Australian Football

Match Report

Next up for the Saturday arvo we head back up Main North Road towards the inner northern suburbs and into the Prospect Oval where the Roosters faced the Crows. The Roosters won on both occasions last season, with a 40-point win in Round 9 and a nine-goal victory in Round 15 at Prospect. These two sides would come into this encounter with victories from their respective season openers, with the Roosters spoiling the Eagles' flag raising by 22 points and the Crows smashing the Magpies by 62 points at Adelaide Oval. In the lead-up to this game, much like what happened to the Panthers and Bulldogs last week, the Roosters would have to do without coach Jacob Surjan thanks to COVID protocols, as well as losing six players to injury. The Crows had no such issues and despite missing a few chances, would be up by almost four goals at quarter-time. 

The Roosters' goal-kicking left much to be desired, kicking 1.5 to Adelaide's 5.4 as the visitors led by 23 points at the change. The shoe was on the other foot in the second term, but the Crows' four-kick advantage would still stand going into the long break. The Roosters would actually drag the Crows back to within a couple of straight kicks going into extra time through a trio of majors in four minutes, but a late pair of goals to the Crows would put them back ahead by 20 points by half-time after a 4.2 to 3.5 second quarter. The Roosters were most definitely up for the fight, but weren't as clean and efficient as the Crows, who would take advantage of several turnovers. The second half was where the Crows turned some of the style on, especially during a seven minute period where they went from their half-time lead of 20 points up to 44 points well into time-on. Only a pair of Roosters goals gave any hope of a final term fightback, Adelaide scored 5.1 to 3.2 to lead by 31 points at three quarter-time. That fightback wouldn't come about, the Roosters only coming to within 21 points prior to added time in the final term before the Crows put the result beyond doubt. They scored 4.4 to 3.3 to run out 38-point victors. 

Jackson Hately was voted best for Adelaide with 35 disposals and eight marks, while the Roosters named Harrison Wigg with 31 disposals, eight marks and six clearances.