Australian Football

Match Report

In a thrilling Showdown, the first since the untimely death of Crows coach Phil Walsh earlier in the month, Adelaide has defeated Port Adelaide by just three points at the Adelaide Oval in front of 54,468 fans.The Crows led throughout the match in a free-flowing and high-scoring affair, but had to withstand a withering last-quarter burst from the Power which saw them come from five goals behind at the final break to almost pinch victory.

Adelaide started the match full of running and had three goals on the board in the first 14 minutes, one each to Josh Jenkins, Matt Crouch and Ricky Henderson to take a 16-point lead. Robbie Gray got the Power on the board with his first at the 17-minute mark, but Taylor Walker's first gave the Crows a 16-point advantage going into time on. Patrick Ryder cut it back to nine with his first at the 23-minute mark but the next two goals went Adelaide's way to Brodie Martin and Richard Douglas. A late goal to Chad Winged saw Port within 15 points at the first break.

Robbie Gray cut the margin to nine with the first goal of the second term but Walker and Riley Knight got the next two for the Crows, who led by 21 points after 12 minutes. Matthew Lobbe kicked his first to reduce the difference to 15 but the Crows got right on top in the next seven minutes with a goal to Josh Jenkins and two to Charlie Cameron giving them a 34-point lead going into time on. But the last 10 minutes of the term belonged to the Power and two goals to Ryder and one to Jay Schulz saw them back within 17 points at the long break.

The goals flowed even more freely in the third term, the two sides scoring 12 between them. The first went to Port's Schulz but the next four went Adelaide's way, one each to Jenkins, Walker, Tom Lynch and Eddie Betts, to give the Crows a six-goal advantage. But Port hit back hard, and majors to Wingard, Angus Monfries and Travis Boak saw the Power back within 17 points early in time on. Adelaide finished the term strongly, though, with three of the last four goals and the lead was back out to 30 at three-quarter time.

Adelaide appeared to have expended virtually all of its energy in the first three quarters, and Port attacked heavily throughout the last term. For the first 18 minutes, those forward forays yielded only 1.5, the goal going to Wingard. As the quarter entered time-on the lead was still 21 points for the Crows, but goals to Lobbe, Boak and Gray saw the difference cut down to just three points with two minutes remaining. Somehow the Crows held on and kept Port from scoring one final goal, recording a memorable three-point win, the closest in Showdown history.

Scott Thompson was magnificent for the Crows, and was awarded the Phil Walsh Medal (renamed for this match from the Showdown Medal) for his 36-disposal, eight-tackle match. Sam Jacobs (51 hitouts, 17 possessions) and Richard Douglas (26 touches) also had fine games. For Port, Boak (32 possessions, seven tackles) and Wingard (three goals, 23 touches) were standouts. 

The win took the Crows back into the eight, and they will try to stay there with a win over the Suns at the Adelaide Oval next Saturday. The Power (12th, six wins) will travel to Docklands in Melbourne on the same day to take on Essendon (14th, five wins).

GOALS 
Port Adelaide: Ryder 3; Wingard, Gray, Schulz 3; Lobbe, Boak 2; Monfries
Adelaide: Jenkins, Walker 3; Cameron, Lynch 2; Crouch, Henderson, Martin, Douglas, Knight, Betts, Wright, Thompson

BEST - THE AGE
Port Adelaide: Boak, R Gray, Ryder, Wingard, Broadbent
Adelaide: Jacobs, Thompson, Douglas, Walker, Crouch, Laird, Henderson

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Port Adelaide: Boak, Wingard, Ryder, Gray, Broadbent, Hartlett
Adelaide: Jacobs, Thompson, Douglas, Dangerfield, Walker, Henderson

INJURIES 
Port Adelaide: Nil
Adelaide: Daniel Talia (concussion)

SUBSTITUTES 
Port Adelaide: Aaron Young replaced Brendon Ah Chee in the third quarter
Adelaide: Rory Atkins replaced Daniel Talia (concussion) in the second quarter

UMPIRES: Deboy, Schmitt, Ryan

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Bruce McAvaney, Basil Zempilas, Leigh Matthews, Nick Maxwell, Mark Soderstrom