Adelaide crowing after pipping Bulldogs in an ugly upset
ADELAIDE is building something under head coach Matthew Nicks and fans have plenty to be excited about.
The Crows upset the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat on Saturday, pinching a one-point victory to move to 3-3 in 2022.
It was not the fast-paced, dynamic football the Crows have made their brand under Nicks, but rather a blustery, low-scoring and ugly affair.
With many experts expecting the Crows to struggle this season, the coach’s side has taken the scalps of Port Adelaide, Richmond and the Western Bulldogs.
Question marks still surround Luke Beveridge’s troops, who are yet to reach the heights of 2021 and are languishing at 2-4, but with all the talent and experience to bounce back soon.
Bailey Smith (29 disposals), Jack Macrae (25) and Josh Dunkley (28) were all immense at the contest, while Tom Liberatore (33) was enormous.
With in-form big man Tim English ruled out due to a hamstring injury picked up at training, Adelaide ruck Reilly O’Brien took full advantage of a match-up against Bulldogs veteran Stefan Martin.
O’Brien had 18 disposals and 49 hitouts and dominated the battle with Martin.
He and forward duo Taylor Walker (three goals) and Lachlan Gollant were a strong presence down the line, halting numerous Bulldogs advances and ruling the airways.
After missing the first three weeks of the season, Walker has made up for lost time. He has booted 12 goals in three weeks and his leadership and efforts forward of centre give the Crows a real focal point.
The former captain also became member 61 of the 500 career goals club in the final quarter.
CROWS 2.4 3.7 5.11 8.15 (63) d
BULLDOGS 3.5 3.7 5.8 9.8 (62).
Goals – Bulldogs: Naughton 2, Treloar 2, Schache 2, Ugle-Hagan, Dunkley, Bontempelli. Crows: Walker 3, McAdam 2, Sholl, Gollant, McHenry