Adelaide has recorded its first-ever SANFL draw following a bizarre finish to Friday night’s clash with Glenelg which saw the match shortened due to a blackout.

The Tigers held a match-high lead of 20 points at three-quarter time in wet and windy conditions at the Bay and were on the road to their first win of the season. But a gallant Adelaide stormed back into the contest with three consecutive final-quarter goals and looked poised to run over the top of the home side.

Nick Mott’s second major tied the scores at the 12-minute mark, however the stadium was suddenly plunged into darkness as an apparent power failure hit the area.

Confusion was rife among players, officials and fans with the scoreboard – showing both sides on 7.9 (51) – ironically the only source of light.

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After a 30-minute period, the current scores were deemed final leaving both Adelaide and Glenelg winless after four rounds.

For the third week in a row, Adelaide was forced to fight with limited rotations for much of the contest. Sam Kerridge (cork) and Jack Osborn (head knock) were both benched midway through the first term after big collisions in the trying conditions.

Many of Adelaide’s development players stepped up admirably in the duo’s absence. Luke Carey (18 disposals, five tackles) and Sam Pfeiffer (13 disposals, seven marks) were gallant in defence alongside first-round draft pick Jake Lever, who once again impressed across half-back with 18 possessions and four marks.

See the full stats sheet from Adelaide's first-ever SANFL draw

Tough midfielder Matt Crouch relished the soggy conditions and collected a match-high 24 disposals and eight clearances, while fellow left-footer Mitch Grigg contributed well with 16 possessions and five inside 50ms.

Reilly O’Brien racked up 39 hit-outs carrying most of the ruck load without the injured Osborn, with Mott also pushing up the ground to provide relief.

Heavy rain and wind made for an ugly struggle between the two sides under lights at the Bay on Anzac Day eve. Despite managing just four goals through the first three quarters, Adelaide broke the game open with three majors in quick succession early in the final term.

Crows SANFL coach Heath Younie said the extraordinary finish was disappointing given momentum was on Adelaide’s side.

“The guys always had the belief that we could win it, so it’s a bit of shame that it had to end like that,” Younie told afc.com.au.

“It was a arm wrestle all night. You can find out a lot about a team in those sorts of conditions, and I was really proud of the way our boys went about it tonight.

“We didn’t get the result we wanted, but I think we take a lot of confidence out of this game heading into next week against South Adelaide.”

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Younie, a veteran of 183 SANFL games with North Adelaide, said he had never experienced such a strange conclusion to a League match.

“I’ve never been involved in a finish quite like that,” he said.

“Footy is an unpredictable game, and we certainly found that out tonight.

“I’m just more disappointed for the players that we couldn’t get the win. They gave it their all tonight.”

Adelaide blooded two SANFL debutants in Ben O’Donohue from Kapunda and Dylan Ribbons of Nuriootpa, while Charlie Cameron was injected into the side for his first SANFL game of the season.

Despite leading by as much as 10-points in the first term in what was a slogging, low-scoring affair, Adelaide never really looked like winning until the Crows’ final-quarter resurgence.

Glenelg took the lead at the 20-minute mark of the opening term and kicked away to what looked like a match-winning 20-point advantage at the final break before the thrilling finish.

The result leaves both Adelaide and Glenelg as the only two sides without a win so far in Season 2015.

Adelaide is scheduled for another game under lights next Saturday night at Noarlunga against the Panthers.

 

ADELAIDE   3.1   3.6   4.7   7.9 (51)
GLENELG   4.3   4.6   7.9   7.9 (51)

GOALS
Adelaide: Ramsey 2, Mott 2, Wilson, Bollenhagen, Spencely
Glenelg: Alleway 3, Scott, Bailey, Rioli, Lonergan

BEST
Adelaide: Carey, Pfeiffer, Lever, Grigg, M Crouch, Mott, O’Donohue
Glenelg: Alleway, Lonergan, Milera, Earl, Pitt

INJURIES
Adelaide: Sam Kerridge (cork), Jack Osborn (head knock)
Glenelg: Nil