Adelaide’s self-belief has risen to a different degree by means of a gritty 17-point win in opposition to flag fancies Brisbane, Crows coach Matthew Nicks says.
Nicks is hailing Adelaide’s 14.11 (95) to 10.18 (78) victory on a rain-soaked Adelaide Oval on Sunday as one other watershed second for his membership.
“When you come off a win like that, the belief goes to another level,” the fourth-year Crows coach stated.
Taylor Walker slotted three objectives and growth recruit Izak Rankine had two and was concerned in 13 scores as Adelaide snapped the Lions’ seven-game successful streak.
Dayne Zorko will appeal to match evaluation scrutiny after an incident with Luke Pedlar through which the Brisbane stalwart’s fingers grappled the younger Crow’s eye space.
Adelaide rise to seventh on the ladder with Nicks saying they performed a finals-like model to beat Brisbane, who enter their bye spherical in third spot.
The Crows had fewer inside 50s (47 to 66) and scoring pictures but prevailed largely resulting from stout defence, Nicks stated.
“We showed grit, we showed resilience … and that is what we believe, as a coaching group, gets it done in finals footy – the ability to defend when you’re under pressure,” he stated.
“In the same breath, when we had our moments … we were able to convert. We showed some real composure, some polish.”
While Nicks sang the praises of his defence, Brisbane coach Chris Fagan lamented his workforce’s waste in assault.
In the third quarter, the Lions dominated however scored simply 1.9 earlier than conceding two late objectives which gave the Crows a 15-point buffer at three quarter-time.
“We played an enormous quarter and kicked 1.9,” Fagan stated.
“You haven’t got momentum for the whole game, you have got to be able to get a score on the board when you have. And we failed to do that.
“And Adelaide made us pay. They did not get many possibilities however the ones they acquired, they nailed them.”
Adelaide’s captain Jordan Dawson (32 disposals), Rory Laird (27) and Ben Keays (28 disposals, one goal) were chief ball-winners while halfback Wayne Milera (22 touches) and Rankine were stand-outs.
Walker’s three-goal haul was supported by two majors each by Pedlar, Riley Thilthorpe and Rankine, whose 23 touches included 16 contested possessions and a freak left-foot snapped goal from near a boundary line.
His teammate Josh Rachele rivalled that feat with his own stunner, an accurate checkside snap when hemmed in a forward pocket.
Brisbane’s Charlie Cameron kicked 4 objectives, Joe Daniher scored two, whereas Josh Dunkley (29 disposals), Lachie Neale (24), Zac Bailey (24) and veteran Daniel Rich (24, one aim) have been outstanding.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
