Australian Football

Match Report

We headed out to the sticks and into the Murray River region, where the Mannum Showground Oval played host to the Seven TV "mini Showdown" between the Crows and the Magpies. The Crows sounded an ominous warning to the rest of the competition last week, tearing strips off the reigning premiers while the Magpies went down to their traditional rivals at The Parade. Their last clash saw the Crows finally break through for a win against the 'Pies, a 20-point victory at Alberton Oval.

This week the Crows line up was one that looked a bit more loaded than that which fronted up at Richmond, with just one player in the side not AFL-listed in comparison with Port's 13. The Magpies had the bulk of the forward entries and scores in the opening stanza, but the Crows were far more accurate with their 3.3 to Port's 1.5 to take a 10-point lead at the first change. The 'Pies improved their accuracy in the second quarter, but the Crows would still lead at the long break, adding a point to their quarter-time advantage after scoring 4.4 to 4.3. At half-time, Adelaide led by 11 points. When play resumed for the second half, the Magpies hit back quickly, but the inaccuracy bug would leave the door open for the Crows going into the final change. Port would end the term nine points ahead after adding 4.5 to Adelaide's 1.3. But the Crows' AFL-listed superiority would win out in the end, blowing the game apart in the final term by ramming home 7.4 to Port's 1.1 to take a five goal win.

Riley Knight was named best afield for Adelaide, while the Magpies voted for Kane Mitchell as their best.