Coach Brenton Sanderson says Adelaide are developing substance to go with style after a great escape produced a 19-point AFL victory against Richmond on Saturday.
The Crows trailed by 33 points at quarter-time, but reeled in the Tigers to win 17.4 (106) to 13.9 (87) at AAMI Stadium.
The Tigers sprang an eight-goal opening-term ambush on Adelaide, but mustered just five more goals for the game.
Sanderson’s Crows didn’t lead until the final term but their gritty triumph, which lifted them to second on the ladder, left their coach rapt.
“We have got a lot of young kids with a tremendous spirit and will to win inside them and we certainly saw that today,” Sanderson said.
Adelaide’s key forward Taylor Walker kicked five goals but will be scrutinised for another sling tackle – an offence which cost him a two-match suspension in round seven.
Walker landed a fierce final-term tackle on Steven Morris and slung the Tiger backman to the ground.
But the Adelaide attacker was awarded a holding the ball decision in a case to test the consistency of the AFL’s match review panel.
“I thought fantastic tackle,” Sanderson said. “I hope for the good of the game that he’s okay.”
Walker was a central figure in an Adelaide victory which was a pipe-dream at quarter-time.
Richmond jumped to an 8.3 to 3.0 lead at the first break, with star forward Jack Riewoldt potting three.
But Riewoldt didn’t score another major as the Crows, propelled by midfielders Scott Thompson, Rory Sloane and Jason Porplyzia, clawed their way back into the contest.
Thompson finished with a game-high 32 disposals and laid 10 tackles, while Porplyzia produced an upper-class display in his 100th AFL match.
He helped Adelaide get within five points at three-quarter-time and then, despite kicking into a strong wind, over-run Richmond in the last term.
The Tigers’ final-quarter fade angered their coach Damien Hardwick, whose side remain in a logjam just outside the top eight.
“We just didn’t make the most of our opportunities,” Hardwick said.
“We had 10 more inside 50s and just couldn’t get the scoreboard result – it has been a common trend over the last couple of weeks and is something we have got to fix.”
Richmond’s loss was compounded by Jake King suffering a knee strain expected to sideline him for six weeks.
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