Australian Football

Match Report

Adelaide has climbed to ninth on the ladder, within one game of the top eight, with a hard-fought win over Gold Coast at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday, knocking the Suns out of the top four in the process.

The Crows got away to a bright start, kicking three of the first four goals of the match, but the Suns hit back hard with the last three goals of the first term, and at quarter-time, Adelaide led by a solitary point, 5.2 to 5.1.

A similar pattern was followed in the second quarter, Jarryd Lyons, James Podsiadly and Eddie Betts kicking the opening three goals, before the Suns made up ground, booting three of the last four of the first half via Gary Ablett, Brandon Matera and Charlie Dixon. The margin at the long break was 10 points in the Crows' favour.

Incredibly, the third quarter again followed the template of the first two, kicking three of the first goals of the term - two of those to Tex Walker in his third game back from a long-term knee injury - before Aaron Hall and David Swallow kicked majors for the Suns to cut the margin at the last break back to nine points.

When Walker, David Mackay and Betts kicked the first three goals of the final quarter, the question raised was whether the term would replicate the first three, with the Suns making a late charge. But the anticipated Gold Coast revival did not emerge, and the only remaining goal of the match was a fifth to Walker, and the Crows triumphed by 32 points.

With his five goals and 10 marks, Walker was one of the Crows' best, while Rory Sloane (29 disposals and six tackles) and Brodie Smith (30 possessions, six marks) were also excellent. David Swallow was magnificent for the Suns, picking up 37 touches and kicking two goals. He received fine support from Dion Prestia (29 disposals, seven tackles) and Gary Ablett (25 possessions, six tackles).

Adelaide will draw level on points with Fremantle if it can defeat the Dockers at Subiaco next Sunday, while the Suns will be fully tested at Carrara on the same day when they host the Sydney Swans, fresh off a 110-point thrashing of Geelong in round 11.

GOALS
Adelaide: Walker 5; Jenkins, Betts 2; Smith, Jaensch, Laird, Lyons, Podsiadly, Douglas, Mackay
Gold Coast: Prestia, Ablett, Dixon, Swallow 2; Kolodjashnij, Matera, Hall

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Adelaide: Walker, Sloane, Talia, Thompson, Jaensch, Smith
Gold Coast: Swallow, Ablett, Prestia, Dixon, Rischitelli, Hardbrow

BEST - SPORTAL.COM.AU
Adelaide: Walker, Sloane, Dangerfield, Smith, Jaensch, Podsiadly
Gold Coast: Swallow, Prestia, Dixon, Ablett

COACHES' COMMENTS
Brenton Sanderson (Adel): We had an even contribution today from 22 players. It different times guys came in and out of the game but across the board we had 22 guys that contributed. There was Talia playing really well on their Tom Lynch, Walker kicked five, Jacobs and Jenkins were both fantastic players. Sam Kerridge's role on Ablett was pretty influential, too.

Guy McKenna (GCo): It's not ideal, certainly away from home [to be playing "catch-up" footy]. Full credit to Adelaide [for their good start] and then full credit to our fellers' ability to absorb all that and try and silence their "19th player". Unfortunately, by spending all our tickets to catch up, we didn't have enough in the last quarter.

INJURIES
Adelaide: Jacobs (groin)
Gold Coast: McKenzie (shoulder), Stanley (shoulder)

SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: Sam Jacobs replaced by Matthew Wright at three-quarter time.
Gold Coast: Trent McKenzie replaced by Sean Lemmens at three-quarter time.

UMPIRES: Margetts, Burgess, Mollison

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Matthew Campbell, Alastair Lynch, David King, Ben Dixon