Crows veteran Brent Reilly says Adelaide’s young SANFL team is beginning to show its true potential after recording back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
The SANFL Crows battled toe-to-toe with an ominous Woodville-West Torrens outfit on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles’ triple towers up forward of Michael Wundke, Andrew Ainger and Adam Grocke were widely tipped to overpower the fledgling State League Crows, but it was Adelaide that emerged eventual 48-point victors.
The triumph came a fortnight after the side upset an in-form South Adelaide at Noarlunga.
After winning just one of their first seven games, Reilly said the young SANFL Crows were beginning to band together and understand the intensity required to be competitive on a weekly basis.
“We showed glimpses at the start of the year, but in the past few weeks it has really started to come together for the boys,” Reilly told afc.com.au after Adelaide’s third SANFL win of the year.
“It was awesome today to get the young boys, and a couple of old blokes as well, playing some good footy. It was pretty special to get up, and over a top-two team in the Eagles as well was just an outstanding effort.”
“We are the real deal and we are confident with where we are going. I think we showed that today.”
Reilly was left stranded on 199 AFL games after being omitted following Adelaide’s shock loss to Melbourne in Round Seven. The 30-year-old defender has averaged 27 disposals in three SANFL appearances since, and could soon be in line to notch AFL game No.200 after a dominant 30-possession display against the Eagles.
‘Radar’ also recorded five rebound 50ms and took 17 marks – the most of any Crow this season at either AFL or SANFL level.
“All I can do is keep playing well and leave those kinds of decisions with the match committee,” Reilly said.
“But I’m pretty happy with where I’m at, and I’m feeling good about my footy.”
The influence down back of Reilly, Kyle Hartigan and Sam Shaw was telling in Adelaide’s victory at Woodville Oval. The Crows conceded their lowest score since the Club’s Round Three win over Central District and held the Eagles to their second-lowest total of the season.
Reilly said it was important the State League Crows continued to develop the defensive principles of their game.
“We were pretty senior back there today,” he said.
“But we also had young first-year player Jake Kelly, along with Sam Pfeiffer and Mick O’Malley, who have all held key defensive posts this season.
“It’s good for those guys to play alongside ‘Harts’, ‘Shawry’ and ‘Porps’, who was floating back there as well. Having that kind of experience around will only help those younger boys develop as leaders and improve their game in the long run.”
