Young Crows on the rise after hard-fought win over TigersBy Steve Barrett
The Age
April 17, 2022Taylor Walker’s return to action at Adelaide Oval for the first time in nine months ended in triumph for both he and the Crows, who pieced together their finest performance of the season to date in securing the prized scalp of Richmond.
Walker, who booted four majors in last weekend’s four-point loss to Essendon at Marvel Stadium in his comeback match from a six-game suspension for racial abuse, monstered the Tigers for four first-half goals before finishing with five.
Adelaide’s forward line, spearheaded by Walker, the emerging Elliott Himmelberg (four goals), Shane McAdam and Josh Rachele (two each), looked potent and polished.
They reaped the rewards of a fast-paced, corridor-focussed approach from the home side’s playmakers, who had too much for Richmond, especially on the inside, despite the dominance of a battered Toby Nankervis in the ruck.
Walker’s day out was in contrast to his long-time friend and Crows captain Rory Sloane, who limped off in the fourth term after his right leg buckled in a collision with Tiger Nick Vlastuin.
Walker saw off two match-ups with aplomb, boasting too much bounce for veteran Robbie Tarrant and too much nous and craft for the less experienced Ben Miller.
The Tigers, warm favourites before the match, jumped Adelaide with a pair of early majors before the Crows, with Walker booting three of the next four goals, pinched the lead at quarter-time.
With Ben Keays ascendant in the clinches and Brodie Smith potent with his run and carry, the Crows’ lead swelled to 25 points when Himmelberg conjured a marvellous pick-up and snap.
Richmond responded with a champagne, four-goal, seven-minute blitz from their vintage archives to turn the contest, out of nowhere, on its head.
Little Liam Baker with a pair of snaps, Jack Riewoldt with an accidental toe-poke goal after Tom Doedee fumbled and slipped over, and Shane Edwards with a smart hook over his shoulder saw Richmond turn that big deficit into a small lead in a heartbeat.
Adelaide didn’t panic and responded swiftly, jagging the next three to lead by 14 points at three-quarter-time and wrestle back control of the game before Rachele took over.
He electrified his home fans with three fourth-term goals at the Cathedral End to put an exclamation point on an electric Easter Sunday from the Crows, who seem to be improving with every outing.
Adelaide 4.1 9.4 13.6 15.11 (101)
Richmond 3.1 6.3 10.10 12.10 (82)
GOALS
Adelaide: Walker 5, Himmelberg 4, McAdam 2, Laird, O’Brien, Rachele.
Richmond: Baker 2, Castagna 2, Lynch 2, Riewoldt 2, Balta, Cotchin, Edwards, Graham.
BEST
Adelaide: Keays, Walker, Smith, Himmelberg, Laird, Crouch, Frampton.
Richmond: Bolton, Cotchin, Nankervis, Prestia, Edwards, Ross.
VOTESBen Keays (Adelaide) 8
Taylor Walker (Adelaide) 8
Shai Bolton (Richmond) 7
Brodie Smith (Adelaide) 7
Trent Cotchin (Richmond) 7
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/young-crows-on-the-rise-after-hard-fought-win-over-tigers-20220416-p5adxx.html