.2 5.4 (34)

GOALS

Adelaide: Walker, Greenwood, Himmelberg, Betts, Keath, Murphy, Smith

Fremantle: Tucker 2, B. Hill, Taberner, Walters

BEST

Adelaide: O’Brien, Smith, Laird, Ellis-Yolmen, M. Crouch, Lynch, Sloane, Greenwood Fremantle: Ryan, Fyfe, Mundy, Pearce, Walters, Langdon

Umpires: C. Donlon, R. Findlay, B. Wallace

Crowd: 42,383 at Adelaide Oval

Andrew Capel’s votes: 3. Reilly O’Brien, 2. Luke Ryan, 1. Brodie Smith

Originally published as Eddie Betts magic seals victory for Adelaide in low-scoring contest against Fremantle