Adelaide has been defeated by Port Adelaide by 15 points in its final SANFL trial match at Alberton Oval on Friday night.
The lead fluctuated throughout the match, but the Crows went down 11.8 (74) to 13.11 (89).
Darcy Fogarty spent considerable time in the midfield throughout the game and Crows SANFL coach Michael Godden said he relished in the role.
“Fog was great, splitting his time pretty evenly as an inside mid and forward,” he said.
“His work at the centre bounces was really strong and his transition from the midfield into the forward and defensive lines was at a really high level.
“We are really happy with his effort because he is a super talent and he’s worked really hard behind the scenes to get up around the ball and find the footy so today was good reward for effort.”
The opening term was a very close tussle, played between the forward 50m arcs and controlled well by the two defences.
The Magpies squandered some early opportunities and Adelaide capitalised with the opening goal of the match, a set shot from Ben Davis at the five-minute mark.
Fogarty appeared in most centre bounces throughout the match and used his strength to break tackles and surge the ball into attack.
Tariek Newchurch was also lively in his small forward role.
Adelaide trailed by seven points at quarter time and 21 at half time but dominated the third term, kicking the only five goals to take a seven-point lead at the final change.
It wasn’t just in the forward line where the Crows controlled proceedings during the third, also working hard in defence to make life difficult for Port Adelaide’s tall forwards.
Fogarty swung forward late in the term and got on the end of a piercing Kieran Strachan pass 55m out.
He went back and nailed the goal to give his side the lead at the final break.
The Crows came streaming out of the midfield to start the final term and Newchurch found the chest of Jake Cook with a precise pass in the Robert Quinn Grandstand pocket.
Cook finished well around the body to send Adelaide 13 points clear.
Port Adelaide small forwards Trent Burgoyne, Dylan Williams and Ethan Moore returned serve with three quick goals to reclaim the lead early in the last quarter, which despite late goals Adelaide couldn’t overturn.
With strong support from both sides in the crowd, Crows fans enjoyed a late-game Fogarty fend off which set up an opportunity for Newchurch to run and bounce along the grandstand wing.
Adelaide will begin its SANFL season with a Round One Good Friday clash with South Adelaide.
ADELAIDE 2.2 4.4 9.5 11.8 (74)
PORT ADELAIDE 3.3 7.7 7.10 13.11 (89)
GOALS:
Marshman 3, Kennedy, Boyle 2, Davis, Gollant, Fogarty, J.Cook
