Adelaide midfielder Sam Berry has given a “special shoutout” to three teammates who stood tall in the clash against the Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
The Crows went down to the Dogs by six points after a final-quarter fightback fell short.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Berry said the backmen deserved high praise, particularly Jordon Butts, Nick Murray and Josh Worrell.
Butts enjoyed a career-high game finishing with 19 disposals, 12 marks, and 11 intercept possessions, while also kicking his first AFL goal.
”Massive credit to our defenders on the weekend as well because they (the Bulldogs) probably should have been up a lot more,” Berry said.
“Even in that first quarter, so a couple special shoutouts to Jordon Butts, Nick Muray and Josh Worrell, they were unbelievable.
“They really locked them up and kept us in it.”
After trailing by 24 points early in the final term, the Crows booted five goals in a row to hit the front in the final five minutes.
But a goal to Oskar Baker in the last two minutes gave the Bulldogs back the lead, and they held on to prevail.
Berry, meanwhile, also hit back at external criticism of the team’s midfield, saying there was plenty of upside to the Crows’ on-ball brigade and its versatility.
“I think everyone who plays in the midfield has got so many strengths and we've been rolling a lot of people in there now,” Berry said.
“We’ve got Ranks (Izak Rankine) rolling in there, Rash (Josh Rachele) playing there a lot more, Soli (Jake Soligo), James Peatling, and Daws (Jordan Dawson), so we've been playing a fair few in there and everyone's got different strengths and different dynamics.
“We probably haven't played that many people in the past and we're still kind of working through that, but there are some serious weapons in there.”
Adelaide will now quickly turn its attention to Geelong with a Thursday night clash against the Cats looming.
Despite another six-day break, Berry is confident in the Crows’ ability to curtail the Cats.
“It's been a pretty tough fixture start, but personally, I'm pumped and you probably get a little bit of extra motivation when the team typically hasn't done well down there,” Berry said.
“The Cats are a serious team… As a group, we really try to lean into playing away and creating our own energy, and just being excited for the challenge.”
The Crows face the Cats at GMHBA Stadium on Thursday night at 7pm (ACDT).
The match will be broadcast live on Channel 7 Adelaide, Fox Footy and Kayo.
