Despite a shaky period in the middle of the final quarter, where Melbourne kicked three straight goals to reduce Adelaide’s lead to just 15 points, the Crows were the better side all day, running out 7.9 (51) to 4.10 (34) winners.
Melbourne could not score a goal for the first two-and-a half quarters, yet the Demons put themselves within striking distance in the last term.
While the predicted strong winds and rain didn’t eventuate on Sunday, it was a swirling breeze that made life difficult for the players, and trying for the 14,129 fans who sat through an error-riddled contest. In the end, Adelaide won largely because they made fewer mistakes.
Melbourne was busy early, but a lot of hard work by the likes of Brock McLean and Brent Moloney brought very little in terms of results, with McLean’s snap that hit the post their only score in the first quarter.
Adelaide was able to play their preferred style of game early, running and carrying the ball unimpeded out of defence. Nathan Bock was able to sweep up countless touches, and Graham Johncock and Simon Goodwin were not far behind as Melbourne failed to apply any forward pressure.
Johncock kicked Adelaide’s first goal when he ran deep into the forward line. The Crows had 23 running bounces to Melbourne’s one in the first quarter, which was a reflection of how they were able to run without pressure being applied.
Adelaide kept doing all the attacking in the second term, but Melbourne was hanging on for dear life. The Demons had a chance when Michael Newton marked 10 metres out on a tough angle, but missed. The miss frustrated the Demons fans, and a large ironic cheer went up when Paul Johnson hacked a big kick out of defence after a series of indecisive handballs.
Despite their general control of the ball, Adelaide had to rely on a downfield free against James Frawley to produce their first goal of the second term. Promising forward Taylor Walker then extracted the ball from a pack in front of goal to snaffle another.
Melbourne’s 0.3 (3) return in the first half was their worst first-half score since Rd 1, 1991, and they were staring at the possibility of being the first team since Richmond (0.8) in 1961 to go through a game without scoring a goal.
Adelaide had regular ball-winners in Goodwin, Bernie Vince, Andy Otten and Scott Thompson, but they could not translate it to a significant score.
Andrew McLeod fired the opening goal for the third term in one of the rare clean passages of play for the evening.
Lynden Dunn then juggled a mark, and at the 16-minute mark of the third term, scored from the angle to finally break the Demons’ goal drought. Melbourne started to swarm in numbers, find targets with their kicks and was showing some belated spark without translating their increased endeavour into results on the scoreboard. Newton was the main offender, hitting the post with a check-side kick from a set shot 10 metres out.
Any faint hopes that Melbourne might pull off an unlikely win were seemingly extinguished by Kurt Tippet’s two goals in the opening five minutes of the final term.
But Dunn kicked his second, and McLean, who had worked hard all day, slammed another and the gap was cut to 23 points with 12 minutes left on the clock.
James McDonald then made no mistake to put his side within 15 points, and the possibility loomed of a bizarre Dees victory.
But with the Adelaide runner giving the “lasso” sign to the team to chip and retain possession, the Crows were able to stifle Melbourne’s momentum, steady, and hold on to the four premiership points.
Adelaide 2.4 4.6 5.7 7.9 (51)
Melbourne 0.1 0.3 1.6 4.10 (34)
GOALS
Adelaide: Tippett 2, Johncock, McLeod, Porplyzia, Stevens, Walker
Melbourne: Dunn 2, McDonald, McLean
BEST
Adelaide: Goodwin, Vince, Thompson, Bock, Rutten, Johncock, Tippett
Melbourne: McLean, Davey, Moloney, Bruce, Dunn
INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil
Melbourne: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Hendrie, Armstrong, Schmitt
Official crowd: 14,129 at MCG
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
