ADELAIDE 16.15 (111) def GOLD COAST 11.17 (83)
WHILE the final margin was a comfortable 28 points, Adelaide had to work hard for its win against a much improved Gold Coast Suns team. The Suns were competitive for much of the game and were only trailing by eight points going into the final term.
But ultimately the experience of the Crows made all the difference as they withstood all attempts by the Suns to come back.
For Adelaide the tandem of young Brad Crouch (31 possessions, 6 marks and 6 tackles) and superstar Patrick Dangerfield (27 possessions, 7 marks, 4 tackles and 1 goal) was dominant.
But it wasn’t without some challenges for Adelaide after Brent Reilly was forced out of the game in the opening quarter with a dislocated shoulder. The Crows were forced to use their substitute early bringing Matthew Wright in who then went on to add four much needed goals.
The Suns have come a long way this year and are no longer the easy beat team of the last two years. While Gary Ablett remains the star of this squad (30 possessions , 5 tackles and two goals) the Suns are no longer a one man team. Young gun Jaegar O’Meara continues his ascent for Gold Coast and promises to be a good player for a long time but it was Dion Prestia who had, arguably, the best effort on the day with 42 disposals and a pair of goals in a losing effort.
“Disappointed not to get the win today but Adelaide were a good team,” said Prestia after the game via the club’s website.
“They were fitter and worked harder in defence, we couldn’t quite finish off our opportunities and could have been up a lot more at quarter-time which was disappointing.”
Meanwhile while his team came away with the win, Crows coach Brenton Sanderson still sees a lot more work ahead for the club.
“We’re not playing anywhere near what we’re capable of,” said Sanderson.
“This was a small step today, yes we got the win, a few guys got back into form, but we’ve still got a long way to go.
“We were very up for this game. It’s been a difficult two weeks for our footy club because we’ve had to cop a fair bit of criticism and the boys have just wanted to get out there and play.”
This win puts Adelaide back within one game of the top eight and with nine games to go are keeping their finals hopes alive.
Adelaide plays the West Coast Eagles at AAMI Stadium next Saturday afternoon while also on the same day Gold Coast will travel up the road to play Brisbane the sixth instalment of QCLASH.
Here are the highlights from the game:
ADELAIDE 1.4 8.7 11.10 16.15 (111)
GOLD COAST 3.5 5.11 9.14 11.17 (83)
GOALS
Adelaide: Wright 4, Jenkins 2, Porplyzia 2, Lynch 2, van Berlo, Smith, Vince, Riley, Douglas, Dangerfield
Gold Coast: Gorringe 2, May 2, Brown 2, Ablett 2, Prestia 2, Hall
BEST
Adelaide: Dangerfield, Crouch, Wright, Jacobs, van Berlo, Jenkins, Porplyzia
Gold Coast: Prestia, McKenzie, O’Meara, Ablett, Harbrow, Stanley
INJURIES
Adelaide: Reilly (shoulder)
Gold Coast: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: Matthew Wright replaced Brent Reilly (shoulder) in the first quarter
Gold Coast: Andrew Boston replaced Karmichael Hunt (tactical) at three-quarter time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McBurney, Schmitt, Pannell
Official crowd: 13,791 at Metricon Stadium