Senior Coach Matthew Nicks said hard work paid off for his side after the Crows took down Melbourne in a one-point thriller at Adelaide Oval. 

Adelaide booted three goals in the final 10 minutes of the game to top Melbourne. 

Nicks said the win was his team’s reward for playing four-quarter football after a string of disappointing losses. 

“Today was a really complete game for us because we fought hard, we got behind, we were able to use the ball really well,” he told media after the game. 

“The game changed, we were able to fight a little bit more down the line and embrace the contest… and then we were able to get a lot of structural stuff done really well in the last 10 minutes of the game to make sure that we didn’t go down by one kick.

“We knew it was a massive challenge and I think our guys really enjoy those massive challenges.”

The Oliver and Gawn challenge

Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver booted three goals and had 38 disposals by the final siren, but Nicks said winning the game wasn’t about shutting down the in-form star. 

“We were concerned about Oliver, he’s an outstanding footballer and that’s two in a row now we haven’t been able to stop him,” Nicks said.

“We didn’t put time into him, but what we did put time into was the way we played as a team.

“So our shape, the way we use the ball - we tried to challenge him with the footy.”

Nicks also praised ruckman Reilly O’Brien’s efforts in holding down cult figure Max Gawn. 

“When you play against Max Gawn, you ask your ruckman to play an important role for the team… And when we talk about individuals, Gawny was on top,” he said. 

“ROB (O’Brien) played a really important role for us as part of that team.”

Texan’s perfect finish

Adelaide forward Taylor Walker was the star of the show after booting the winning goal - his third of the game - with just 40 seconds on the clock. 

Nicks said he was confident the moment the ball landed in Walker’s hands that the job could be done. 

“If you’re gonna have a player from your team at 40 metres dead in front, he’s the guy to have with that ball,” he said, 

“He’s done it so many times, he’s experienced and he’s able to calm himself in that moment.”

The unsung heroes

While Walker sealed the deal, Nicks said the win was the product of a full-team effort and the cumulative effort of individuals’ inspired performances. 

“In the end today, we got it done as a team. That’s what we play, we play a team game,” he said. 

“We had some moments that players stood up that won’t be noticed, they won’t be things that the media will talk about.”

As well as O’Brien’s efforts against Gawn, Nicks said Darcy Fogarty’s match-up with Jake Lever was an impressive battle. 

“Fog played a really important role on Lever. Lever showed how good he is at football at times,” he said. 

“Sam Berry I thought was outstanding for the first half, so clean with the footy for the first quarter.”

Midfielders Ben Keays, Rory Laird and Paul Seedsman also stormed the stats with 34, 35 and 35 touches respectively. 

“I think the guys will come out of this game feeling really good about the work we’ve done now for the past couple of months,” Nicks said.

He’s just like the fans

Nicks revealed he watched the final two minutes of the game just like the fans - on the edge of his seat. 

“Like anyone else at the game, I was nervous and excited,” he said. 

“In that last 30 seconds I sit back and watch with everyone else… there’s nothing we can do, the runner can’t go on.

“So that’s the players getting it done.”

The power of belief

Nicks said the game was a massive boon for the players but, most importantly, said the fans drove their belief in themselves. 

“We haven’t lost the belief - I know we’d lost too many games in a row, but behind closed doors the belief is there,” he said. 

“You could hear the belief in the grandstand today, our members and supporters were incredible.

“We’re down by three goals with six minutes to go, we change a few things and our guys really put their foot on the accelerator, 

“When the noise goes up - the adrenalin, the momentum - it’s amazing what it can do for you.

“We believe.”