Defender Daniel Talia says he’s never been more exhausted than after his battle with in-form St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.
Talia was assigned the unenviable role of trying to keep pace with Riewoldt, regarded as one of the hardest runners and workers in the game. The young Crow battled manfully, limiting the four-time All Australian to a solitary goal from a free-kick against Ben Rutten.
It was Riewoldt’s lowest return in front of goals for the season. He still managed to collect 18 possessions and 12 marks, but importantly only three of those marks were inside attacking 50m.
Talia conceded it was almost impossible for one player to go with Riewoldt for an entire game, adding his main focus was to limit his influence closer to goal.
“I’m stuffed. Nick’s a champion. He just runs so hard,” Talia said after the game.
“We were trying to double team him. It wasn’t just me, it was ‘Truck’ (Ben Rutten) and ‘Otto’ (Andy Otten) as well. It was a good team effort on Nick tonight. He missed a few shots and probably could’ve kicked three.
“Sometimes, it just works out in your favour.”
Talia, Rutten and Otten are part of a defence that has conceded only 643 points – the third stingiest in the competition behind Fremantle (625) and Essendon (642).
“Our team pressure has been really good the last few weeks,” Talia said.
“As a backline player, it’s a lot easier when our midfield is putting on pressure and the opposition isn’t pin-pointing the ball inside 50m. It gives us time to position ourselves and defend. Credit to our mids and forwards for getting up the ground and putting pressure on the ball.”
Otten has returned to the form that saw him finish runner-up in the 2009 Rising Star. Rutten has also wound back the clock, conceding only six goals (according to Champion Data statistics) this season. Talia, who has conceded seven, is also giving away less than a goal per game.
“Truck has been unbelievable,” Talia said.
“I think he was a bit harshly judged last year. He had a few goals kicked on him, but a lot of those were because the ball came in quickly – anyone can get exposed when it comes in like that. Truck had a better pre-season this year. He didn’t have any injuries and trained really hard.
“He’s been amazing.”
Ironically, Talia had outscored Riewoldt at the halfway mark of the third quarter.
The 2012 NAB Rising Star crept forward to take a mark and converted his shot from 50m out to put Adelaide 15 points ahead. It was the second time in as many weeks that Talia, who had only kicked one career goal prior to this season, put his name in the goals column.
“I got lucky. ‘VB’ (Nathan van Berlo) spotted me and hit me with his left foot, which was a really nice kick. I was just in the right place at the right time,” Talia said.
“I didn’t quite hit it right again – that’s two in a row that haven’t spun right but went straight through the middle. It’s great to kick goals as a backman because you don’t get many.
“I played forward as a junior, so I just go back, kick through the ball and hope it goes through.”
Talia said Adelaide’s improved consistency, which has yielded consecutive wins in the past fortnight, was a result of an even contribution from the team.
“It’s the first time we’ve won two games in a row this season. We’re starting to hit some form. Guys are starting to play their roles consistently and that’s all we want from the team,” he said.
