Media articles and stats - Fighting Tigers fall just short to Crows

[one-eyed]

Fighting Tigers fall just short
By Geoff Dodd
richmondfc.com.au
Friday, May 17, 2007

THE TIGERS have finished their double-road trip to Adelaide still winless but with pride restored after a gutsy nine-point loss to the Crows at AAMI Stadium tonight.

In Terry Wallace’s 200th game as a senior AFL coach, Richmond lost on the scoreboard but not in the eyes of football fans, in the 14.15 (99) to 14.6 (90) defeat.

A first half shoot-out saw Richmond down by just two points at half time, but even more impressive was the young Tigers’ ability to hang in and slug it out with one of the competition heavyweights throughout a high-pressure second half.

Fielding 13 players aged 22 or under in front of the 40,742 crowd, the Tigers challenged the Crows all the way to the last quarter, levelling the scores with about 10 minutes to go, but the home team showed its experience to steady and ice the game.

In a sharp contrast to last year’s infamous ‘basketball’ game, both sides backed their skills, but in the end the Crows were the more polished, their extra experienced heads and hard bodies making the difference when push came to shove.

The game threatened to be over when the Crows had three unanswered goals on the board after six minutes of the first quarter, but the Tigers hit back through a goal to Matthew Richardson, before the Crows added two more through Nathan Bassett and Jonathon Griffin.

Staring at a five goal to one deficit and with the Crows rampant, the example was set for the Tigers by two young players with six games between them – 18-year-old Shane Edwards and elevated-rookie Jake King.

In the back half, King stood tall against the Crows onslaught, hoovering the loose ball, while Edwards - whose dad Greg starred on this ground for Central District in the SANFL - was prepared to back himself at every opportunity. While this sometimes ended in error, it more often led to opportunity.

Edwards’ spark was infectious, and classy goals to Nathan Foley on the run and Kayne Pettifer from a tight angle had the Tigers back within 10 points.

The good work was undone in the last minute of the quarter, however, when young Adelaide ball-magnet Chris Knights was allowed to goal after an undisciplined free, and then Simon Goodwin goaled on the run to have the home team 22 points up at the first break.

The Crows started the second term fast again, taking the margin out to 30 after four minutes with a snapped goal to Scott Welsh following some classic ruckwork from Ben Hudson.

But Richmond kept coming.

A goal to Richo after some nice lead up work from Andrew Krakouer - a late inclusion at the expense of Chris Hyde - was followed by another to Dean Polo, and the Tigers refused to say die.

A super goal soon after to Jake King - showing older Tiger heads again how to back themselves - reduced the margin back to 12, and then a passage to gladden Richmond hearts - Foley, Deledio, Meyer, goal - had the visitors back within a goal, and it was ‘game on’.

The game had turned to a shoot-out, and the Tigers were more than holding their own.

By half time a five goal to one second term had the Tigers back within two points.

Challenged, the Crows came out after half time and turned the game into the sort of high pressure football that’s seen them reach the past two preliminary finals.

The Tigers held on through a combination of grit and inaccurate kicking from the Crows, but by three-quarter time the margin had eked back out to 19 points.

The Tigers refused to lie down, however. A goal to Richo (his third) kept them in touch, and when Chris Knights ran too far under pressure in defence, and Brett Deledio calmly slotted home the free from 50, the Tigers were back within five points.

A frenetic 10 minutes followed, during which the Tigers lost Dean Polo (arm) and Richo (cut eye), but a goal to Cam Howat saw scores level after 13 minutes.

From that point on the Crows were able to steady, with goals to Bock and two to Scott Welsh, to put the game out of the Tigers’ reach.

There were great signs from a stack of the fledgling Tigers, with Nathan Foley continuing his stellar season with another 27 possessions; Danny Meyer (2 goals) displaying strong hand at times up forward; and Cam Howat impressive.

Of the older heads, Kane Johnson led from the front, while Chris Newman celebrated his 25th birthday with a night out in defence, gathering 20 disposals.

Richmond fans have, of course, never before suffered a 0-8 start to the season. The last club to experience it was Fremantle in 2001, on the way to a horrific 0-17 start. Two years later they were playing finals.

Tigers fans can take heart from that, but more so from tonight’s performance, and look forward to hosting Essendon at the MCG next Saturday night, against whom they’ve won their last three matches.

ADELAIDE 7.1 8.5 11.10 14.15 (99)

RICHMOND 3.3 8.3 9.3 14.6 (90)

GOALS

Adelaide: S Welsh 5 J Griffin 2 N Bock 2 S Thompson N Bassett C Knights S Goodwin R Douglas.
Richmond: M Richardson 3 D Meyer 2 C Howat 2 B Deledio J King G Polak D Polo K Pettifer N Foley D Jackson.

BEST

Adelaide: S Welsh, J Griffin, S Goodwin, S Thompson, N Bock.
Richmond: N Foley, A Pattison, M Richardson,J Bowden, B Deledio.

INJURIES

Adelaide: Nil.
Richmond: M Richardson (fractured eye socket); D Polo (dislocated shoulder); C Hyde (back) replaced in selected side by A Krakouer.

Reports: Nil.

Umpires: B Rosebury D Sully S Ryan.

Official crowd: 40,742 at AAMI Stadium.

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/6301/Default.aspx?newsId=43446

[one-eyed]

Team Stats

Kicks:        214 - 203
Handballs: 155 - 143
Disposals:  369 - 346
Marks:       125 - 106
Hitouts:       41 - 24
Tackles:       46 - 45
Frees:          17 - 19

Individual Stats

Code: [Select]

Player                        Kicks     Handballs     Marks    Tackles   Frees     Score   
                                1 2 3 4  T  1 2 3 4  T  1 2 3 4 T            For Ag   G B

FOLEY,Nathan            3 3 5 3 14 3 2 4 4 13 0 1 1 0 2 2 1 5 1 0
BOWDEN,Joel             3 8 7 1 19 1 1 1 3 6 2 3 4 1 10 1 0 1 0 1
DELEDIO,Brett            2 2 3 2 9 5 1 4 5 15 1 2 3 2 8 1 0 0 1 0
PETTIFER,Kayne          3 5 3 7 18 0 0 2 1 3 2 4 2 3 11 0 0 2 1 1
TUCK,Shane                3 5 1 4 13 1 1 3 3 8 0 4 0 1 5 2 1 4 0 0
RAINES,Andrew          4 2 2 2 10 3 2 1 5 11 0 2 2 0 4 0 1 0 0 0
PATTISON,Adam          2 2 0 5 9 2 1 3 6 12 4 0 0 2 6 0 0 6 0 0
KING,Jake                   3 4 2 2 11 3 0 1 5 9 0 5 1 1 7 1 3 4 1 0
NEWMAN,Chris             4 4 2 1 11 5 3 1 0 9 4 4 1 0 9 0 1 2 0 0
TIVENDALE,Greg          4 2 3 1 10 2 3 2 3 10 2 1 0 0 3 1 1 3 0 0
HOWAT,Cameron          2 6 5 1 14 0 2 2 0 4 1 3 2 1 7 0 1 4 2 0
JOHNSON,Kane            3 5 4 0 12 1 2 1 1 5 3 3 3 0 9 1 3 4 0 0
KRAKOUER,Andrew      3 1 2 5 11 1 0 2 2 5 4 0 1 1 6 3 0 2 0 0
POLAK,Graham            2 3 2 2 9 1 3 2 1 7 1 2 2 0 5 0 0 1 1 0
EDWARDS,Shane         1 3 2 2 8 6 0 2 0 8 1 1 2 2 6 1 2 1 0 0
POLO,Dean                  1 1 1 2 5 1 1 6 2 10 1 1 3 1 6 1 2 2 1 0
TAMBLING,Richard       4 3 0 2 9 1 0 1 1 3 0 2 1 0 3 1 0 2 0 0
JACKSON,Daniel          3 0 3 1 7 0 2 2 1 5 2 0 2 0 4 0 0 0 1 1
RICHARDSON,Matthew 2 1 0 3 6 0 1 1 0 2 2 2 0 0 4 1 1 2 3 2
THURSFIELD,Will         2 0 0 0 2 0 2 3 1 6 2 0 2 0 4 0 1 1 0 0
MEYER,Danny              1 3 0 1 5 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 0 1 4 1 0 0 2 1
SCHULZ,Jay                0 1 0 1 2 1 0 2 0 3 0 1 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 0
 Rushed  0
TOTAL 55 64 47 48 214 37 27 46 45 155 33 43 33 16 125 17 19 46 14 6
 
HITOUTS: 24
50m PENALTIES: 0
GOALS: Free 2; Play 4; Mark 8
DISTANCE OF GOALS: 0-15m 2; 15-30m 5; 30-40m 1; 40+m 6

Top 5's

Ranking points

J.Bowden      148
Pattison        125
Goodwin       124
McLeod         116
Bock             114

Contested possessions

Pattison         10
Shirley           10
Deledio           9
Foley              9
Knights          9

Uncontested possessions

Goodwin        22
Knights         20
T.Edwards     20
McLeod         20
Newman       20

Effective Kicks

J.Bowden      17
McLeod         16
Goodwin       15
T.Edwards     13
Bock             13

Inside 50

Goodwin         6
Pettifer           5
T.Edwards      4
Tivendale       4
Van Berlo       4

Rebound 50

McLeod         4
Mattner        3
King             3
Tambling      3
Deledio        3

[one-eyed]

Crows avoid upset
Ashley Porter, Adelaide | May 19, 2007 | The Age

RICHMOND'S woes deepened after it lost to Adelaide by nine points at AAMI Stadium last night, with news that Matthew Richardson is expected to miss at least six games with a serious eye injury.

Richardson was taken to hospital with a suspected left-eye-socket fracture, after being accidentally kicked by teammate Andrew Krakouer. The Tigers are also concerned with Dean Polo, who dislocated his right shoulder but went back on to the field.

Both injuries happened during a tense last quarter, shortly before Richmond levelled the scores at the 13-minute mark, only for Adelaide to recover.

It had been expected to be a walk in the Football Park. Adelaide was at the prohibitive odds of 200-1-on, paying $1.05, but it was given the scare of its life.

The Tigers have won four of their past six quarters at AAMI Stadium after producing a solid second half against Port Adelaide six days earlier — but no wins have resulted.

Normally, this statistic is nothing to rave about, but for a side that had not won a game in seven rounds, and had been beaten by 157 points only 17 days earlier, this was a fine effort. There were only 15 players in this side from the team humiliated by Geelong, and the mix was better, with some fresh kids not worrying about anything else but having a go.

Adelaide was forced to work hard, and after a brilliant start, was made to treat its opponent with greater respect. Adding gloss to Richmond's second-term effort, and Adelaide's win, was the fact that, generally, it was quality football.

There was a lot of rebound. For the most part, Adelaide couldn't take a contested mark in its 50-metre zone to save itself, and when its early centre-square dominance evaporated, the situation heightened.

At times, the Tigers' intensity came unstuck. They did try to swerve around one too many opponents, and the skills may not have been quite there, but this young side had a real go. It took the contest up to the Crows, who generally responded well.

Given the Crows' aggressive mood, it was no surprise they led at quarter-time, 7.1 to 3.3. In their infamously dull contest last year, Adelaide had kicked 4.8 to three-quarter-time.

The third quarter possibly presented the biggest challenge for both sides this season. For Adelaide, it became a matter of whether it could respond, and there seemed doubts with key players down, including Brett Burton, with one kick and a handball, seemingly troubled by knee soreness and perhaps the gastro that flattened him on Thursday. For Richmond, it was a case of maintaining the belief that impossible matches can be won, no matter the odds.

The third quarter developed into a much tighter tussle around the ground. At times, Adelaide had a dozen or so players swarming the ball, and there were five tense minutes when the ball was stuck deep in Richmond's forward pockets without a score.

As much as the Crows' tactics may have looked ugly, they changed the complexion of the game, and they took the initiative from Richmond. Entering time-on, Adelaide had kicked 1.5 to 1.0 to lead by seven points, but two goals had it 19 points in front at three-quarter-time.

Richmond needed to start the last quarter well, and when Kayne Pettifer missed an easy chance from 40 metres, a heavy sigh could be heard from the coach's box. A minute later, Richardson kicked his third.

When Chris Knights ran too far, and Brett Deledio goaled from 50 metres at the eight-minute mark, Adelaide led by only five points. Then scores were level with a second goal from Cameron Howat.

Hurting Richmond in this term were the injuries to Polo and Richardson, but further pain was to come. Goals from Nathan Bock and two from Welsh, and the dream that a bolter could beat a 200-1 pop was just that: a dream.

Best: Richmond: N Foley, A Pattison, M Richardson,J Bowden, B Deledio.

http://realfooty.com.au/news/rfmatchreport/crows-avoid-upset/2007/05/18/1178995417757.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

[one-eyed]

Tigers hang tough before natural order restored
Lyall Johnson | May 19, 2007 | The Age

THE OLD saying goes that where there is life, there's hope.

And midway through the last term, the Tiger unit that had been about as effective as a walking corpse in recent weeks had been so zapped into life, its cup of hope was running over. Running over the Crows, even. Well, almost, the scores were level.

Richmond hadn't led too many times this year, and sadly for the Tigers, with the game there for the taking, they failed to take advantage of the fact they were controlling the play in the last. Matthew Richardson's loss to a fractured eye socket changed their structure midway through the quarter and will cost them for the next six weeks. At least it will give another youngster a chance.

Apart from the first half of the first term, the Tigers were competitive with the highly rated Crows all night. And when they surged forward in the third term, as the Crows threw numbers back, one couldn't help thinking that if they could actually snag a couple of majors and hit the front, they might even try to shut it down themselves with the possession football they used to knock off the Crows last year.

But the Crows, even down on form, kept their cool and by three-quarter-time had extended their lead to 19 points. It looked like the natural order had been restored and, in the end, that was the buffer they needed as the heavens opened.

First, Richardson volleyed one out of mid-air on the goal line, then Cameron Howat evened the scores with 13.10 on the clock. The small number of Richmond faithful huddled behind the goals at the northern end for a fleeting moment dared to hope this could be their night.

But as all good sides do — and Adelaide, even with an injury list longer than any other side in the competition, is a very good side — the Crows steadied well and kicked ahead when the game needed winning.

As much as coach Terry Wallace doesn't want to hear about honourable losses, it was a manful effort by the Tigers.

Perhaps most telling was Richmond's lack of key personnel at both ends.

Richardson was back in his more familiar full-forward role, pinch-hitting in the ruck when Adam Pattison rested, but he had little support, with Jay Schulz putting in an average game.

Around him, Danny Meyer justified his selection with two goals and enough lively movement to show why he was selected as a first-round draft pick three years ago.

At the other end, the game of Will Thursfield was creditable after a year on the sidelines due to a knee reconstruction, and it was only his eighth game.

He played on Scott Welsh early and conceded a couple but for the most part showed the spring and free running that made him a favourite with Tiger fans. He certainly is an exciting prospect and can play tall or short.

Without Darren Gaspar in the back line, Richmond is screaming out for some height. So much is it in need of at least two more big defenders, Andrew Raines was forced to play on Nathan Bock — 184 centimetres versus 193 centimetres. Say no more.

Joel Bowden would be playing on a half-back flank in any other side but was again asked to punch above his weight and height in the first half, standing at 188 centimetres and 91 kilograms against Ian Perrie's 193 centimetres and hulking 100-kilogram frame.

Graham Polak was good again, continuing to repay the faith for picking him up and effectively saving his career from an ignominious early end. His new team tried hard last night. And despite it being Richmond's eighth straight loss, at least this time, while there was certainly despair, you could see some hope.

http://realfooty.com.au/news/news/crows-escape-tiger-clutches/2007/05/18/1178995417754.html

[one-eyed]

Tiger cubs enjoy bit of scare Crow
19 May 2007   Herald-Sun
Mark Robinson

RICHMOND'S search for salvation continues, but it earned some much needed respect last night after just failing to beat Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

The unfancied Tigers, winless after eight matches, came up nine points short in what would have been the upset of the season. The Crows won 14.15 (99) to 14.6 (90).

Playing without injured forward Matthew Richardson for much of the last quarter, Richmond levelled the contest halfway through the term before the Crows steadied to kick three of the last five goals.

In what many, although perhaps not frustrated coach Terry Wallace, would describe as a gallant performance, the cellar dweller Tigers challenged the home side after conceding the first three goals of the game.

Wallace, though, would have been heartened by the outstanding games of young ruckman Adam Pattison, Nathan Foley, Brett Deledio and first-season rookies Shane Edwards and Jake King.

The coach also had what he would take as a win with Daniel Jackson playing a defensive half-forward on Andrew McLeod.

The Crows champ had 23 touches. Jackson had 12 and kicked a goal.

In another Friday night thriller, the final term was desperate until the end. Deledio got the Tigers within five points after eight minutes and when teammate Cameron Howat kicked a goal at the 13th minute to level the scores, an upset loomed.

The game, however, changed when Dean Polo (shoulder) and Richardson (eye, nose) were forced from the field within minutes of Howat's goal.

The Crows kicked kicked two goals in three minutes, before Scott Welsh kicked his fifth goal to seal the result.

But the Tigers, full of pluck and desperation, finished with a flourish and kicked the final two goals of the game.

Earlier the Tigers had played some of their best football of the season in the second quarter, sparked by youngsters such as Edwards, Andrew Raines, Deledio, Howat, Foley and King.

Their run and sense of adventure against the well-drilled Crows turned what could easily have developed into a spanking into a first-rate contest.

Edwards, just 18, gathered 10 possessions to halftime. It's not a blistering number, but it was the manner in which he did it that impressed. He was like Raines in his first season, all dash and dare and although he made a few errors, he brought his teammates into the game.

The Crows kicked the first three goals of the game inside seven minutes, before the Tigers, through Richardson, could reply.

At one stage it was five goals to one in the Crows favour, but it then developed into a contest.

Unlike the Geelong game, and the first half of last week's match against Port Adelaide at AAMI, the Tigers showed great faith in each other. They honoured leads, supported each other in tackles and switched play with purpose. The Crows couldn't get control of the game.

Richmond booted five goals to one in the second term with goals coming from Richardson and four kids – Polo, King, Meyer and Howat – which, if nothing else, adds impetus to the club's youth push.

The dominance of Richmond, and their discipline in pushing numbers back behind the ball, forced the Crows to resort to a tempo style of play, kicking the ball backwards around the wing and half-back, searching for an opening.

While it didn't match the level experienced during last year's "basketball" match between these teams, this time it was the Crows, not the Tigers, who were resorting to the tactic.

The Tigers, beaten 8-3 in the first quarter in centre-square clearances, won the second quarter 5-0. At the final siren it favoured the Crows, 26-20.

The Tigers had many fine players. Joel Bowden allowed Ian Perrie to take several marks, but his steadiness deep in defence was superb.

So much was written about Nathan Brown's injury-marred season last year that Chris Newman's broken leg was seemingly overlooked.

Last night Newman started on the wing and had 16 touches in the first half. He can play and, at just 25, has a long career ahead of him.

Foley also claimed another scalp last night, this time Tyson Edwards.

The third quarter was a slog.

Both teams had numbers back, but the Crows were able to control the game better than Richmond from half-back.

The first goal was at the seventh minute through Nathan Bock, and then Jackson kicked his only goal of the night at the 21st minute.

In between it was a wrestle. It wasn't pretty footy, but at the least the Tigers were fighting.

Two goals in the final three minutes – from Welsh and Douglas – asserted the Crows dominance. From 19 points down with a quarter to play, it was always going to be difficult for the Tigers.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21757864%255E19742,00.html

[one-eyed]

Richmond's pride fails to translate
Andrew McGarry
The Australian
May 19, 2007

Adelaide 14.15 (99) Richmond 14.6 (90)

ADELAIDE has broken the hearts of Richmond supporters, handing Terry Wallace's men their eighth straight defeat of the season in a tight game at AAMI Stadium last night.

Richmond's young playing group showed pride and passion to push the favoured Crows until the final minutes. The Tigers were behind all night before drawing even midway through the final quarter, but Adelaide's forwards stood up when required, and Nathan Bock and Scott Welsh kicked goals late in the game to seal the win for the home side.

The victory paid back Richmond for the Tigers' upset win in Melbourne in the corresponding round 12 months ago.

Adelaide coach Neil Craig would not have been pleased, however, by the team's failure to put away Richmond, which is yet to record a win, after establishing a sizeable break early on in the match.

Three goals inside the first six minutes gave Adelaide a platform for victory. In contrast, Richmond found it almost impossible to go into its attacking 50. When it did, Matthew Richardson wasted a straightforward set shot, although he made up for it with the Tigers' first goal after 11 minutes.

Richmond reacted by getting men back and putting more pressure on Adelaide, but when impressive young ruck/forward Jonathon Griffin kicked his second of the night and then Nathan Bassett turned up in the forward line to boot a 50m goal, Adelaide had quickly broken out to a four-goal lead.

To the Tigers' credit, goals to Nathan Foley and Kayne Pettifer showed the visitors were not going away, but Adelaide's attack was much more potent, and by the time Simon Goodwin burst on to the ball and blazed a goal from 55m just before the first break, the Crows had their best quarter of the year (7.1) to lead by 22 points.

The Tigers' main avenue up forward was a familiar one in Richardson, who kicked his second early in the second quarter. Then Adelaide gave Richmond a way back into the game, when for the second time in three weeks a Scott Stevens clanger gave a goal to the opposition through Dean Polo.

The Tigers attacked with renewed vigour, and began winning some of the contested football. The visitors got back to within a kick midway through the quarter when Danny Meyer slotted Richmond's seventh of the night and fourth goal in a row.

All of a sudden, Adelaide looked wobbly up forward, as Foley, Brett Deledio and Shane Tuck directed traffic through the centre. The Crows were the ones trying to stifle Richmond's run in attack by playing tempo football. It didn't work, and Cameron Howat's snap from 20m out in time-on put the Tigers on the charge. It was a shell-shocked Adelaide that walked off at half-time just two points up.

The intensity of the game lifted after half-time, as Adelaide played much tighter one-on-one football.

Richmond held out for the first few minutes, but the Tigers were finally punished for a turnover 60m out. The ball came in high and Bock grabbed the rebound and kicked a relieving goal.

Neither side could make the break as the third quarter wore on.

The Tigers broke the drought when Jake King kicked long to Daniel Jackson, who marked near the goalsquare and goaled. But 90 seconds later, a smother by Nathan van Berlo put the Crows into attack and the home side answered through Scott Welsh. Richard Douglas gave Adelaide some breathing space before three-quarter time with a smart snap from the right forward pocket.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21757580-2722,00.html

[one-eyed]

Crows out of jail
Adelaide Advertiser
May 19, 2007 12:15am
 
ADELAIDE dug itself out of trouble last night with a nine-point win against AFL cellar dweller Richmond at AAMI Stadium.

But the question lingers - just how did the Crows put another home game at risk to a less-classy opponent which will not play in September's finals?
Adelaide's fifth win in eight matches - 14.15 (99) to 14.6 (90) - was the ultimate test of coach Neil Craig's long-held ethos of demanding his Crows play with patience. Problem is, last night's performance tested the patience of everyone, in particular the Adelaide faithful in the 40,742 crowd at West Lakes.

It took far too long for Adelaide - locked in a tied game at the 13-minute mark of the last term after Richmond had lost key forward Matthew Richardson to a cut left eye - to prove its superior class.

Specialist forward Scott Welsh, who yesterday morning had to convince Craig sore buttocks would not hinder his performance, emerged - with five goals - as the forward who made the difference.

Welsh kicked two goals in time-on of the last term when the Crows grafted a 21-point buffer that surprisingly was cut down to nine at the finish.

At issue is the Adelaide players' attitude last night.

After blitzing with five goals in the first 18 minutes – to take a 23-point lead – the Crows appeared far too casual.

It was as if they just thought the script of a percentage-boosting win was to unfold without an effort. And the much-lampooned Richmond players certainly appeared, by their harder work ethic, to take issue with the apparent lack of respect shown to them.

Craig took issue with his players' inability to win the ball in the second term when Adelaide's match-high 30-point lead at the fifth minute was reduced to just two points at half-time after an unanswered five-goal charge from the Tigers.

"We couldn't get our hands on the ball," said Craig, quoting a 20-50 loss on the possession count in this critical period when Richmond won every centre clearance. "If we can't get our share of possession, we can't do anything."

And here is the technical issue that will test Craig and his coaching staff in the eight-day break to the clash with Carlton at Telstra Dome. Adelaide's zone defence system broke down last night, just as it did against Fremantle at Subiaco on April 29.

Richmond – coached by Terry Wallace, a former basketball player accustomed to zones – dismantled the script of a Crows whitewash by repeatedly getting too many of his loose players cutting through and behind Adelaide's defence. This prompted Craig to opt for a one-on-one contest after half-time to emphasise his advantage in class and experience.

The assistant coach with the most to think about this week is Adelaide's defence co-ordinator Paul Hamilton. And it was no surprise that Craig at quarter-time first spoke to the Crows' defensive unit. A better-stocked attack would have hurt Adelaide last night.

Adelaide reported no injury last night. But its match committee has reason to ask if a lack of options at selection has made some players lazy, at least in attitude. The potential return of midfielder Brent Reilly (ankle) – to push out Bernie Vince – and the stronger match conditioning in the SANFL of key position player Ken McGregor – to push out Scott Stevens – will be on the cards.

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21758076-12428,00.html

[one-eyed]

Crash, bash - now for panache
RICHARD EARLE
Adelaide Advertiser
May 21, 2007 02:15am

Richmond youngster Cameron Howat goaled to level scores after 13 minutes in the final term. Only late majors to brilliant Crows forward Scott Welsh (five goals) and a sickening eye injury to spearhead Matthew Richardson sabotaged the Tigers' quest for their first win of 2007.

Adelaide lagged behind wooden-spoon bound Richmond 32-40 in hard-ball gets.

McLeod said the Crows' "hardness" and contested possession had been discussed at West Lakes and hoped the win represented a turning point.

"We were down on contested ball again and that is pretty much what happened in the second quarter and we let them back in," McLeod said of the Crows, who led by 30 points five minutes into the second term but entered the main break with just a two-point advantage. "We know to win games consistently that is the area we need to be good at. I suppose we were happy to get the win in the end."

McLeod conceded Adelaide was stunned when daring rookies Shane Edwards, Andrew Raines, Brett Deledio, Howat, Nathan Foley (27 touches, five clearances) and Jake King hurtled Richmond back into contention in the second term.

"They played well and used the ball well by foot with some good lead-ups. We just couldn't do anything about it," he said.

Adelaide's win came through heavy reliance again on club champion Simon Goodwin with 28 touches, five centre clearances and six inside-50s, Tyson Edwards (23 possessions) and McLeod with 23 touches at 100 per cent efficiency.

Chris Knights amassed an impressive 24 disposals but burnt some kicks. Nathan Bock delivered two telling goals while 202cm Jon Griffin (two goals) underlined his future capacity to become a tricky forward/ruck match-up.

Full article at: http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21764485-21543,00.html