Three goals from Taylor Walker wasn’t enough to get Adelaide over the line as Glenelg downed the SANFL Crows by 37 points on Friday night.
9,245 fans packed into Glenelg Oval to witness Walker’s first match in almost 12 months, but the Crows could not provide the star forward with a fairytale return on his 24th birthday.
Walker was mobbed by teammates when he nailed a 50m goal early in the opening quarter, bringing the fans to their feet in soggy conditions at the Bay. The popular Crow looked lively and managed to get through the game unscathed playing approximately 75 per cent of the match.
Glenelg crashed Adelaide's party, with Sam Lonergan leading the way with a match-high 33 possessions.
Forward Andrew Hooper booted four goals while 2013 Glenelg best and fairest Ruory Kirkby and ex-Hawthorn utlity Mitch Thorp both kicked three majors in the Tigers’ first win of season 2014.
Cam Ellis-Yolmen (26 disposals, 11 clearances) continued push his case for an AFL debut while Brodie Martin (22 disposals, three goals) showed plenty of class in difficult conditions at the Bay.
Martin was the catalyst to an impressive start for Adelaide, with the 25-year-old hauling in a spectacular mark in the opening minutes of the match.
Walker’s first goal moments later gave the Crows an early buffer before goals to Hooper and Tiger youngster Billy Stretch reduced the margin to just five points at the first break.
Rain arrived midway through the second and quickly washed away the Crows’ momentum. Thorp came alive with three goals for the term to steer the home side to a 27-point advantage at half time.
Adelaide fought back bravely in the third term through Charlie Cameron and Crows development player Tyson Davis-Neale. Taylor Walker’s third goal of the game cut the deficit to just two points at the 23-minute mark before Kirkby steadied the Tigers.
The Crows ran out of steam after three-quarter time with Ian Callinan (hamstring), Jason Porplyzia (virus) and Walker benched for much of the final term.
The Bays controlled possession and piled on six goals to two to seal the match and record their first win for the year.
Despite the defeat, Crows State League coach Heath Younie said the game was a great spectacle for South Australian football.
“To have 10,000 at the Bay on ANZAC Day – you’d have to be rapt with that,” Younie said.
“A lot of that was generated obviously by Taylor’s return, and hopefully a bit by our involvement in the SANFL.
“It’s just fantastic for the SANFL.”
Along with Walker’s successful return to competition, coach Younie identified Cameron’s performance as one of the positives to come from the clash with the Tigers. Cameron kicked four goals, gave off two others and used his electric pace to chase and harrass the opposition, laying a team-high six tackles.
“Charlie’s last two weeks have really impressive,” Younie said.
“I just thought his work rate was really good tonight,
“He stayed in the game defensively and in the end, if you do that, you often get rewarded.”
Adelaide’s next SANFL match will be against Port Adelaide at Clare next Sunday afternoon.
ADELAIDE 3.4 6.6 11.6 13.8 (86)
GLENELG 2.5 10.9 11.14 17.21 (123)
GOALS
Adelaide: Cameron 4, Martin 3, Walker 3, McKernan, Callinan, Davis-Neale
Glenelg: Hooper 4, Thorp 3, Kirkby 3, Woodall 2, Alleway 2, Stretch, Bailey, Muir
BEST
Adelaide: Cameron, L. Thompson, Johnston, Siggins, Martin, Porplyzia
Glenelg: Lonergan, Hooper, Joseph, Bailey, Kirkby
INJURIES
Adelaide: Callinan (hamstring), Porplyzia (virus)
Glenelg: Nil
ATTENDANCE
9,245 at Glenelg Oval
