Woodville-West Torrens has survived a late Crows fightback to defeat Adelaide for the first time in the Club’s SANFL history.

Trailing by 45 points midway through the third quarter, Adelaide staged an incredible comeback at Woodville Oval by kicking eight of the next nine goals of the contest.

The Crows closed to within 10 points of the lead at the 18-minute mark of the final term and looked likely to run over the top of the second-placed Eagles when Luke Lowden booted his second major from the goalsquare.

But Adelaide’s sluggish start ultimately cost the visitors a shot a victory, as Woodville-West Torrens held on to notch its eighth straight win of the season.

First-year player Mitch McGovern kicked the opening goal of the game within the first 30 seconds, but the Crows surrendered the next five majors to go into the first change 32 points in arrears.

The mountain proved too tall to climb, as Adelaide slumped to its ninth loss of the season.

McGovern played his best game as a Crow, collecting 13 disposals, five marks and booting three goals, all in the first half, before being switched into defence after the main break.

Crows SANFL skipper Ian Callinan was also outstanding, particularly after half-time. The veteran showed great poise under pressure and was damaging with all of his 23 possessions, which included three score assists.

Tough midfielder Jarryd Lyons worked tirelessly in the clinches and finished with a team-high 29 possessions, eight marks and five clearances. Lyons also floated forward to slot an important crumbing goal when Adelaide made its march in the final quarter.

SANFL Stats: Round 10

Ricky Henderson moved well in his first match since Round Seven after returning from a troublesome back injury.

The neat-kicking defender amassed 27 possessions at 89 per cent efficiency and took nine marks playing loose across half-back. Henderson was a major instigator behind Adelaide’s second-half surge.

Key backman Luke Carey held three-time Ken Farmer Medallist Michael Wundke to just nine possessions and two goals, while fellow development player Justin Smart kicked his first two majors in SANFL football and was a lively contributor.

Matthew Johncock, the cousin of 227-game Crow Graham, showed his athleticism with a huge goal-saving mark on the last line of defence.

Rory Atkins (24 disposals, nine marks, five clearances) and Brock Castree (22 disposals, four marks, three clearances) could also hold their heads high after solid performances.

Former Hawk Lowden kicked two goals in his return from an ongoing Achilles issue, while Sam Siggins got through his first game in over a month unscathed.

Crows SANFL coach Heath Younie bemoaned his side’s slow start speaking with afc.com.au post-match.

“Credit to the Eagles, I thought they played real aggressive footy in that first half,” he said.

“With the young developing players that we’ve got, it’s important that you start the game from the first bounce. Unfortunately they jumped us and we probably gave them too big of a head start.”

Crows coaches shuffled the magnets at the main break, which included McGovern’s move into defence, and Adelaide responded with some of its best football at SANFL level this season.

“I thought the second half was as good as we’ve played,” Younie said.

“We changed a couple of things structurally and that seemed to work for us.

“I thought the second half was more of a team effort. I thought we defended better as a team and I thought we were able to use the ball better as a team.

“It could’ve been a tough day at the office for the boys. But it was character-building for the young kids to be able to fight back out of that, albeit we didn’t get the result that we wanted to.”

The Crows reported no new injuries from the clash at Woodville Oval. Adelaide’s confronts Port Magpies at Alberton Oval on Sunday, June 28 in the Club’s next SANFL contest.


ADELAIDE                 2.1   4.4   8.6   12.10 (82)
WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS   7.3   11.4   13.8   14.11 (95)

GOALS
Adelaide: McGovern 3, Smart 2, Lowden 2, Podsiadly, Knight, Wilson, Osborn, Lyons
Woodville-West Torrens: McGregor 3, Rowntree 3, Wundke 2, Ainger, Allmond, Poole, Borholm, Hall, Appleton

BEST
Adelaide: Callinan, Lyons, Carey, McGovern, Henderson, Johncock
Woodville-West Torrens: Rowntree, Petrenko, Allmond, Jarrad, Lewis

INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil
Woodville-West Torrens: Boyd (leg)