After some winter-like weather battered Adelaide in the lead up to the Crows’ Round eight clash with Melbourne at AAMI Stadium, the sun finally broke through the clouds to shine on the Crows Sunday afternoon show.
With no premiership matches the previous weekend I was able to go to some SANFL and catch up on some school work. But the sizeable time gap between the Crows’ win against the Kangaroos and the game against Melbourne couldn’t have come to a close any sooner.
An early Sunday afternoon game meant an early rise from my slumber, as I headed down to AAMI Stadium nice and early. Any pre-match homework was swapped with the AFL Record, which featured Crows highflier Brett Burton on the cover.
My attention was adverted to the players’ warm-up, although Jarrhan Jacky’s late inclusion caught me off guard, only realising after the news filtered through the crowd that Kris Massie was out. In some way it was pleasing to see young Jacky come in and after all, I was fairly confident the Crows would walk away with a win.
Early on in the game, it seemed as everyone was still enjoying their Sunday sleep in, with the crowd noise at a whisper with Melbourne getting on the scoreboard first. However, it wasn’t long until the Crows came in flying. Simon Goodwin got his first goal of the game from a set shot, Jason Porplyzia’s was from a quick pick up off the ground and Brett Burton casually slotted his first through an unguarded goal square. Porplyzia followed up with his second shortly after, following a free kick down the ground.
Nathan van Berlo found himself without an opponent inside the 50 and coolly kicked a goal off one step as the goals kept coming fast in the first term. Kurt Tippett kicked a goal from the goal square after a strong overhead mark, Burton kicked another and Chris Knights also chipped in with a goal from a set shot after the quarter time siren.
The Crows had snapped out of their early snooze and held a handy lead of 21 points at the first break. Burton was amongst the thick of things, presenting well up forward and looking dangerous at ground level. His first great mark of the afternoon came on the wing, as he reeled in a one handed special from a turnover.
The second quarter included some of its own highlights. Blonde bombshell, David Mackay, gained possession of the ball in front of Melbourne speedster, Aaron Davey, but Mackay was able to click into gear and get away from a dashing Davey.
Tippett and Burton had the first two for the Crows for the second term. Tippett showed he was quick on his toes, winning a free quick after bowling over Melbourne ruckman, Mark Jamar, inside the Crows scoring fifty after a ball up. It was an impressive tackle but unfortunately his kick on goal resulted in a behind.
Burton converted his third for the game later on and Bernie Vince got his first after some sneaky play in the forward line. Melbourne player, Jeff White, marked the ball just inside the Crows fifty and used up his allocated time to move the ball on. Crows ruckman, Ivan Maric eagerly waited in the shadows of AAMI Stadium and as the umpire called play on he pounced on the unaware Demon. Vince came through and scooped the ball up off the ground and calmly ran into an open goal. The Crows were up by 37 points at half time.
The third term was a little lack lustre in comparison to the previous two quarters. Just three goals were scored and a whole heap of behinds, nine to be exact. Jarrhan Jacky showcased his own speed to the crowd early on, running down Melbourne’s Nathan Jones on the wing. Scott Stevens got himself on the board shortly after, with a goal from just outside 50.
Porplyzia added a goal to his handful, but blink and you would’ve missed it, it was that quick! He managed to get a kick away in the centre of the ground, after feeling the heat from a Melbourne player on his tail. Andrew McLeod then swiftly picked the ball up off the ground and hurriedly handballed back to Porplyzia, as he ran on into fifty for the goal.
Tippett added another one to his tally before the quarter’s end, as the Crows flew out to a 56 point lead at the last break.
Melbourne’s game two weeks ago against Fremantle was not far from my mind coming into the last quarter, but I was feeling pretty comfortable. But had I fallen into a false sense of security? What was that, Melbourne with the first three goals of the last quarter! A quick glance to the scoreboard suggested the Crows should be alright and all fears were put to rest when Burton took arguably his best mark of the year.
You could tell it was going to happen. Luke Jericho marked just outside fifty on the member’s side of AAMI Stadium. My eyes quickly adverted to the goal face to see who was there, to see who was going to make the lead. Burton circled like a bird eyeing off his prey; he ran behind his opponent and directed Jericho to the top of the goal square. Jericho sent the ball high in the air, a perfect kick for the ‘Birdman’. Burton’s eyes found it in the air, he propelled himself forward, leaping onto the shoulders of his stepladder, I mean, opponent. The crowd rose with him. ‘Burton!!’ Came the cry, he got it alright and finished up with a goal.
Jericho chipped in with three in the last term, Goodwin got two and Tippett finished off proceedings with a snap around his body for his fourth for the game. The Crows strong record against Melbourne at AAMI was not broken, as they ran out 76 point victors.
I revelled in the win back at the Crows Shed with a few mates as we discussed our favourite moments in the game and who we thought was best on ground. Burton, Vince, van Berlo and Tippett stood out for my liking. It was pleasing to see a fair few players also celebrate the win in the Shed, including former Crows highflier, Tony Modra.
This weekend the Crows are off to Perth to face West Coast. Considering the Crows beat the Eagles in Round 2 this season, they would most likely enter as favourites. But considering the game is at Subiaco, I’m tipping it could go down to the wire.
