Australian Football

Match Report

Just as the football world was beginning to talk of GWS as an unstoppable football force destined to win a premiership, perhaps even as soon as this year, the Giants have been cut down to size by an impressive Adelaide Crows at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday night. The Crows set up the 22-point win with a brilliant third term in which they added eight goals to one to turn a two-point buffer at the long break into a 46-point lead at the final change. The Giants came back strongly in the last quarter but the gap proved too large and a Eddie Betts' fifth goal in the last minute of the game capped off a highly meritorious victory.

It was the Taylor Walker show for the first 10 minutes of the match, as big 'Tex' hit the post and then kicked two majors as Adelaide took an early 13-0 lead. The Crows could have made that lead much larger but Wayne Milera, Eddie Betts and Walker all missed further chances over the next 10 minutes. The Giants finally got themselves going when Toby Greene snapped a goal as the quarter entered time on and when Jeremy Cameron kicked another less than two minutes later the margin was back to three points. The Crows finished the term strongly, though, and a goal to Jarryd Lyons and a third to Walker saw them 17 points clear at quarter time.

Adelaide had a chance to extend the margin early in the second term but a long shot from Rory Atkins found the woodwork, after which GWS responded with a major from Josh Kelly to cut the margin to an even two goals. A misdirected tap from Giant defender Nick Haynes saw the ball end up with Crow Milera at the 11-minute mark and his straight kick put the Crows 19 points clear but GWS kicked the next two through Adam Tomlinson and Jack Steele and the margin was back to seven points as the quarter entered time on. A mark and goal to Betts saw the lead back out to 13 but the last two goals of the half went the Giants' way via Dylan Shiel and second-gamer Jacob Hopper and Adelaide led by just two points at the long break. 

Whatever momentum GWS took into half time had completely evaporated when play resumed in the third term, as Walker, Sloane and Betts all added majors in the first 10 minutes as Adelaide jumped to a 21-point lead. After a prolonged scoreless period Betts marked and kicked his third to extend the difference to 27 but a long bomb from Shiel had the margin back to 21 soon after. Eddie Betts then provided the highlight of the match and perhaps goal off the year as he trapped the ball just inside the boundary line and then evaded a tackle to kick a magnificent long goal from an angle. That inspired the Crows to a further three goals and when the siren sounded for 'orange time' they lead by 46 points. 

The last change of ends brought a tide-turn and GWS dominated the first 19 minutes of the final term, goals to Rory Lobb, Tom Scully, Greene and Scully again cutting the deficit to 21 points. Adelaide then had chances to settle the result but Walker, Tom Lynch and Richard Douglas all missed leaving the door ajar for the Giants. Another goal to Greene reduced the margin to just 17 and made Crows' fans even more nervous, but Adelaide steadied in the final minutes and Betts capped off a fine game with his fifth goal in the last minute as the Crows held on for an important win. 

Walker, with his five goals and 10 marks, played a great captain's game, while Josh Kelly (28 possessions, eight marks) was one of the standout players for GWS.

Adelaide remains in eighth place, a game clear of Melbourne and will look to consolidate that spot with a home win over St Kilda next Sunday. The Giants, one of five teams with a 7-3 record, will travel to Kardinia Park to take on Geelong (another 7-3 side) next Saturday.

GOALS
Adelaide: Walker, Betts 5; Jenkins, Sloane, Milera, Lyons, McGovern
GWS: Greene 3; Steele, Scully 2; Cameron, Hopper, Tomlinson, Kelly, Steele, Lobb

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Adelaide: Walker, Betts, Thompson, Atkins, Sloane, Talia, Lever, Douglas
GWS: Shiel, Kelly, Coniglio, Scully, Greene, Haynes

BEST - THEAGE.COM.AU
Adelaide: Walker, Betts, Thompson, Lyons, Atkins, Smith
GWS: Coniglio, Scully, Shiel, Kelly, Shaw, Greene

INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil
GWS: Kennedy (concussion/shoulder)

UMPIRES: Schmidt, Chamberlain, Wallace

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Anthony Hudson, Jason Dunstall, Mark Ricciuto, Barry Hal