Adelaide’s SANFL side narrowly went down to Woodville-West Torrens by seven points in an action-packed game at Woodville Oval on Sunday afternoon. 

Battling it out in challenging, wet and breezy conditions, the Crows made the most of kicking with the wind in the first term, booting six goals, including four in eight minutes.

The Eagles responded in the second stanza, booting the last three goals of the quarter, before the game was paused at the five-minute mark of the third term for 30-minutes due to a lightning delay. 

Coming out of the delay, the Eagles controlled most of the momentum, kicking five of the last seven goals of the game to win 11.11 (77) to 10.10 (70).

Here are SANFL Coach Matthew Wright’s five key takeaways from the match:

 Hinge returns

Defender Mitch Hinge returned from a hamstring injury for his first game in six weeks, and showed some promising signs by helping Adelaide transition the ball forward.

Hinge played the first half of the match before being rested, with Wright saying the plan was to take a cautious approach as he builds back match fitness. 

“He was always going to play half. He has missed a lot of footy and it has been a stop-start year for him,” Wright said.

“With limited games left the window to get it right becomes really important, so we will get another game into him next week.

“I thought for the half he was out there he was fantastic, I know he wanted to keep going today, but he will build off the back of that.”

 Hinge finished with 10 disposals, three tackles and three rebound 50s.

Toby Murray makes most of his chances

Forward Toby Murray helped Adelaide get off to a fast start, with his clean hands in the wet leading to two first term majors.

Murray appeared unaffected by the rain in the opening quarter, beating his man one-on-one to take a strong mark and boot his first goal, and then following it up by crumbing the ball off the pack for his second.

“He has the ability to compete in the air, but he also has some assets at ground level, he has some wheels, he covers the ground really well and I thought competed well today,” Wright said.

“It was a tough day for a key forward, but I think he can walk off with his head held high.” 

Murray amassed 12 possessions, seven marks – four contested – and four tackles.

Jones goes to work

On-baller Chayce Jones set the tone from the opening bounce, getting in and under to win the ball and impact at each contest. 

Jones worked hard both ways throughout the afternoon, getting back to support in defence, as well as linking up with teammates to get the ball inside 50.

“I’m really proud of CJ, his ability to put his head down and go to work week in, week out,” Wright said.

“He continues to lead this group really well, and he left it all out there today.”

Jones finished with a game-high 27 disposals, nine clearances, three inside-50s, four rebound-50s and kicked a goal.

Adaptable Drury

SANFL Development Player Blake Drury proved to be a strong connector in the forward half, winning lots of the ball and getting it inside 50.

Playing through the midfield and forward, Drury was damaging, highlighted by booting two goals, as well as getting teammates involved.

“He has played every line most games, and today he did some mid stuff along with going forward. He is I suppose our Mr Fix It,” Wright said.

“He gives us a different look and that is part of his strength, his ability to change roles in game and we saw that today with some really important moments around the ball in helping set teammates up.”

Drury collected 23 touches, five marks, five tackles, five clearances and a game-high 11 inside 50s.

Skipper back in the centre

Skipper Kieran Strachan played as the main ruckman for only the second time this season, where he reminded everyone how potent he could be.

Having played both forward and back this season, Strachan was given the opportunity to return into the centre, where he connected well with teammates and laid a team-high 10 tackles.

“People probably forget he was the premier ruck for four or five years there, so for him to get an opportunity today to go back into that number one ruck role, I thought he picked up where he left off,” Wright said.

 “We have played him down back and forward, and we can just see how good he is when we get him around the footy.” 

Strachan finished with nine possessions, 36 hit-outs, three clearances and three inside 50s. 

Adelaide’s SANFL side will next face Norwood at The Parade on Friday night, at 7:40pm. 

SCOREBOARD

ADELAIDE: 6.2  8.5  9.9  10.10  (70)

WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS: 3.2  6.5  8.8  11.11  (77)

GOALS:

Adelaide: Drury, T.Murray 2, Maley, Long, Jones, Atkinson, Coleman, Welsh

Woodville-West Torrens: Williams, Hasting 2, Slattery, Sinor, Rowe, J.Hayes, Cook, Ballenden

BEST:

Jones, Drury, Edwards, Strachan, Sholl.