Adelaide pulled off an inspiring fourth quarter performance to defeat Sturt by 16 points at Unley Oval on Saturday afternoon.

Featuring 11 AFL listed players, the Crows trailed for much of the afternoon before a surge of goals in the final term helped them claim a memorable 16.7 (103) to 13.9 (87) triumph. 

Here are the five key takeaways.

Fourth quarter comeback

Trailing by 11 points heading into the final term, the Crows threw caution to the wind and took it right up to the second-placed Double Blues in search of a sixth straight win. 

Adelaide ultimately outscored Sturt six goals to one in the term to pull off one of its most famous wins, with 11 of the 22 players being development players – the most Adelaide’s SANFL side has ever fielded in a win. 

SANFL Senior Coach Michael Godden labeled the win one of the best he had been a part of. 

“You don’t want to throw that out lightly, but I said it in the box afterwards,” Godden said. 

“I cannot recall a win when you are injury-depleted and able to continue the same method that we have been playing with all year and for nothing to change. 

“It is as good of a win as I can remember.” 

Defenders up for the challenge

Adelaide’s defenders showed plenty of fight, battling from the opening bounce to limit the effectiveness of Sturt’s scoring opportunities.

Often undersized, the Crows backs applied great pressure to limit Sturt’s dangerous forward line. 

Adelaide’s defence consisted mainly of development players, who Godden said all played their part in the victory. 

“For them to be able to come out and play together in a big game like that and manage the pressure of it was really good,” Godden said. 

“We gave up 59 points in the first half which was too many, but I thought our second half defence was really good.” 

Midfielders support one another 

Missing a genuine ruckman, Adelaide’s midfielders had to adapt around stoppage, with Sturt dominating the hitout battle 55 to 13. 

The likes of Jackson Hately, Sam Berry, Tyler Brown, Billy Dowling and Jay Boyle supported one another well to break even in the clearances, 30-all and win inside 50s 46 to 45. 

“The mids worked really well together as a group,” Godden said. 

“They banded strongly together knowing that we didn’t have a ruckman and they just found a way to win enough ball which was pleasing.”

Hately finished with 28 disposals, eight inside 50s and a goal, Berry had 24 touches, six tackles and six clearances, while Brown amassed 15 disposals and eight tackles.

Dowling collected 21 disposals and five inside 50’s, while Boyle had 19 disposals and nine tackles. 

Sholl’s impact felt

Wingman Lachlan Sholl gave Adelaide plenty of run and carry throughout the game, and was damaging with his disposal. 

Sholl provided a touch of class to the Crows side, and was able to consistently make the right decisions with ball in hand. 

“Sholly worked his way into the game beautifully,” Godden said. 

“He is really impacting games more consistently now and today was no exception.” 

Sholl finished with a team-high 29 disposals, 11 marks, seven inside 50’s and booted one goal. 

Debutant Sigal impresses

Debutant Jarman Sigal had a solid outing against Sturt, playing whatever role was needed of him to help the team.

Without a traditional ruckman, Sigal was given the centre bounce ruck duties where he competed well, along with showing his intercept marking ability when he played down back. 

“He’s a young man out of Brighton Bombers applying his trade and he has a lot to learn,” Godden said.

“He has really fought hard to get his spot in the side today and he got his chance and all you do in footy is take your chances and he took his chances today.” 

Sigal finished with 14 disposals, three marks – two contested – seven hitouts and three clearances.

Adelaide’s next SANFL game will be against Norwood at Norwood Oval on Saturday afternoon with the first bounce at 2:10pm. 

ADELAIDE: 2.3  6.5  10.7  16.7 (103)

STURT: 2.3  9.5  12.6  13.9 (87)                                                                                               

GOALS

Adelaide: McHenry, Gollant, Smithson 3, Coleman 2, Hately, Sholl, Cook, Dowling, Brown

Sturt: Hone 5, Burrows 3, McFadyen, Fahey-Sparks 2, Mathews 

BEST:

Hately, Parnell, Gollant, Berry, Sholl, Brown