A BRILLIANT performance from Andrew McLeod has secured Adelaide’s place in the NAB Cup semi-finals, with the Crows defeating Fremantle 1.14.11 (104) to 1.12.6 (87) in front of 10,394 people at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.
McLeod provided a spark up forward in the second half after skipper Simon Goodwin went off with a leg injury and the 31-year-old sealed the 17-point win with three goals in the final term.
Ken McGregor staked his claim for a place in the side for round one of the season proper with four goals, while Jason Porplyzia, Brent Reilly, Scott Thompson and Chris Knights dominated in the midfield.
The Crows will now take on Hawthorn at AAMI Stadium next Saturday night for a place in the NAB Cup decider.
Fremantle had the breeze in the first quarter and immediately used it to great effect with a goal to surprise packet Ryan Murphy (three goals) in the opening minute of the game.
The Dockers continued to push forward and the Crows struggled to clear the ball from defence until Nathan Bock took control at centre-halfback.
Bock racked up eight possessions for the quarter and was well supported at the other end by the smooth Porplyzia who sold a dummy and chipped the ball to Simon Goodwin.
The skipper allowed for the breeze and negotiated the tight angle perfectly and slotted through Adelaide’s first.
The Crows persisted to move the ball through the corridor and ran into trouble, which came in the form of the fierce tackling Dockers.
Fremantle was gifted two goals through dubious free kicks late in the quarter and when Matthew Carr nailed his first goal from an Adelaide turnover, the Dockers were up by 23 points.
Adelaide clawed back to within 12 points at the first change when Ken McGregor slotted through his first, also courtesy of a free kick.
Shaun McManus extended Freo’s lead at the start of the second quarter, but then the Crows comeback then began in earnest.
Brent Reilly and Scott Thompson got going in the midfield and it was the Dockers who were feeling the heat.
McLeod lurked dangerously in his new role across half forward and when he intercepted an errant Fremantle kick, Ken McGregor had his second.
Luke Jericho and Reilly both had chances to bring the home side closer, but neither could find the middle of the sticks.
Luckily for Adelaide, Porplyzia could. The talented midfielder goaled after intercepting a misguided Fremantle kick-in and when Tyson Edwards was awarded a free inside the 50m the Crows were in front.
Richard Douglas registered Adelaide’s fifth behind for the quarter with his running shot at goal, but promising forward James Sellar had no such trouble.
The strapping 18-year-old took a diving mark on the boundary line and rewarded his effort with a goal to put the Crows ten points up at the main break.
The visitors regained the momentum early in the seesawing third term.
Giant ruckman Aaron Sandilands gave the Dockers' midfield first use of the ball and Brett Peake capitalised with a goal and then had a hand in another for Pavlich.
But again it was McLeod who swung the game back Adelaide’s favour.
The dynamic veteran showed his brilliance isn’t restricted to defence with six damaging possessions for the quarter. McLeod set up McGregor’s third goal before selflessly passing to Edwards who capitalised on Porplyzia’s good work up the ground.
Kurt Tippett continued to show good signs in just his second game and his first goal restored Adelaide’s ten-point lead going into the final change.
The McLeod show rolled on in the final term with the All-Australian captain slotting through three majors, which signalled party-mode for the Crows and game-over for Fremantle.
A late flurry from the Dockers only restored respectability to the scoreboard, and Adelaide fans will be treated to more pre-season action next weekend when the high-flying Hawks come to town.
ADELAIDE 1.1.2 1.5.7 1.8.8 1.14.10 (104)
FREMANTLE 1.3.2 1.4.3 1.7.4 1.12.6 (87)
Goals: Adelaide: Supergoals: K McGregor. Goals: A McLeod K McGregor 3 T Edwards 2 K Tippett N van Berlo S Stevens J Sellar S Goodwin N Bock. Fremantle: Supergoals: M Pavlich. Goals: R Murphy 3 D Solomon 2 M Pavlich B Peake S McManus M Carr R Palmer M Johnson J Farmer.
Best: Adelaide: A McLeod S Stevens J Johncock J Porplyzia S Thompson B Reilly. Fremantle: M Pavlich R Hayden A Sandilands R Crowley.
Umpires: G Fila J Schmidt M Stevic M Vozzo.
Official crowd: 10,394 at AAMI Stadium.
Injuries: Adelaide: N Bock (corked quad). Fremantle: Nil.
Reports: Nil.
