Coach Don Pyke has stopped short of declaring Adelaide back in business after a precious 15-point AFL win against Geelong.
But Pyke saw something he hasn’t witnessed all year in the Crows’ 16.16 (112) to 14.13 (97) triumph on Thursday night.
“We are seeing some signs and some of the ball movement, our ability to try and take the game on, was back to a level that maybe we haven’t seen consistently this year,” Pyke said.
Adelaide sit one win outside the top eight ahead of weekend matches after Tom Lynch kicked four goals and Rory Laird collected 43 disposals in the triumph against the Cats.
But Pyke delivered a sober message to his players: continue to win or miss the playoffs, a year after being beaten grand-finalists.
“We’re a proud group and we’re not walking around happy with what has happened throughout the year,” he said.
“They (players) were keen to do something about it.
“It’s a step. It’s one week – we have done that and now we have got to continually and consistently do it.”
The Crows are sweating on Friday’s match review verdict on the misconduct report of Taylor Walker.
The key forward was booked for a crunching shoulder bump which felled Geelong’s Zach Tuohy, who was forced from the field but played on after passing concussion tests.
If suspended, Walker will miss Adelaide’s away trip to play Brisbane at the Gabba next Saturday night.
Fullback Daniel Talia, a late withdrawal from Thursday night’s game because of a foot injury, is expected to return against the Lions.
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Round 5 of the AFL provided plenty of action, from big scorelines to upset wins and pressure starting to build on some clubs and coaches already.
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