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Crows win thriller

August 30th 2008 09:39
ADELAIDE has all but secured the double chance with a hard-fought nine-point win over the Western Bulldogs at AAMI Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Crows made the most of losses to North Melbourne and Collingwood earlier in the round, prevailing 10.16 (76) to 9.13 (67) in a thrilling contest to move into the top four.

Adelaide can only be tipped out of fourth spot if St Kilda beat Essendon at Telstra Dome on Sunday by more than 15 goals.

Nathan van Berlo was a busy contributor in the middle for Adelaide with 22 possessions and two goals while Tyson Edwards was locked in an engrossing duel with Jason

Akermanis and finished with match with a team-high 23 touches and three valuable goals.

For the Bulldogs, Lindsay Gilbee generated plenty of run from defence with 31 possessions and one goal while Daniel Giansiracusa (34 touches) and Daniel Cross (31 disposals) tried hard all day.

Three goals were scored in the opening four minutes, with the Bulldogs kicking two of them before the match turned into a scrappy affair as both sides tried to adapt to the wet and slippery conditions.

A late goal to Nathan Eagleton gave the Bulldogs a deserved eight-point lead at the first change.

Adelaide lifted in the second term but failed to make the most of their opportunities in front of goal, booting a wasteful 1.9.

The Crows were made to pay for their wastefulness with Gilbee kicking truly from 40m to give his side a four-point lead at the main break.

The Bulldogs won plenty of the football in the third term but were unable to establish a clear break with Edwards' second goal levelling the scores heading into the final change.

Adelaide hit the front thanks to a controversial goal from Jason Porplzyia in the last quarter.


Porplyzia was awarded a goal but television replays showed the ball was clearly rushed by a diving Akermanis.

The Crows looked home when Kurt Tippett slotted one home from close range to blow the margin out to 14-points.

However, the Bulldogs refused to give in and hit back with a major from Scott Welsh before a Ryan Griffen bomb reduced the deficit to two points.

But Adelaide had all the answers with Edwards' third goal sealing a crucial win.

ADELAIDE: 3.1, 4.10, 7.12, 10.16 (76)
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 4.3, 5.8, 7.12, 9.13 (67)
GOALS: ADELAIDE: Edwards 3, van Berlo 2, Porplyzia 2, Thompson, Stevens, Tippett
WESTERN BULLDOGS: Harbrow, Higgins, Giansiracusa, Eagleton, Gilbee, Akermanis, Murphy, Welsh, Griffen
BEST: ADELAIDE: Edwards, van Berlo, Doughty, Stevens, Knights, Symes, Rutten, McLeod
WESTERN BULLDOGS: Eagleton, Cross, Giansiracusa, Cooney, Akermanis, Griffen, Hill
INJURIES: ADELAIDE: Nil
WESTERN BULLDOGS: Johnson (cut head)
REPORTS: Lake reported for striking Scott Stevens in the second quarter.
CHANGES: Hudson replaced in the selected side by Skipper.
UMPIRES: Vozzo, Meredith, McInerney
CROWD:37,543
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Crows defend Porplyzia decision

August 29th 2008 07:23
ADELAIDE has defended its decision to select injured forward Jason Porplyzia for Saturday's clash against the Western Bulldogs at AAMI Stadium.

Porplyzia, who has been sidelined for the past three weeks with concussion, has had his shoulder pop out of its socket several times this season but he has manfully played on.

Adelaide coach Neil Craig said Porplyzia has shown that he is able to perform despite the injury.

"That's been normal for him in the last four, five, six weeks or however long it's been. His decision is always, is he able to perform with the shoulder if it gets knocked or if it comes out and goes back in, so his capacity to put up with that," he said.

"Not only has he said he can but he can (put up with it) … the best example I can give is his performance against Sydney."

Craig also dismissed suggestions that the club hadn't put Poryplzia's best interests first after he suffered concussion following an off-the-ball clash with Carlton's Steven Browne in round 18.

"In terms of duty of care I think we've been absolutely crystal clear and diligent with that. We haven't played Jason until he's been cleared from one of the best neurosurgeons in Adelaide so I'm not sure what more we can do."
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Bassett calls it quits

August 27th 2008 05:09
ADELAIDE defender Nathan Bassett revealed on Wednesday that he will hang up the boots at the end of this season.

The 31-year-old, who has played 208 games for the Crows, was drafted by Melbourne in 1997 but was traded to Adelaide at the end of the same year.

Bassett is one of only eight players to play over 200 games with Adelaide and he also earned All-Australian honours in 2006.

He currently has 11 finals matches to his credit but wasn't part of Adelaide's second premiership team in 1998.

Bassett said the wear and tear of AFL football is starting to take its toll.

"On the weekend I was pretty sore going into the game and it was like I can't do anything more to prepare myself to play AFL football," Bassett said.

"I've done everything right to get myself right, it was an eight-day break, and I still feel I can't play to my best level and it's not going to get any better."

"The game has changed so much during my career and I think as a player you have to adapt to it."

"So it's such a running game you need to be a good athlete and I've done my best to try and keep pace with but it's only going to get faster."

Adelaide chief executive Steven Trigg said Bassett had made a major contribution to the club.

"Nathan retires as a life member of our club," Trigg said.

"Since commencing in 1998, he has grown enormously in terms of his leadership, and the contribution he has made to the culture of our playing group - especially in recent years - has been very significant."

"We’ll always remember the animated ‘Bass’ responses, the selfless acts of courage and the long runs out of defence which were trademarks of his 11 years as a player.

“We thank and congratulate him on an outstanding career.”
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No hope for top four: Craig

August 24th 2008 21:28
ADELAIDE coach Neil Craig has admitted his side's top-four hopes are all but over after Sunday's 48-point loss to St Kilda at Telstra Dome.

The Crows kicked the first three goals of the match but managed just a further three majors from that moment on.

The result leaves Adelaide half a game adrift of fourth-placed North Melbourne, who look set to secure the double chance given that they play 13th placed Port Adelaide at the MCG in round 22.

Craig's attention has turned to ensuring his team beats the Bulldogs at AAMI Stadium so that Adelaide remains in at least sixth place and gives itself home ground advantage in the first week of the finals.

"It (ensuring a home elimination final) is an important prize now," Craig said.

"I still think home ground exists in the competition - it's becoming less but it still exists - so there is that (advantage to getting a home final) plus it will be great for us to be able to get it for our supporter base if it all falls that way."

But Craig said his side would need to improve considerably if they are going to beat the third-placed Western Bulldogs.

"We have to step up a lot of areas from where we were today," he said.

"In the end we just got bulldozed in all areas (and) it's one of our poorest performances in a long time."

The Crows were missing forwards Brett Burton, Jason Porplyzia and Trent Hentschel but Craig said that was no excuse.

"Personnel are important but personnel wasn't our issue today - please believe me," he said.

"It was more the way we went about and our whole play around the whole ground and after quarter time we were really poor."






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Porplyzia a chance to return

August 20th 2008 06:29
A neurosurgeon is likely to determine whether classy Adelaide forward Jason Porpylzia is right to play against St Kilda at Telstra Dome on Sunday.

Porplyzia suffered brain bruising and concussion in a clash with Carlton’s Steven Browne back in round 18.

Adelaide coach Neil Craig said the club was hopeful that Porplyzia would play again before the end of the home-and-away season.

"We're hopeful and talking to Jason he feels fine. He's been doing some running and kicking and physical activity but we will be guided by the specialist on it so if it's not this week we'd like to think it's definitely the week after," he said.

Craig also said Porplyzia may consider wearing a helmet in his comeback.

"If there's something there that can help him or help protect versus wearing for the sake of wearing it. We are open minded about that," he said.

Porplyzia is also dealing with a suspect shoulder that has dislocated several times this season but Craig said the 23-year-old would play if he has overcome his head injury.

"If the neurosurgeon gives the all clear we are back to where we were when Jason was playing. We understand he's got a shoulder injury, he understands that he needs to perform with that shoulder injury if he wants to put himself up for selection," he said.
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Biglands calls it quits

August 18th 2008 04:59
ADELAIDE ruckman Rhett Biglands has announced his retirement from AFL football six months into his rehabilitation from a second full-knee reconstruction.

The 30-year-old ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the 2006 preliminary final loss to West Coast and was on track to make an AFL return this season before suffering another serious knee injury in February.

Biglands admitted the past two years on the sidelines have been tough said the time was right for him to call it quits.

"The last two years have probably been the most difficult of my life but, in saying that, I’ve had 10 years on an AFL list, so I’m very thankful for having the opportunity to be involved with the best game in the world,” Biglands said.

“I think the time is right. I’ve sort of known, in consultation with others, that the second reconstruction was always going to be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

“You’ve got to look after your body [especially] with the way it’s been hammered over the years. You’ve got to make sure that your lifestyle after footy is good enough to do what you want to do.”

Biglands played 134 games for the Crows and was a part of Port Adelaide's inaugural AFL squad in 1997 but was cut without playing a game when the Power were required to trim their initial list.
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Crows end hoodoo

August 16th 2008 07:30
ADELAIDE has kept its top-four hopes alive with a 56-point demolition of Essendon at Telstra Dome on Saturday afternoon.

The Crows' 19.15 (129) to 10.13 (73) victory is their first win over the Bombers in Melbourne in 11 attempts.

Adelaide is now in fourth place on the AFL ladder but could be overtaken by Sydney and North Melbourne, who play Geelong and Carlton respectively later in the round.

The Crows midfield dominated the stoppages with Scott Thompson leading the way with a team-high 31 possessions and one goal. He received good support from Nathan van Berlo (26 disposals) and Brent Reilly (23 possessions).

Adelaide had 10 individual goalkickers for the match - Nick Gill the most effective with five, three of which came in the final term while Simon Goodwin chimed in with three majors.

For Essendon, Damien Peverill, Brent Stanton, Ricky Dyson and Jay Nash tried hard all day, racking up 30-plus possessions while skipper Matthew Lloyd chimed in with three goals in his 250th game.

The Bombers kicked the first goal of the contest through Paddy Ryder but the rest of the term belonged to the Crows.

Adelaide was relentless in their pressure at contests and ran hard through the middle as they slammed on the next three goals of the term to take a 14-point lead into the first change.

The Crows should have been further in front at quarter-time but they failed to make the most of their opportunities in front of goal, booting a wasteful 3.4.

The Bombers lifted their intensity and levelled the scores at the 17-minute mark of the second term thanks to goals from Lloyd and David Hille.

But Adelaide had all the answers with two majors from Goodwin and a goal from Patrick Dangerfield with his first kick in AFL football giving Adelaide a 19-point advantage at the main break.

The Crows then broke the game open in the second half, slamming on six goals in a stunning 17-minute burst to take a match-winning 55-point lead into the final change.

Adelaide didn't take their foot off the pedal in the final term, booting a further six goals to cap off a history-making win.

ESSENDON: 1.2 4.7, 6.10, 10.13 (73)
ADELAIDE: 3.4, 7.8, 13.10, 19.15 (129)
GOALS: ESSENDON: Lloyd 3, Hille 2, Ryder, McPhee, Lovett-Murray, Magin, Laycock
ADELAIDE: Gill 5,
Goodwin 3, Stevens 2, Johncock 2, Douglas 2, Moran, Thompson, Maric, Dangerfield, McLeod
BEST: ESSENDON: Peverill, Nash, Dyson, Lovett, McPhee, Watson
ADELAIDE: Gill, Thompson, van Berlo, Reilly, Symes, Edwards, Stevens, Doughty
INJURIES: ESSENDON: Fletcher (groin)
ADELAIDE: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Hocking replaced in the selected side by Magin.
UMPIRES: Margetts, Rosebury, Kamolins


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Dangerfield earnt his spot: Craig

August 15th 2008 07:41
ADELAIDE youngster Patrick Dangerfield's versatility and good form with the Geelong Falcons has earned him his debut with the Crows, according to coach Neil Craig.

Dangerfield opted to stay in Victoria to complete his secondary studies and wasn't expected to to get a call-up this season.

But Craig said the 18-year-old's form and flexibility meant he deserved a chance to play this year.

"He does give us a degree of flexibility as well because in the under 18s he's been playing back, he's been playing in the midfield and has been able to go forward and be a strong contributor up there as well," Craig said.

"I'm comfortable with him playing in all three areas of the ground … one of the reasons he was selected was because of that flexibility."

Craig admitted Dangerfield's debut would draw attention given Adelaide's decision to overlook South Australian youngster Brad Ebert, who is now with West Coast.

"I'm not even going to waste my time trying to control that … I don't want to even try and control the expectation that has always been there," he said.

"It's been there since Ebert/Dangerfield (draft choice)."

Dangerfield is highly rated by the Crows but hasn't been given any guarantees that he will be a permanent player in the side heading into finals.

"Probably each week it will be a discussion point whether we go with Patrick," he said.

"That general concept - 'Lets give them at least two' - I don't think it necessarily fits.”




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Craig re-signs

August 12th 2008 03:31
ADELAIDE coach Neil Craig has signed a two-year contract extension that will see him remain at the club until at least the end of the 2011 season.

Craig, who has taken the Crows to the finals in each of his three full seasons said on Tuesday that he wanted to be a one-club coach.

"I have probably said I will only be a senior coach at one AFL club, and that's the Adelaide Football Club," Craig said.

"I'm really clear in my mind on that, and I can't see any reason why that would change."

Adelaide chief executive officer Steven Trigg said Craig was steering the club in the right direction.

“Neil continues to do an outstanding job for our football club. Extending his term provides a clear direction for our club, as well as a stable environment for the coaches and playing group," Trigg said: .

“External expectations at various times over the past four or five years have been that we were not going to be competitive. To the contrary, under Neil’s full-time leadership we have been extraordinarily competitive, competing in the finals series each year (to date). At the same time, we’re delighted with the progress made in terms of list management.”



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Vince out for two weels

August 11th 2008 03:37
ADELAIDE midfielder Bernie Vince will miss at least two weeks with a hamstring injury sustained during the Crows' 63-point win over Richmond at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.

Vince, who has been in good form this season is likely to be replaced by fellow midfielder Brent Reilly, who performed strongly on the weekend in the SANFL in his first game back from a knee strain.


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Crows thump toothless Tigers

August 10th 2008 08:41
ADELAIDE has all but ended Richmond's finals hopes with a comprehensive 63-point win at AAMI Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Crows set up their 11th win of the season with a dominant second term, eventually prevailing 16.12 (108) to 6.9 (45).

The loss means Richmond are a game and a half and percentage outside the eight with three rounds remaining while Adelaide is still in the hunt for a top-four finish, trailing the fourth-placed Swans by just half a game.

The Crows face second-placed Hawthorn at the MCG next Sunday before finishing the home-and-away season with games against Fremantle and Melbourne.

Nathan van Berlo was prolific in the middle for Adelaide with a team-high 32 possessions while Scott Thompson, Tyson Edwards, Michael Doughty and Brad Symes were busy contributors, racking up 20-plus disposals.

Adelaide had 12 individual goalkickers for the match - Thompson, Simon Goodwin, Scott Stevens and Nick Gill the most effective with two each.

Nathan Bock did a superb blanketing job on Matthew Richardson, keeping the Richmond star goalless while Andrew McLeod was damaging in his 300th game with 28 disposals and a goal.

For Richmond, skipper Kane Johnson and Shane Tuck tried hard all afternoon, racking up 30-plus possessions while Troy Simmonds battled hard in the ruck, finishing the match with 22 disposals, 22 hit-outs and one goal.

In conditions made difficult by a dead surface, wind and intermittent rain both sides were guilty of missing targets going forward but the Crows made the most of their opportunities with majors from Edwards, Stevens and Goodwin giving Adelaide an 11-point lead at quarter-time.

Adelaide's midfield ran riot in the second term with their superior skills proving to be the difference between the two sides as they slammed on seven unanswered goals to take a match-winning 54-point lead into the main break.

The Tigers were more competitive in the second half, booting five goals to Adelaide's six but the damage had already been done.





ADELAIDE: 3.2, 10.4, 15.6,16.12 (108)
RICHMOND: 1.3, 1.4, 4.6, 6.9 (45)
GOALS: ADELAIDE: Stevens 2, Goodwin 2, Gill 2, Thompson 2, Edwards, McLeod, Massie, McKay, Douglas, van Berlo, Moran, Vince
RICHMOND: Bowden, Deledio, Pattison, Simmonds, Riewoldt, McMahon
BEST: ADELAIDE: van Berlo, Doughty, McLeod, Edwards, Symes, Thompson, Bock, Massie, Shirley
RICHMOND: Johnson, Tuck, Deledio, Simmonds
INJURIES: ADELAIDE: Vince (left hamstring)
RICHMOND: Foley (ribs)
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Jay Schulz replaced in the selected side by Mitch Morton.
UMPIRES: Farmer, James, Head
CROWD: 37,562 at the AAMI STADIUM


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Johncock cleared to play

August 5th 2008 01:34
ADELAIDE defender Graham Johncock is a chance to play in Sunday's crucial clash against Richmond at AAMI Stadium after receiving the all clear from the club’s leadership group.

Johncock was sent back to the SANFL two weeks ago after failing to meet the necessary standards of preparation.

Adelaide skipper Simon Goodwin said there had been a marked improvement in the 25-year-old's approach to preparing for AFL football.

“His attitude towards his training, his fitness and the attitude he’s gone back to the Port Adelaide Magpies with has been sensational. Full credit to Graham and we’re looking forward to seeing the benefits of Graham playing some great footy for us,” he said.

“Graham had some guidelines we wanted to see and he’s delivered on that over the last couple of weeks. His preparation has improved over the last couple of weeks, we’ve seen that, we know he can do it; it’s just a matter of him doing it on a long-term basis now.

“We’re confident Graham will come into the team, play his role to the level that we expect.”


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Next season could be McLeod's last

August 4th 2008 06:28
ADELAIDE veteran Andrew McLeod has indicated that he may not play beyond season 2009.

The dual Norm Smith medallist said he's not looking too far into the future.

"I've got another year on my contract so we'll see what happens there but at the moment I wouldn't say I'm content, but I'm sort of happy if I get through that," he said.

"There's always a burning ambition to play another premiership that's why you play football but it's certainly not eating away at me."

"It's something that you aspire to and you'd love to win as many as you can but the reality is it doesn't (always) happen."

McLeod will become just the second indigenous player to reach the 300-game mark when Adelaide faces Richmond at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.

The 32-year-old said he was excited about equalling the record held by Essendon and Port Adelaide premiership player Gavin Wanganeen.

"I'm pretty pumped about being able to reach the milestone alongside Gav because he's obviously someone I looked up to and someone I marvelled at over my career," he said.

"Hopefully that'll go and inspire other players to be able to do it or it might inspire some young indigenous boy in the sticks that wants to play AFL footy and be like Gavin Wanganeen and Andrew McLeod and play 300 games."

"Hopefully someone can go on and beat it but it's there and I'm pretty proud that my name is going to be next to Gavin Wanganeen's."

McLeod said he hadn't thought too much about his personal milestone with the Crows still a chance to secure a top-four berth after back-to-back victories.

"Couple of weeks ago it was all doom and gloom but it's nice to be back in the winner circle," he said.

"We've given ourselves a chance now, we are back amongst it and the beauty of it is we hold the cards to our own destiny as a footy club this year and that's how you want to be."

"You don't want to be relying on other teams to do things for you.”

Meanwhile McLeod said he planned on getting away from football once his career is over.

"I don't think I've got the coaching bug, I don't think it's in me. I enjoy working with the indigenous communities and I'm doing some study at the moment so hopefully I've got a few areas where I'm covered," he said.




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Crows hold off Blues

August 2nd 2008 08:30
ADELAIDE has kept its top-four hopes alive with a thrilling eight-point win over Carlton at AAMI Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Crows blew the game open in the third term before withstanding a last-quarter surge from the Blues to record a gutsy 13.16 (94) to 12.14 (86) victory.

Adelaide is now just half a game behind fourth-placed Sydney with four rounds remaining.

The win was soured somewhat for the Crows with classy forward Jason Porplyzia stretchered off the ground after being felled by a Steven Browne bump in the second term. He took no further part in the match.

Nathan van Berlo was Adelaide's best with a game-high 40 possessions. Robert Shirley did a superb blanketing job on Carlton skipper Chris Judd, restricting the 2004 Brownlow medallist to just 15 possessions while Brad Moran chimed in with four majors.

For Carlton, Andrew Carrazzo and Nick Stevens worked hard all day, racking up 30-plus possessions while the newly signed Brendon Fevola booted five goals.

The Blues made the most of their opportunities in front of goal in an even opening term, kicking the first two goals of the match through Heath Scotland and Brad Fisher before two majors in three minutes from Fevola gave Carlton a 15-point lead at quarter-time.

Carlton kicked the first goal of the second term through Fevola before the Crows were sparked into action after Porplyzia was hurt in an off-the-ball clash at the 14-minute mark.

Adelaide responded with the next three goals through Ivan Maric, Nick Gill and Moran to hit the front for the first time in the match before a 50m goal from Simon Wiggins gave the Blues a one-point advantage at the main break.

The Blues kicked the first goal of the third term but the rest of the quarter belonged to the Crows.

They dominated at the stoppages, moved the football quickly through the middle and won the inside 50 count 18-8 as they slammed on six goals to two to take a handy 24-point lead into the final change.

Adelaide looked set to record their tenth win of the season when Tyson Edwards kicked truly to extend the Crows' lead to 32 points.

But the Blues lifted and hit back with three goals in three minutes to reduce the deficit to just 14 points.

Carlton then dominated the remainder of the game but failed to capitalise in front of goal, finishing the match with six straight behinds.

ADELAIDE: 1.7, 6.11, 12.14, 13.16 (94)
CARLTON: 4.4, 7.6, 9.8, 12.14 (86)
GOALS: ADELAIDE: Moran 4, Shirley 2, Maric 2, Edwards 2, Porplyzia, MacKay, Gill
CARLTON: Fevola 5, Scotland, Fisher, Wiggins, Cloke, Walker, Simpson, Stevens,
BEST: ADELAIDE: van Berlo, Shirley, Moran, Massie, Doughty, Edwards, Thompson, Maric
CARLTON: Stevens, Carrazzo, Scotland, Murphy, Walker, Gibbs
INJURIES: ADELAIDE: Porplyzia (concussion)
CARLTON: Betts (hamstring)
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Ryan, Meredith, McInerney
CROWD: 40,730 at AAMI Stadium


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