Footy fairytales can happen
While it was only a pre-season game and the scoreboard didn’t go Adelaide’s way, there were still several ‘feel good’ moments to come out of it for the Crows. Andy Otten’s return to AFL action would’ve brought a smile to fans’ faces after a two-and-a-half year absence from the senior team. The 2009 Rising Star runner-up played his first AFL match since Round 20, 2014 and slotted back into defence beautifully, gathering 17 possessions and taking a match-high five intercept marks to be among Adelaide’s best. Mature-aged rookie Jonathon Beech finally earned his first chance at the elite level after coming so close to an AFL debut late last season. The strongly-built forward slotted a goal with his first possession which, cruelly, was his only touch of the night due to a minor calf injury. Competitive defender Jake Kelly also snuck forward to slot his first goal with a long set shot as his father, former Collingwood tough nut Craig Kelly, watched on from the stands.

Fresh faces find their way
Six players yet to make their premiership season debut with the Club were on show for Adelaide at Etihad Stadium. Third-year Crow Harrison Wigg impressed with 23 possessions, four marks and four rebound 50ms in just his second appearance for the Club, having played one previous pre-season game. Wigg was senior emergency on four occasions last year after a string of strong SANFL performances and the left-footer will have his sights set on cracking AFL ranks in 2017. Former Greater Western Sydney utility Curtly Hampton also showed glimpses in a lively display across half-forward and in the midfield, finishing with two goals from 16 possessions. Troy Menzel, Harry Dear, Myles Poholke and Jono Beech, who had his night ended early by a calf complaint, had their moments from limited game time.

Goal of the pre-season?
Eddie Betts continues to make the difficult look ridiculously easy and it didn’t take long for the skillful forward to remind us of what he can do. The three-time Crows leading goalkicker lined up for a set shot from deep in the forward pocket late in the first quarter of Friday night’s clash at Etihad Stadium. There was a sense of inevitability about what was going to happen next. Betts went back and calmly slotted a picture-perfect checkside from his comfort zone beyond the boundary and shared a cheeky smile with a group of supporters over the fence. You’d be brave to bet against him nailing a third-straight Goal of the Year at some stage this season.


Bookends back into it
Friday night’s clash with the Tigers proved the Crows have quality at either end of the ground. Rory Laird mopped up at will across half-back and spent short stints in the middle to finish as the game’s leading ball-winner with 33 disposals at an elite 85 per cent efficiency. Already one of the competition’s best at reading the play, the former rookie seems to improve with every outing. Dual All Australian Daniel Talia didn’t miss a beat either, collecting 15 possessions and a game-high eight marks which included two courageous intercepts. Betts did his thing up forward and always looked dangerous, setting up several scoring attempts despite kicking just the solitary goal, while powerful forward Josh Jenkins showed he’s ready to back up a career-best year with a four-goal bag.

There’s work to be done
Understandably, there was plenty of ring rust from both teams in Friday night’s clash and, aside from Betts’ moment of brilliance, the contest never reached any great heights. Adelaide led by 13 points at quarter-time and held a five-point half-time advantage with the ascendency in most key statistics. But the Tigers got on top in the second half and some wayward finishing by the Crows also contributed to the eventual 19-point defeat. Adelaide had more of the ball with 378 disposals to the Tigers’ 359 and also won the tackle count 67-56, but was well-beaten in all other indicators including clearances, inside 50ms, and contested possessions. Don Pyke admitted post-match that there’s still plenty of work to do for his side before Round One.