Battle of the Titans
Saturday night saw a match-up of epic proportions, where two of the game's midfield beasts were pitched head to head. The importance of Nat Fyfe and Patrick Dangerfield to their respective sides was only enhanced by the falling rain at Adelaide Oval and both stood up under the weight of responsibility. Fyfe finished with an incredible 40 disposals (26 contested), while Dangerfield's 29 contested possessions (38 overall) drew him level with Sydney Swans midfielder Josh Kennedy's record. Fyfe managed 14 clearances and 10 inside 50s, while Dangerfield won nine clearances and six inside 50s.
Dockers secure their streak
Earlier in the week Crows skipper Taylor Walker suggested the Dockers' unbeaten start to the season meant they were "due" for a loss. His prediction appeared set to come true, with Adelaide putting in its best showing of the year to push the ladder leaders to the absolute brink. But Fremantle showed its character by willing itself over the line in what was one of the games of the year. The intensity of the clash was the sort usually reserved for September – highlighted by a huge 159 tackles being laid.
Sandilands reaches new heights
As the tallest player in the AFL, Docker Aaron Sandilands is simply expected to dominate ruck duels but his performance against the Crows – against one of the League's best ruckmen in Sam Jacobs – can't go unnoticed. Sandilands had eclipsed 50 hit-outs in a senior game seven times before Round Nine, but he notched an AFL-record 69 hit-outs against Adelaide on Saturday night. The 211cm giant was unstoppable in the air, particularly late in the game when the result was certain.
An irresistible trio
The Crows were on track to face a decent quarter-time deficit on Saturday night, with Fremantle in ominous touch. The Dockers kicked the opening three goals before Adelaide's indigenous trio flexed their muscle in Indigenous Round. Eddie Betts – who has been in the form of his career – was gifted a free kick hard up on the boundary line deep in attack and cooly sent a checkside straight through the middle. Young Charlie Cameron was next, swooping on a loose ball and snapping on his left before the Crows' third indigenous player Cam Ellis-Yolmen snapped a crucial goal that edged his side into the lead.
And the brilliance of Betts
Betts was far from finished though and stamped his authority as the game's most exciting player with another outrageous goal from yet another boundary. Josh Jenkins handballed out of congestion to Betts, who was stuck against the boundary unable to get onto his preferred right foot. It didn't matter – the master unleashed a left-foot torpedo that somehow skidded through for a goal. Luck might have favoured the attempt but the star has succeeded too often from the pockets of Adelaide Oval for it to be a fluke.
