ADELAIDE coach Matthew Nicks has backed Josh Rachele to work through frustrations on the field better after the young gun was reported during a fiery clash with Greater Western Sydney.
Rachele went into the notebook for striking Giants defender Jack Buckley in the second term before the Crows gave up a handy three-quarter time lead to lose by 14 points - 10.11 (71) to 8.9 (57) - on Saturday night.
The 20-year-old goalsneak had little impact on the crunch contest with fellow finals contenders GWS as he appeared to be rattled by some close attention and only gathered nine disposals.
"Josh is such a competitor that he's frustrated that there are things that aren't necessarily going his way,” Nicks said post-game.
"We had a brief chat. He gathered himself quite well at half-time. He could look me in the eye and say, 'look, I'm good, I'm ready to go'.
"The team was going well at that point, so he's now got to knuckle down and enjoy that part of it, that the team's playing well, it might be that it's not necessarily going well for him."
Rachele was involved in multiple scuffles with Harry Perryman and gave away a costly free kick when chasing down the Giants midfielder after being taken high in a tackle in the second term.
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When Buckley came to remonstrate with Rachele, the Crows’ forward lifted a forearm towards the defender’s face and was immediately reported for striking.
"He took a couple of big hits and that frustrated him as well. It's all part of that process for these young guys,” Nicks said.
"But young players go through so many challenges. He'll keep working.
"I love that he's competitive. Sometimes it can cost you.”
The Crows led by 17 points at the last change but for the fourth time this season – and the second time against the Giants this year – surrendered their advantage in the final term.
The loss puts a dent in the Crows’ finals hopes as they missed an opportunity to reclaim a place in the top eight, while also spoiling celebrations for former captain Rory Sloane’s 250th AFL match.
"Sloaney will sit there and smile, that's the character that he is. It's not about him,” Nicks said.
"But it's an amazing milestone and what he's done, you just have to go back and watch his highlights tape to see what sort of player he is, but he's in there now in amongst his teammates and you'd think we won the game.
"He understands the bigger picture of it all. He's an outstanding leader and I think the boys are pretty gutted that we weren't able to get it done for him."
Star midfielder Rory Laird carried a shoulder issue through the final term, after coming to the bench in distress late in the third quarter and heading to the Crows' changeroom for treatment during the last break.
Laird was a standout for the Crows and had a game-high 33 disposals as well as booting a goal, but will be closely monitored ahead of what now looms as a critical clash with Melbourne at the MCG next Sunday.
"Lairdy is ok. But he took a knock, a bit sore through the AC joint. That'll be a monitor and see how he pulls up,” Nicks said.
Giants coach Adam Kingsley paid tribute to milestone man Lachie Whitfield for his role in inspiring the come-from-behind victory.
"Lachie Whitfield's 200th tonight, and you ask the guys to play like Lachie with a bit of courage and dare and that's exactly what you get to a man,” Kingsley said post-game.
"That's probably a reflection of how much the group and the club loves Lachie Whitfield.
"But that's a common theme amongst all of our more experienced players, they want to be successful both individually but more importantly as a group.”
