Adelaide Win Against Valiant Saints
Adelaide’s loss to fellow flag contender Brisbane was put far behind them as they survived a late Saints scare at Norwood Oval, recording a 3.8.26 to 3.4.22 win.
The Saints didn’t make it easy, and the Crows responded to every red, white, and black challenge.
Adelaide were out of the blocks early, but despite the Crows’ dominance across the ground in the opening term, the Saints were able to draw first blood. It was Molly McDonald who managed to goal for St Kilda.
Hannah Munyard then kicked one of the goals of the year when she accelerated away from two St Kilda opponents and kicked a checkside from the pocket.
The Crows went unchallenged for the rest of the half. Ebony Marnioff (31 disposals and nine clearances) added another strong performance to her impressive season, while Maddy Newman (17 disposals and 10 tackles) was strong in the win.
Caitlin Gould was on the end of a well-worked goal to get the first of the second. From there, the second term played out much the same as the first: the Crows in complete control, but unable to put St Kilda away on the scoreboard.
The third quarter belonged to St Kilda. Tyanna Smith (22 disposals and 14 tackles) and Grace Kelly (21 disposals and 399 metres gained) were the Saints’ best on the night, and they led the way in the third quarter. St Kilda’s crowing moment came when J’Noemi Anderson sidestepped a Crows defender and walked into an open goal.
However, as good teams do, Adelaide found a way back. With moments to go in the premiership quarter, Chelsea Randall kicked a goal to give the Crows back the lead, and Norwood Oval erupted as one.
A nervy fourth quarter followed. Hannah Stuart’s snap didn’t do the home fans any favours as the Saints threw down a giant challenge.
13 minutes into the last, Hannah Munyard caught Serene Watson holding the football deep inside Adelaide’s 50. She would miss the resulting set shot, and the Saints would stay alive.
A snap moments later from Keeley Kustermann would see the same result, the margin at just four points.
From there, the ball went straight down the other end, and inched ever closer to St Kilda’s goal. In the dying minutes, the Crows would hold strong, taking victory.
Adelaide’s Class
It was Adelaide’s experience that saw them through tonight against the Saints. Marinoff, Hatchard, Newman, Gould, and Prowse were instrumental in the Crows setting the tone early. When the Saints came late, it was those six again that steadied the ship.
Inaccuracy
With a combined 3.7 at half-time, it was clear accuracy was an issue on Friday night. With conditions near perfect at Norwood, there looked to be no obvious reason why the accuracy in front of goal was troubling the players as much as it did in the first half.
It cost both teams dearly, with the Crows unable to shut the door on the Saints and the Saints unable to gain a foothold in the game. It’s as they say, bad kicking is bad footy.
St Kilda in the second half were able to sharpen up in front of goal, and that’s a large reason why they worked their way back into contest.
Adelaide: 1.2 2.4 3.4 3.8.26
St Kilda: 1.1 1.3 2.4 3.4.22
Goalkickers:
Adelaide:
Gould, Munyard, Randall
St Kilda:
Anderson, McDonald, Stuart
Best:
Adelaide:
Hatchard, Marinoff, Newman
St Kilda:
Kelly, McDonald, Smith