The most popular articles on afc.com.au in the 2012 season were ....
Lyons to debut in Showdown
Friday April 27th
The weekly team announcements were regularly among the top articles on the afc.com.au, but the story detailing of Jarryd Lyons’ AFL debut in round five was the most read in-season news piece of 2012.
Adelaide will unveil its third debutant of the season in Balfours Showdown XXXII at AAMI Stadium on Sunday, with young midfielder Jarryd Lyons selected to play his first AFL game. From the Sandringham Dragons, Lyons was drafted with pick No.61 in the 2010 AFL Draft. The 19-year-old midfielder pulled on the Crows guernsey for the first time in the opening round of the 2012 NAB Cup, and put his name back in front of the selectors with several standout performances for SANFL club Glenelg.
Star Crow commits
Monday May 28th
Patrick Dangerfield’s future was one of the biggest stories in the opening half of the season, so it came as no surprise the gun midfielder’s decision to stay at Adelaide attracted huge numbers to the website.
Star Crow Patrick Dangerfield has put an end to speculation over his playing future, signing a new three-year deal with the Club. The explosive 22-year-old, who switched between the midfield and forward line in the early part of his career, has taken his game to another level since being assigned a greater midfield role under rookie coach Brenton Sanderson.
Name That Crow
Weekly in-season feature
New to afc.com.au, Name That Crow proved an instant hit with visitors to the website. The weekly challenge, which requires viewers to guess the names of past Adelaide players, will return in 2013!
Crows on the red carpet
Monday September 24th
Exclusive news content generated the most website traffic this season, but Crows fans showed they were also partial to a bit of fashion and colour, flocking to check out the picture piece of the players (and their partners) on the Brownlow Medal red carpet.
Young Crow earns finals recall
Thursday 20th September
The Preliminary Final team announcement was the second most popular team story of the year.
Adelaide has made only one change to the team to play Hawthorn in the Preliminary Final on Saturday, calling up Andy Otten to replace the injured Sam Shaw. Otten last played for Adelaide against West Coast in Round 17. He was one of the Crows' better players in the win over the Eagles, but missed the next six weeks after scans revealed he’d injured his knee during the game and required surgery. Otten was part of the Club's finals campaign in 2009.
Danger demands response
Saturday 18th August
It wasn’t just good news lapped up by Crows fans in season 2012. An angry Patrick Dangerfield’s response to Adelaide’s disappointing fadeout against the Brisbane Lions was among the most-read stories of the year.
Patrick Dangerfield says the Crows' season will be over in an instant if they produce another effort similar to the one on display after half time of the loss to Brisbane on Saturday night. “It was completely unacceptable,” he said.
Sloane signs on
Monday June 4th
… But good news is always much more fun and it didn’t get much better than Rory Sloane agreeing to a new deal.
Emerging midfield star Rory Sloane has capped off a remarkable weekend, signing a new three-year deal with the Crows. The best player on the ground in Adelaide’s 29-point win over Fremantle on Saturday, Sloane follows Patrick Dangerfield, Richard Douglas and Matt Jaensch in committing to the Club in the past week. Exciting duo Jared Petrenko and Brodie Smith have also re-signed since the start of the season.
Walker agrees to new deal
Monday June 18th
… Or did it?
Forward Taylor Walker has signed a three-year deal to remain a Crow until at least the end of 2015. Walker has played 54 AFL games and kicked 119 goals since making his debut in the opening round of the 2009 season. From Broken Hill, Walker was recruited by Adelaide in 2006 through the New South Wales Scholarship program. The 22-year-old was added to the Crows’ list at the end of 2007 and then moved to Adelaide full-time.
Star Crow wins Vic award
Wednesday September 5th
And Adelaide fans always like seeing a local recognised across the border …
Star Crow Scott Thompson has been recognised for an outstanding season, taking out Victorian radio station SEN’s Player of the Year Award. Thompson polled two votes in Adelaide’s win over Gold Coast last weekend to overtake Essendon skipper Jobe Watson at the top of the leaderboard. Teammate Patrick Dangerfield finished in fourth spot on 22 votes.
We’ll hurt for a long time: Sando
Saturday September 22nd
Crows fans were keen to hear from coach Brenton Sanderson after the heartbreaking preliminary final loss to Hawthorn.
Brenton Sanderson drew on Adelaide's underdog status to lift his side in its heartbreaking five-point preliminary final loss to Hawthorn, and expects the defeat to "burn" inside his team all summer. The Hawks entered the clash as overwhelming favourites, with few giving the Crows any hope of an upset victory at the MCG. It was something the first-year coach rammed home to his players, and ammunition that seemed to spark them into action
Tex walking taller
Sunday May 6
When Taylor Walker talks, in his trademark deep and laidback tone, Adelaide fans listen …
Exciting forward Taylor Walker says maintaining his work-rate is the key to delivering performances like his five and six-goal hauls against Sydney and Port Adelaide in the last fortnight, on a consistent basis. The naturally talented 22-year-old, who has kicked 20 goals in five matches this season, edged ahead in the Coleman Medal race at the SCG on Saturday night, slotting five straight majors.
In no Danger
Monday July 23rd
Patrick Dangerfield speaks to afc.com.au after a supposed form slump …
After a week of scrutiny over his form and fitness, star midfielder Patrick Dangerfield responded in emphatic fashion against West Coast at AAMI Stadium on Saturday. One of the most-improved players in the competition, Dangerfield made a blistering start to the season, amassing 30-plus possessions in four of his first 10 games. However, the game-breaking onballer averaged a more modest 23 possessions in the month leading into Adelaide’s clash with West Coast, prompting questions as to whether his crash-and-bash style of play was starting to take a toll.
Crows fly into prelim final
Friday September 14th
The match report detailing Adelaide’s first preliminary final berth in six years was understandably popular reading on afc.com.au.
A five-goal haul from Taylor Walker has seen Adelaide down Fremantle by 10 points at AAMI Stadium to advance to a preliminary final. The Crows were put under intense pressure by Freo, which bolted to a 29-point lead early in the second quarter, but Walker was the catalyst for a stirring second-half fightback that saw the home side prevail 12.9 (81) to 11.5 (71).
A ‘bloody special’ group, says VB
Sunday September 23rd
Captain Nathan van Berlo’s post-match interview after the preliminary final loss was also well received.
Nathan van Berlo has praised his team’s bravery following Adelaide’s heartbreaking Preliminary Final loss to Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday. Rank underdogs heading into the match, the Crows came within a kick of staging - according to bookmakers - one of the biggest upsets in AFL finals history.
