Adelaide vs Richmond
The history books won’t record this game fondly, but Adelaide’s victory over Richmond by nine points, 9.9.63 to 7.12.54, kept its top four, and more importantly top six, ambitions alive.
It was one of Richmond’s most experienced players that made the fatal mistake.
With less than four minutes to go, Nick Vlasutin was trying to get the ball up the ground for the Tigers.
Needing a goal, Vlasutin hit the ball straight up the ground, but the kick was cut off from Zac Taylor, who from just inside the paint, put the Crows 10 points up.
It was written in the stars that the Tigers would cost themselves, with some ill discipline and poor decisions hurting Richmond across the night, as they needlessly gave away 50 metre penalties and struggled to execute with their skills.
Earlier, there were turnovers galore in a forgettable first quarter.
With goals to only Taylor Walker and Mykelti Lefau before the rain came, the game was played between the arcs as the Crows and the Tigers contributed one of the worst quarters so far this year.
The negatives were plenty, as players couldn’t execute basic skills, while there were some positives, the biggest being the Tigers’ number 10 in Taj Hotton.
With four disposals at the first break, the young playmaker had two score involvements, along with a nice step side as he showed Richmond fans what they have to look forward to for the coming years.
Lefau’s second goal was lovely, as he drove home a shot from where the boundary intercepted the 50 as the Tigers took a slim lead into the second quarter.
In the second, Adelaide started well with a lovely Isaac Cumming effort, before Brayden Cook put them a couple goals to the good.
The Crows were led by their captain Jordan Dawson who collected 12 disposals across the course of the stanza.
He capped off his quarter, with a fantastic goal that had the game at 16 points, as he threatened to almost single-handedly take the game away from the Tigers.
However, as more rain fell, conditions began to turn back toward the Tigers, Richmond were scrappy, but again it was Lefau who was involved in anything good as they took the lead again.
It was Richmond who started the second half better, led by Jack Ross, who had a massive quarter, as the visitors continued to have the momentum.
However, Callum Ah Chee turned to the miraculous to find the crowd its voice.
The rest of the quarter was nervy for both sets of fans, before Izak Rankine sent the City of Churches partying as he kicked a goal to drag the margin back to one point.
It was a huge quarter for Rankine, whose 10 disposals and three clearances turned the contest back for Adelaide.
With the fire lit, Ah Chee’s second goal had the Crows back in control as we turned for home.
The experience of Taylor Walker would draw Adelaide the first goal of the last, against Kye Annard, who played well for the Tigers, he drove the ball home as the Crows took a 10-point lead.
Annand was asked to hold the dangerous Walker quiet across the night, and despite conceding a couple of goals, the young Tiger was quickly getting on top.
He kept Walker honest as he started to intercept the football and get the Tigers moving forward.
A contest just outside the 50, Walker would mark the ball, and have the ball knocked away after he completed it, and would be marched 50 metres.
With the Crows pressing their case, Richmond hit back the other way, Hugo Ralphsmith as Tyler Sonsie kicked a bullet inside forward 50.
The see-sawing nature of the game continued, with both Jordan Dawson and Sam Lalor missing golden chances for their team.
However, the Crows class would just win out, as they survived a frightening shake on their home turf.
Crows: 1.3 4.5 7.7 7.12.45
Tigers: 2.2 4.4 6.9 9.9.63
Crows: Campbell 3, Lefau 2, Ralphsmith, Green
Tigers: Walker 2, Ah Chee 2, Taylor, Rankine, Dawson, Cumming, Cook
Best, (alphabetical order):
Crows: S. Berry, J. Dawson, I. Rankine
Tigers: M. Lefau, P. Retschko, J. Ross