In-form defender Brent Reilly has described Adelaide’s thrilling five-point win over Sydney at the SCG on Saturday night as one of the best he’s been involved with in more than a decade at West Lakes.
The Crows led by 28 points halfway through the second quarter, but received a major scare when the Swans rallied to kick five goals and snatch a seven-point lead in the third term.
Both teams had opportunities to win the match in the final quarter, with Graham Johncock and Lewis Jetta both missing easy shots at goal, but in the end a third major to goalsneak Ian Callinan was enough to end the Swans’ unbeaten run.
“The boys were tested there and responded really well in the second half,” Reilly told afc.com.au after the game.
“It was an outstanding effort. After a Showdown win and a short (six-day) break, it’s just a great result. The boys we’re fantastic and we held on.
“It was one of the all-time great wins. I couldn’t be more proud of the boys.”
Reilly, who finished with 25 disposals and seven marks, provided one of the moments of the game.
At the 15-minute mark of the tense final term, Reilly went back with the flight of the ball, twisted mid-air and took a strong overhead mark in front of Ryan O'Keefe to cut-off a dangerous entry inside the Swans’ forward 50m.
Instead of a Sydney score, the ball rebounded into Adelaide’s attacking half and resulted in a vital goal to Jared Petrenko that put the visiting team 12 points ahead.
“It was just one of those things,” Reilly said of the crucial mark.
“I went back with the flight and took the mark … I don’t know what to say.”
Coach Brenton Sanderson described Reilly’s timely grab as “pretty special”.
“At times tonight, our defenders were under siege. Sydney had 67 inside 50ms and should’ve scored more, but we had some fantastic efforts,” Sanderson said.
“Brent Reilly’s mark in the last quarter was pretty special and something we’ll look back at and review. It’s a mark we practice a lot. I don’t know if you could see us, but we were all slapping (defensive coach) Darren Milburn on the back in the coach’s box because he works a lot with the defenders on that mark.
"‘Radar’ knew he was going to take a hit, but just went back with courage.”
The gutsy win sees Adelaide improve its record to five wins and one loss in 2012. The victory also extended the Club’s remarkable run against the Swans.
The Crows have now won 12 of their past 14 matches against Sydney, including four-in-a-row at the SCG.
“I don’t know what it is. There must be something about the SCG because we do play well up here,” Reilly said.
“It was a great effort by the boys …but we’ve got a big, tough game next week against Geelong, so we need to review this, get over it and worry about the Cats.”
