CATS CRASH
Finals hopes in balance after Geelong downed in Adelaide
ADELAIDE captain Taylor Walker was reported in last night’s gritty 15-point win over Geelong, a result that severely dented the Cats’ top-four hopes and even leaves their finals chances in the balance. Walker was booked for a head-high bump that dazed defender Zach Tuohy in Adelaide’s 16.16 (112) to 14.13 (97) triumph at Adelaide Oval.
Walker’s teammate Bryce Gibbs will also attract match review scrutiny for a behind-play block that felled Geelong skipper Joel Selwood. The incidents came as the Crows, with Tom Lynch kicking four goals, produced finals-quality footy to give their top-eight chances fresh life.
Walker crunched Tuohy after the Cat defender had tapped the ball forward — the Crow skipper’s right shoulder was tucked in but struck him in the head.
The Geelong backman lay prone before being helped from the field but returned to action.
Selwood also returned to after being forced from the field by a Gibbs front-on block some 15m off the ball.
Both flashpoints came as Adelaide defied its former club champion Patrick Dangerfield (three goals, 33 disposals, 10 tackles) and his Cats, who remain in seventh place.
Geelong made the early running before Adelaide seized momentum and an eight-point halftime lead.
The Crows then streeted to a seemingly comfortable 30point advantage when vicecaptain Rory Sloane converted a long set shot late in the third term. Sloane, who midweek signed a multi-million-dollar five-year contract extension, was mobbed by his teammates as the parochial 46,095-strong Adelaide crowd went wild.
But his great mate Dangerfield led a Geelong rally — he kicked two goals in the last quarter and Tom Hawkins (four goals) converted another to reduce the margin to eight points with eight minutes left.
Adelaide’s seven-gamer Lachlan Murphy then settled Adelaide’s nerves, and the result, by slotting his third goal.
The scoring feats of Crows Lynch and Murphy were supported by two goals each from Josh Jenkins and Jordan Gallucci.Half-back Rory Laird (43 disposals) was outstanding while on-ballers Sloane (27 touches), Matt Crouch (30 possessions) and Rory Atkins (28 touches) were prolific ballwinners.
Dangerfield was a standout for the Cats, fellow Brownlow medallist Gary Ablett was influential with 32 disposals, skipper Selwood collected 29 touches and Tim Kelly’s stunning debut season continued with 28 possessions and a goal.