Adelaide’s SANFL side battled its way to an inspiring win on the eve of the finals series, defeating Minor Premiers Sturt by two-points at Unley Oval on Saturday afternoon.

The Crows spoiled Sturt’s perfect season, rallying back in the final term – while also playing two men down – to claim victory and hand the Double Blues their first defeat of the season, winning 14.5 (89) to 13.9 (87).

Here are the five key takeaways from the match.

Crows claw their way back

Adelaide showed a never-give-up-attitude against the Double Blues, turning around a 16-point three-quarter-time deficit to steal the victory.

The final stanza was action-packed with multiple swings in momentum.

Tyler Welsh and Karl Gallagher got Adelaide back into the game with the opening two goals of the term, before Sturt responded and applied more scoreboard pressure.

Ultimately a five-minute patch late in the term proved decisive, with Brayden Cook, Chris Burgess and Jay O’Leary booting majors to put Adelaide two points ahead and the Crows held on.

“The boys were enormous today, down rotations, but they just found a way to dig deep,” SANFL Senior Coach Matthew Wright said.

“Anytime you can beat Sturt at Unley is a good day. They’re a fantastic footy team and we knew it was going to be tight all day.

“Really proud of the group and our ability to get it done and we’ll re-group now and onto the Tigers next week.”

Burgess sets the tone

Adelaide got off to a strong start to the game, leading by 17 points at the first break, thanks to forward Chris Burgess.

Burgess proved difficult for Sturt’s backmen to stop, booting three first-term goals, along with taking multiple contested marks in Adelaide’s forward half.

“He is a real leader for this group and the forward line particularly, he comes in and plays above his role each week,” Wright said.

“He was fantastic today and set the tone for us early.”

Burgess finished with 14 disposals, 10 marks – four contested – five inside 50s and four majors.

Boyle executes tagging job

SANFL Development Player Jay Boyle brought it to Sturt’s midfielders throughout the game, along with performing a run-with role on Double Blues’ ball-winner Tom Lewis.

Coming up against one of the best stoppage sides in the State League, Boyle applied the pressure early, recording six tackles and two clearances in the first term.

“We know they have fantastic players all across the ground and we needed to nullify some of their key movers and Tommy Lewis is one of those,” Wright said.

“He (Lewis) is a fantastic player, we put a bit of time into him and Boyley was able to do that today and did it really well especially in that last quarter when the game was there to be won.”

Boyle finished with 14 disposals, a game-high 13 tackles, four clearances and four inside 50s.

Sholl and Jones' experience shines

Midfielders Lachlan Sholl and Chayce Jones proved influential for Adelaide, and both had big moments in the last quarter.

The pairs’ ability to display leadership and stand up when the side needed them most impressed Wright, with their run-and-carry and clearance work standing out.

“They’re leaders amongst their peers and that’s what you want from your leaders, to stand up in big moments,” Wright said.

“In the last quarter when the game was there to be won they stood up, not just in the last quarter but all day.”

Sholl amassed 26 touches, seven marks and kicked one goal, while Jones had 20 disposals, five tackles and six inside 50s.

Looking to next week

The Crows finished the SANFL minor round in third place, meaning they will face Glenelg next week in the Qualifying Final.

Both sides enter the game in form, with Glenelg having won its last eight, while the Crows have prevailed in their past six games.

“The real strength of this group and the AFL group is taking it one week at a time,” Wright said.

“We look forward to playing Glenelg next week, it's going to be a really tough challenge, they’ve been a fantastic team for a number of years now.”

Adelaide’s SANFL side will begin its State League Finals series against Glenelg at Adelaide Oval next Sunday (August 31), at 3:15pm.

SCOREBOARD

ADELAIDE: 5.1  7.2  9.4  14.5  (89)

STURT: 2.2  6.5  11.8  13.9  (87)

GOALS:

Adelaide: Burgess 4, Murray, Welsh, Gallagher, Cook 2, Sholl, O’Leary

Sturt: McFadyen 3, Anderson, Holt, Hone 2, Conforti, Burrows, Emmett, Lewis,

Bests: H.Boyle, Burgess, Jones, Sholl, Borlase