Adelaide has squandered a golden opportunity to move inside the SANFL’s top three, succumbing to Glenelg by 19 points at Gliderol Stadium on Sunday.

The SANFL Crows gave up an 18-point lead early in the second term and were outpointed eight goals to four after half-time in the 12.10 (82) to 15.11 (101) defeat.

A win would’ve seen Adelaide replace South Adelaide, who has the bye this weekend, in third spot on the SANFL ladder as the race for the double chance begins to heat up.

Instead, it was Glenelg who out-hunted and out-ran the Crows to secure their second consecutive win and keep the Tigers’ faint finals hopes alive.

The home side made its move in the second and third quarters on Sunday, bagging four unanswered goals in both terms to keep Adelaide at an arm’s length. After eradicating the Crows’ lead early in the third term, the Bays kicked clear courtesy of a pacy midfield and a dynamic forward line.

The result was Adelaide’s first loss at Gliderol Stadium since Round Four, 2014 in the team’s inaugural season.

Rookie ruckman Reilly O’Brien competed hard all afternoon, finishing with 14 possessions, 20 hit-outs and two goals. The 20-year-old stamped his authority around the ground, particularly early, with several strong marks and was a consistent contributor.

Tough midfielders Cam Ellis-Yolmen and Mitch Grigg never gave up. Ellis-Yolmen finished as the leading ball-winner on the ground with 32 possessions while Grigg had 28 disposals and bagged a personal-best three goals. The duo had little support through the midfield however, which told the story of the contest.

Glenelg won the clearances 36-24 and smashed Adelaide in contested possessions (142-117) and overall disposals (355-310).

SANFL Stats: Round 16 v Glenelg

Crows SANFL coach Heath Younie said Adelaide was beaten at the coalface, describing the result as a “wake-up call” for his players.

“It started at the contest for me. On a small ground, it starts at the contest,” Younie said.

“I thought early in the first quarter we were able to compete really well ahead of the ball and were able to get some scoring opportunities.

“But it was lost at the contest. That’s where I felt the game was won and lost.

“I thought when we moved the ball and were able to play the way we wanted to play with the ball, I thought we scored pretty quickly. Unfortunately, in those second and third quarters in particular, we just couldn’t get our hands on it.”

In defence, Curtly Hampton provided great dash off half-back in just his second game for the Club, while Tom Doedee, development player Trent Heffernan and Alex Keath all competed strongly against the tide.

But in a further blow to Adelaide’s undermanned backline, which is already missing injured trio Andy Otten, Nathan van Berlo and Sam Shaw, SANFL captain Luke Carey sustained a left ankle injury during the third term and was unable to return to the field.

Crows must lead from the back

The signs were promising for the Crows early as Wayne Milera Junior kicked one of the goals of the season to give Adelaide its first major of the afternoon. The teenager burst through the centre of the ground with four bounces before slotting a classy goal to the northern end.

The Bays had their share of the ball but couldn’t finish off their play up forward, kicking 1.5 in the opening term.

O’Brien dominated with a number of contested marks and an early goal. Left-footers Grigg and Hugh Greenwood also hit the scoreboard to give Adelaide a 16-point break at quarter-time.

The home side then made its move with four unanswered goals to briefly snatch the lead midway through the second term. Again, it was Grigg and O’Brien who stood up with settling goals to keep the Crows ahead by seven points at the main change.

The Tigers went on to break the game open with five goals to Adelaide’s one in the third term and never looked back as they cruised to their fifth victory of the season.

Adelaide confronts Woodville-West Torrens at Maughan Thiem Hyundai Oval next Saturday afternoon.


ADELAIDE     4.3   8.7   9.8   12.10 (82)
GLENELG       1.5   7.6   12.10   15.11 (101)

GOALS
Adelaide: Grigg 3, Beech 3, O’Brien 2, Milera, Greenwood, Ramsey, Hunter
Glenelg: Sumner 4, Milera 4, Vitkunas 2, Scott 2, Reinbrecht, McGinty, Scharenberg

BEST
Adelaide: O’Brien, Doedee, Grigg, Ellis-Yolmen, Beech, Greenwood
Glenelg: Howard, Johansen, Sumner, Earl, Milera, Scott, McFarlane

INJURIES
Adelaide: Luke Carey (left ankle)
Glenelg: Nil