The Adelaide Crows have kicked the last seven goals of the game to pull off one of the comebacks of the season, downing a soulless St Kilda outfit by six points.
The Crows led for less than two minutes of the whole contest, yet were ahead when it mattered most as St Kilda slowed to less than a crawl in the last ten minutes.
It appeared to be a matter of if, not when Adelaide would take the lead in the final term. Sheer weight of numbers of time in forward half and the domination of the forward fifty count came through as the end, as the Crows were able to capitalise right at the death.
Last year’s number two draft pick Riley Thilthorpe was the hero, kicking the winning goal and competing his heart out to take the chocolates from renowned Saints defender Dougal Howard.
However, as it often is in today’s day and age, it wasn’t without controversy, as Thilthorpe was the beneficiary of a controversial free kick in the goal square to put his side within a goal of striking distance.
Crows fans would have had every reason to turn the TV off half way through the second term, with their team bizarrely still scoreless and down by 36 points nearing half time.
St Kilda completely dominated the first half, and probably should have been further ahead at half time. Their attack and intensity was second to none, personified by a 50-50 ball to be won between Hunter Clarke and David Mackay in the second quarter. Clarke wasn’t willing to give an inch, and went in low and hard, coming off second best with a broken jaw but earning the respect of plenty.
But it was a different St Kilda outfit which came out after half time and not for the first time this season they conceded a huge momentum swing.
Failing to kick a goal after the two-minute mark of the third quarter, questions have to be asked about how Brett Ratten’s men run out games.
There was a matchup that defined the last quarter and St Kilda are making a trend of conceding momentum swings.
Here’s everything you need to know!
Riley Thilthorpe vs Dougal Howard:
An incredibly talented first year player up against St Kilda’s vice-captain and best defender.
Thilthorpe and Howard played an incredible contest throughout the last quarter, and while it only came down to moments, you’d have to say the first year player came out on top.
As mentioned, it started with a free kick against Howard in the goal square for a hold, after Thilthorpe had fumbled the original attempt at the mark.
Whether it was there or not mattered little to the scoreboard, as Thilthorpe would slot the goal to put the Crows little more than a kick down.
The next big moment also came courtesy of a free kick from Howard, yet this hold on the 200-centimetre Crow was a little more obvious.
Just a point down, Thilthorpe just needed any score and it was almost certain the Crows would emerge with no worse than a draw, such was the weight of their momentum.
However, a squandered kick led to an out on the full decision and left those at home wondering if maybe the Crows weren’t going to be able to pull it off.
But as great players do, Thilthorpe was able to right his wrongs in the most spectacular way. A contest at the top of Adelaide’s goal square saw the ball fall in Thilthorpe’s lap with barely a minute to play.
Instead of turning, he decided the best course of action was a kick straight over his head, which miraculously bounced through thanks to some sharp sheparding on the line from Darcy Fogarty.
Thilthorpe was the man for the Crows, with 14 contested possessions and three goals highlighting just how hard he attacked the footy.
Saints concede another swing:
The Saints are making a habit this AFL season. They’re either going on massive runs against teams, or they’re allowing other teams to do it to them.
Brett Ratten’s men have conceded sizeable runs of goals to Essendon, Richmond and Port Adelaide this year, but also inflicted the same fate on the Eagles and Hawthorn.
36 points up through the second quarter, the question should have been how much the Saints will win by. However, that was not the case and questions will now asked about the mental fragility of the St Kilda lineup.
Saints captain Jack Steele never gave up, finishing with 31 disposals and 18 contested possessions, but the players who were up and about in the first half failed to go with him, as their on-field leaders looked few and far between.
What’s next?
St Kilda have the bye next week, offering a chance for plenty of soul searching.
Finals chances are all but gone, and the Saints have a tough run coming up including three of the top five teams on the ladder and the reigning premiers in Richmond.
The Crows also have the bye next week, meaning we could see a week long party in the city of churches, such was the energy of Saturday night’s win.
Emerging into the second half of their season they’ll tackle the Blues in Round 15 in what will be an important game for both teams.
FULL SCORE
St Kilda: 4.3, 7.6, 8.9, 8.12. (60)
Adelaide: 0.0, 2.6, 6.6, 9.12. (66)
GOALS
St Kilda: King 2, Wood 2, Sinclair, Crouch, Butler, Byrnes
Adelaide: Thilthorpe 3, Sloane, Smith, Mackay, Rowe, Walker, McAdam
BEST
St Kilda: Steele, Crouch, Highmore, Sinclair, Howard
Adelaide: Laird, Thilthorpe, Keays, Sloane, O’Brien
INJURIES
St Kilda: Hunter Clark (broken jaw), replaced by Jack Bytel
Adelaide: nil
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