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
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
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
| 22 |
| Vote |
Shared on



Add Comments
Comments (1)







