Crows blogger Anne takes her season of supporting to Sydney …

 

In a round full of upsets, it was only fitting that the Crows broke their winning drought this past weekend. The location was Australia’s harbour city and the opponent, the ever resilient Sydney Swans.

 

My journey to the Crows’ Round 17 game began early Saturday morning when I awoke with the birds in order to catch an early flight to Sydney. In what was becoming the norm at Adelaide Airport, I spotted several groups of Crows supporters also going to the game.

 

A couple of Collingwood supporters, who were departing for Melbourne for their game, scoffed at the amount of Crows supporters. What a shame they lost that afternoon!

 

On touchdown in Sydney, I promptly collected my luggage before catching a musty smelling cab to my residence for the night, an apartment in Waterloo. Dark green signs along the highway flashed familiar names to me such as ‘Bondi’ and ‘Randwick’ sparking images of beaches and the Pope to flicker through my head.

 

Upon my arrival in Waterloo I was immediately surprised when a couple of Crows fans leisurely strolled past me. We gave each other a footy fan’s approving nod before I moved inside.

 

I spent the best part of the afternoon watching the Essendon v Collingwood game and doing school work but also managed to get out and about by visiting the local shopping centre. Given my small interest in homewares and furniture, I started to grow restless and could not wait for the night’s game.

 

At five o’clock I started to pound the pavement and headed for the Sydney Cricket Ground. A short cut was taken across a golf course in which the white bright lights of the SCG were finally discovered in the distance. Several minutes later I was scanning my ticket and settling in a seat in the member’s stand behind Sydney’s bench.

 

During the warm up, I did my usual scan of the players out on the park to ensure everyone named was lining up. Amongst the Crows’ many blonde bombshells I spotted Brad Moran. I did a double check and it was indeed Moran before I noticed Massie was absent and the late withdrawal.

 

Finally, after a long afternoon ‘The Pride of South Australia’ rang through on the stadium’s speakers as the players spilt open the banner. Finally! I was more than ready for play to get underway.

 

The Crows were out firing early but kicked five points in a row and it was only at the 19^th minute mark that Bryce Campbell got their first major on the board. From then, two goals game in quick succession, a goal on the run from Simon Goodwin and a snap goal to Nick Gill. With their late charge, the Crows were nine points up at quarter time.

 

The game lifted to another level in the second quarter. On the wing and near where I was sitting, Nathan van Berlo was on the receiving end of bump from Sydney’s ruckman, Darren Jolly. VB gingerly got to his feet and looked to be ailing from the bump as he made his way to the boundary line.

 

Shortly after, I glanced to my left at the Crows’ bench and could not believe my eyes when I saw Jason Porplyzia favouring his troublesome shoulder. He had dislocated it again! In frustration I vented my thoughts, ‘He should’ve hade surgery!’ But clearly being no expert on shoulders, my frustration was turned into delight when he made his way back on to the ground.

 

Porplyzia’s courage to return was truly amazing, especially when he managed three goals for the quarter. Goodwin and David Mackay were the other contributors to leave the Crows up by 23 points at half time.

 

They were playing very much like how my taxi driver was driving from earlier in the afternoon. They were fast, daring, dashing and tough. They were taking risks and confident in their game plan. I was prepared to strap myself in for a big second half.

 

However, my hopes were a little dashed as both teams played tight, contested football, disallowing each other to score a goal. Although there were several shots at goal the goal posts seemed to be the preferred target instead of the space between them.

 

Most of the entertainment for the quarter came on the boundary where Sydney’s Barry Hall, found himself in the firing line from some loud Crows supporters. Despite Sydney’s effort to get back into the game they trialled the Crows by 21 points at three quarter time.

 

The Crows then went on to run out the game impressively in the final term. Brad Symes scored from a running shot, but it was man of the moment, Porplyzia’s two final goals which were the highlight. Not enough can be said of his selfless effort to put the club first at the risk of further damaging his shoulder. His game was one to remember.

 

After the game Crows supporters celebrated the win in the Bradman room. Nick Gill, Ivan Maric and Chris Knights all received a huge welcome and spoke positively about the game and appreciated the support they received at the ground.

 

Later that night, on the walk back to the apartment, I received many ‘Go Swannies’ from people driving by. They obviously hadn’t received the memo - Crows victors by 24 points.

 

I was back in Adelaide the following morning and had already begun to anticipate this weekend’s match against the fast finishing Carlton. The Blues are in form, but with the Crows back on the winner’s list hopefully they can snare a successive win.