The Beautiful Game
You’ve just gotta love the mixed-up, mucked up, game of snakes and ladders over the five weeks of the bye rounds, especially the illegitimacy of some teams pumping up their own tyres with an inflated ladder position even though they have played one or two games more than other teams.
I listened to Chris Scott’s hyperbole after the Cats’ defeat to the Dockers last Thursday night, defending his teams positioning on the ladder and what it means for their future in their run up to the finals.
Mr Scott spoke with the confidence of a coach at the pointy end of the ladder as he prattled off how good his team is, which he is entitled to do, however, his team is only in fourth place by default.
(There is a fine line between arrogance and humility, and Scott of the ‘employed’ variety has always spoke with an arrogance that only comes with sustained success. I kinda like it and despise it at the same time.)
It is highly unlikely the Cats will still be in fourth come the end of Round 16 as the chasing pack rounds them up over the rest of this round and over their bye weekend, while at the other end of the ladder, it is highly probable the Cats will be one and half wins behind the third placed Hawks when they next take to the field.
There always has been an arrogance about the lads from Sleepy Hollow, but it is possible, come the start of round 17 the Cats may be as low on the ladder as sixth, finding themselves fighting a battle to stay in the hunt, while trying to avoid the dreaded Wildcard Weekend (four games left at Alphabet Stadium should keep them in the hunt for top 6).
Before the start of the brunchtime clash between the Crows and the Demons in the City of Churches, they have played two and one game less than the Cats respectively, with the Crows only one loss behind the Cats while the Demons are sitting level with the fourth-placed Cats on nine wins.
The Crows and the Demons are both playing aesthetically the most attractive brand of football presently, and they face off at the visually pleasing Adelaide Oval, as they stake their claims in the battle for fourth to sixth on the ladder.
Some games can be season-defining, and for the fifth and sixth placed Demons and Crows, a win will put them in the stratosphere with the Dockers, the Swans and the Hawks, and the Cats, and for the time being at least, a safe distance from the Wildcard playoffs.
I for one love all the permeations as to the different little battles leading into September from this point of the season onwards, so if you make a prediction, make it at your own peril.
It is a truly beautiful game.
Firstly, before I start, it was good to hear during the broadcast that Tony Modra is now awake with his wife and children – we all wish you a speedy recovery.
One Hell of Tough Battle
Adelaide 11:13:79 defeated Melbourne 9:08:62
Adelaide 65 tackles to Melbourne 50 tackles
In a normal review the tackle count might be mentioned by the by, however, in this classic encounter between two tough teams, it was the tackle count that separated them, especially late in the game.
With under ten-minutes left in the last quarter there was a mere point separating the two teams and in the battle of attrition, the Crows were finally able outlast Max Gawn and his gallant Demons.
In a game of inches, there is a lot to talk about.
Lachie McAndrew v Max Gawn v Riley Thilthorpe
Towards the end of the third quarter, the brave Lachie McAndrew ran back with the flight of the ball straight into Jake Lever, and it looked like he had cracked his cheekbone when he went straight into the rooms.
Up until that point of the game, the 15-gamer McAndrew had held his own against the AFL’s version of Benjamin Button, Max Gawn.
While big Max was the difference between the two teams, I tilt my hat to McAndrew who got on and played his own game in a performance that showed the kid has real talent.
When McAndrew went off the ground, the Crows called on Riley Thilthorpe, who was having a shocker, to take up the ruck duties against Max.
The move of Thilthorpe into the ruck was a coaching masterstroke by Matthew Nicks, as Riley who had only four possessions to that point, suddenly came to life. Gawn found Thilthorpe a very difficult opponent, and he struggled against the Crows’ bearded one.
Thilthorpe had been awoken, and he made the Demons pay.
Thankfully the injury to McAndrew was not as serious as it first looked, and in the last quarter he came back onto the ground, and in tandem with Thilthorpe, they worked Gawn over, and then some.
Between the two Crows’ giants, they nullified the influence of Gawn at the stoppages, while around the ground they racked up ten possessions, six marks, ten stoppage hit outs, and a goal to Thilthorpe when the game was up for grabs.
In the last quarter Thilthorpe sent a clear signal to all opposition coaches; he is a lot more than a one trick pony, while Lachie McAndrew stood up when he was injured and played the game right out in a tough, character-building performance.
Izak Rankine v Kysaiah Pickett v James Peatling
Kysaiah Pickett was well held in this game by a combination of Izak Rankine shadowing him when he attended centre bounces, and primarily by James Peatling around the ground, as well as a cast of others, including even Jordan Dawson when necessary.
The sum effect was, Kysaiah had a real dirty and. at times. an undisciplined day, especially in the last quarter when he gave away a dumb 50-metre penalty to Walker, before being involved in another 50-metre penalty a couple of minutes later.
In a game that cried for some Pickett magic, it just wasn’t there as he laboured around the field when the heat was on in the last quarter.
As for his opponents, Rankine had a good but subdued game by his standards, and he was still very dangerous in and around the forward 50, especially when it comes to the chemistry of understanding he has with Josh Rachele – it is something special.
Poor old James Peatling paid a physical price, being battered from pillar to post, however, in another character-building performance, he never veered from the multiple roles Matthew Nicks assigned to him and certainly doesn’t lack any courage.
The point of difference midway through the third
The Demons had done a great job preventing the Crows running the ball from their defensive fifty, but the longer the game went the more it became obvious that the Crows run was going to be the difference in the game.
Midway through the third quarter the Crows slammed on three straight goals, to Ben Keays, Wayne Milera and Darcy Fogarty, as they finally found a way through the Demons’ defence.
The Crows in full flight is an awesome sight, and midway through the third stanza I noted they would win the game, as non-household names like Hugo Hall-Kahan. Max Michalanney, Brayden Cook and Luke Nankervis, as well as Ben Keays and Wayne Milera broke through the Demons defensive structure, setting up forward thrusts.
The Crows no-name players are very good, highlighting the team’s growth from last year as they now have a list that runs deep.
A late goal to Kade Chandler against the flow of play still saw Melbourne take a two-point lead into the last.
There was a lot of moving pieces all coming together for the Crows in the last quarter when the game was on the line.
After an arm wrestle for ten minutes, Daniel Curtin and Mark Keene got on top, clunking contested marks in the back half and around the ground, suffocating the Demon forwards, while Alex Neal-Bullen reminded a few of his old teammates how good he is as the on field general directing the traffic. As a cherry on top, the much improved Josh Rachele showed his class with a couple of silky goals.
There is a mental and physical toughness about Rachele this season which has taken his game to the next level, remembering he is still only 23 years old, and he is still yet to play 100 games.
Melbourne didn’t do much wrong
If Melbourne had been able to hang on and win this match, it would have been a win for the ages, however, they ran out of petrol tickets in the dying minutes as the murder of Crows feasted.
In spite of what was stated earlier, Gawn was still the Demons’ best in this match, and it is a shame when his influence is stifled that other players cannot lift and fill the breach.
Tom Sparrow, Jake Bowey, Kade Chandler and the fifty gamers Daniel ‘Disco’ Turner played the game right out, keeping the Dees within striking distance until the last couple of minutes, and it wasn’t through their lack of effort the Dees were overrun. It was also pleasing to see young Joel Fitzgerald and Koltyn Tholstrup lift in the final quarter even though they both had been quiet to that point (that was impressive).
During the broadcast, Mark Ricciuto talked up Disco Turner as a possible future captain of the red and the blue, which is a reasonable call, but I feel he is second in line to the Demon who just flies under the radar week in, week out, the ultra-consistent and very talented Trent Rivers.
I am checking some stats on the AFL app as I write this, and the amount of talented young players the Demons have on their list is a credit to their coaching staff and the club. Harvey Langford, Joel Fitzgerald, Matthew Jefferson, Koltyn Tholstrup and others are showing enough to suggest they have long careers ahead of them at the Dees.
It looked like for all money Jacob van Rooyen was going to have the breakout game after he kicked three goals in the opening stanza, and while he was serviceable for the rest of the game, it could have been so much more.
Whenever Lockett or Dunstall kicked three goals in an opening quarter, barrackers swapped ends each quarter as they knew their hero was in for a good day, and while I’m not comparing JVR to the two legends, I firmly believe he has a lot more to offer.
Anyway, time will tell.
The Demons’ creche of young up and comers are being tutored by some very good and wise heads, including, but not limited to, Jake Lever, Tom McDonald, Ed Langdon, big Max, Jack Steele and Jake Melksham.
Melksham is the interesting one as he is the most likely to be playing alongside some the kids in the Magoos, and he strikes me as the type of team-oriented player that would be instilling in the kids what is takes to be a senior AFL player.
Melbourne’s trip to Adelaide ended in defeat, but it is the type of defeat that leaves their fans knowing they are heading in the right direction.
Before I finish up about the Demons, with May, Oliver and Petracca all leaving at the end of last season, the unexpected flow on effect has been team harmony.
In a Zen kind of way, the Dees are at one with themselves.
Titbits
Rory Laird is often the Crows leading possession winner, however, he does not hurt the opposition in the same manner as another player can with half as many possessions. Nobody questions his courage, nor his effort, nor his place in the team, but he just doesn’t hurt teams like Jordan Dawson would with 20-possessions.
Hats off to ya Rory Laird, as you have made a career out of being the essential meat and three vegs within the Crows team.
Sam Berry is a bit like Josh Rachele in that it seems like he has been in the system a lot longer than what he has. Sometimes a player looks like a kid until they mature out a bit, but Berry has looked and played like a seasoned hard nut since his very first game. He is a ripper.
Hugo Hall-Kahan is another mid-season draft player who has settled into his team like he has been there since day dot. Like other midseason draftees, I hope you play a hundred games plus and has a great career.
Mark Keane is back after being out injured all season, and he slotted straight into the Crows defence like he been there all season. Keane is THE rock down back for the Crows, and when a couple of his mates, Butts and Hinge return, then it is arguable the Crows will have the best defensive unit in the comp.
A few of us at The Mongrel Punt were disappointed with Foxtel’s promotion for this round of games, especially mentioning personal stuff.
Fin
As at the end of this round, the Crows are now equal fourth on the ladder with a game up their sleeve as they try and get a game up on the chasing pack.
The Crows 2025 and 2026 are totally different outfits, with this year’s team already looking like an improvement on last year, with a good list of ready-made role players to step up when it is their turn, and their list runs deep.
Next weekend the Crows step into the cauldron of another Showdown against their sworn enemy, the Power.
The Dees can sun it for a week as they have next weekend off, before they fly down to Launceston to take on the Hawks in what can best be described as another eight-point game for the Dees.
Finally, buy HB Meyers a coffee, as he reviews four games every weekend, and he ensures at least a couple of articles are published each day.
Fearless Leader is a bloody ripper.
Stay strong and stay bold.
