The SANFL Crows have fallen to West Adelaide by six points in wet conditions at Richmond Oval.
Adelaide surrendered a 14-point lead midway through the opening quarter as intermittent showers made for a low-scoring contest. The Bloods turned the tide against the Crows in a frantic final-quarter struggle to finish 5.11 (41) to 4.11 (35) winners.
The Crows squandered several golden opportunities in front of goal late and could not repeat the heroics from the Club’s last-gasp victory over North Adelaide in Round 11.
Matt Crouch gathered a match-high 42 disposals and 13 clearances in an impressive midfield display while Cam Ellis-Yolmen was also prominent in the middle for the SANFL Crows. The 21-year-old collected 27 possessions and seven clearances in his return from a dislocated finger.
Left-footer Mitch Grigg (30 possessions) and Jarryd Lyons (22 possession) also fought hard in the trying conditions, while Luke Thompson (21 possessions) was gallant in defence with a game-high nine rebound 50ms.
It was Adelaide’s third-straight match decided by less than a goal following close encounters with the Roosters and Bulldogs. The defeat leaves the SANFL Crows stranded in eighth place on the league ladder with just six games remaining in the minor round.
Speedy wingman Rory Atkins was a late withdrawal from the clash with an ankle concern. Meningie left-footer Justin Smart was his replacement and gathered 10 possessions in his SANFL debut.
Crows state league coach Heath Younie said Adelaide blew too many chances when the game was in the balance.
“Conditions weren’t ideal, but I felt we had our opportunities at different stages of the contest and we just failed to execute,” Younie told afc.com.au post-match.
“It was always going to be a bit of an arm-wrestle out there tonight and unfortunately we finished up on the wrong side of that. But we’ve got to learn from that and come back better next time.”
The Crows remain two games out of the top five, with fifth-placed South Adelaide still yet to play in the current round.
“It was a real scrap and I thought our boys showed some signs in what was a tough contested game,” Younie said.
“But full credit to West. They were the better team tonight we’ve got to go lick our wounds now and bounce back in the last part of the season.”
Adelaide’s leading SANFL goalkicker Gene Robinson slotted Adelaide’s first goal with an opportunist snap in the opening minutes.
Both sides struggled to win clean ball early in the slippery conditions. Tough youngster Matt Crouch revelled in the opening term, racking up 15 possessions by the first break.
Alex Spina showed great class in the wet to snap Adelaide’s second major at the 20-minute mark as Crows defenders Kyle Hartigan, Luke Thompson and Michael O’Malley applied the clamps down back.
It took West Adelaide 23 minutes to register its first score of the match with a behind to Logan Hill putting the home side on the board. The Crows held the Bloods goalless for the opening quarter and built a 12-point buffer by quarter time.
Adelaide continued to dominate possession when play resumed in the second quarter, but failed to convert its opportunities. Misses to Ellis-Yolmen, Spina, Lyons and Davis-Neale were costly as the home side worked its way back into the contest.
Ben Fisher finally slotted West’s first major of the match eight minutes into the term. The SANFL Crows could not find the middle as the Bloods eventually drew even by the main break.
The struggle raged on as conditions deteriorated further in the third, with West Adelaide’s seasoned ball-winners Chris Schmidt and Taite Silverlock making their presence felt. The Bloods assumed the lead for the first time through Fisher’s second major midway through the term, as West banked an eight-point buffer at the final change.
Adelaide made the play early in the final quarter and peppered the scoreboard, but again inaccuracy proved costly. Consecutive misses to Callinan, Paynter and Luke Thompson hurt the Crows’ chances late with the home side holding on for an eventual six-point victory.
The SANFL Crows have eight days to recover before confronting South Adelaide at Noarlunga on Saturday July 12.
ADELAIDE 2.2 2.5 3.6 4.11 (35)
WEST ADELAIDE 0.2 2.5 4.8 5.11 (41)
GOALS
Adelaide: Robinson, Spina, Graham, Callinan
West Adelaide: Fisher 2, Dijksman, Tuck, Homburg
BEST
Adelaide: L. Thompson, Ellis-Yolmen, M. Crouch, Knight, Callinan, Grigg
West Adelaide: Schmidt, Beech, Hartlett, Green, Fisher, Silverlock
INJURIES
Adelaide: Rory Atkins (ankle) withdrawn pre-game. Replaced in selected side by Justin Smart.
North Adelaide: Nil
