Elite song #weflyasone #ripphilwalsh #AFLPowerCrows pic.twitter.com/0573FsPU3f
— Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) July 19, 2015
That game in numbers
It feels wrong saying that actually, because this game was about very human emotions and ended up being an exhibition of precisely the kind of joyful football with which most of us will always now associate Phil Walsh.
Best for winners Adelaide was Thompson, of course, who had 36 possessions (22 contested), 13 clearances, 8 tackles, 5 inside-50s and a goal in vintage midfield display. Sam Jacobs dominated the stoppages, combining 51 hit-outs with 17 possessions while Richard Douglas, Patrick Dangerfield and Tom Lynch all did their bit. Taylor Walker and Josh Jenkins were a handful all day with 3 goals apiece and both Lynch and Charlie Cameron ended up with 2.
For Port, skipper Travis Boak was busy with 32 possessions (21 contested), 8 clearances, 6 inside-50s and 7 tackles, while Chad Wingard was always a threat with 23 possessions and 3 goals. Hamish Hartlett, Robbie Gray (23 possessions and 3 goals) and Brad Ebert were also excellent and the best of their forward was Paddy Ryder, who kicked 3 goals and put the fear of god into Adelaide’s defence with his pack-splitting leap.
This was an exhibition of pure, free-running footy that would have to silence any of the cynics who believe the game has become ugly and dour. At its best, when players sprint from end to end in a 120-minute roller derby, it’s everything Phil Walsh wanted it to be and more. Three cheers for every single person involved today and also to you, readers, for your part today.
Make sure you stop by for more live AFL action throughout this 2015 season.
The inaugural Phillip Walsh Medal
...is won by Adelaide on-baller Scott Thompson, who is presented the medal by Philip Walsh’s daughter Quinn. “Today was definitely played in the right spirit” Thompson says in thanking Port Adelaide. “It’s been overwhelming for everyone. Thank you very much.” After Taylor Walker is presented with the Showdown Trophy the crowd is invited to take part in a minute of applause to honour a man who meant so much to both clubs and they do so with appropriate gusto.
Adealide win it by 3 points
Adelaide 18.8 (116) defeat Port Adelaide 17.11 (113)
Adelaide win it! Jubilant scenes at the Adelaide Oval as Phil Walsh’s men do him proud, hanging on for that final minute with bloody-minded determination. It was a magnificent game of defence-slashing footy.
“Words can’t describe the last couple of weeks” says Crow Patrick Dangerfield in the moments following. “He had such an enormous influence,” he says of Walsh, “and [Walsh] would be really proud. ” Amen to that.
Power goal! 4th quarter (1:06 remaining) Adelaide 18.8 (116) vs Port Adelaide 17.11 (1113)
Adelaide suddenly look heavy-footed and unsure. They head deep into attack through Scott Thompson and the ball’s locked up in the forward pocket with only a goal required to cement a win. Betts can’t manage it with a close-range snap so Port reload again. Adelaide repel promisingly but Walker fumbles at the vital moment. It’s heart-in-mouth stuff. Port hammer forward again. One minute and 37 left on the clock. Adelaide clear but Monfries is taken high two kicks from goal. It goes into the mixer in front of goal and Robbie Gray snaps a magnificent goal! Holy heck! Just 3 points in it now with a minute to play. The Crows face heartbreak here. They have to flood!
Power goal! 4th quarter (4:09 remaining) Adelaide 18.8 (116) vs Port Adelaide 16.11 (107)
As we officially enter squeaky bum time with the clock under 5 minutes and Adelaide clinging to a 15-point lead, the Crows are culpable in conceding a 50-metre penalty that puts Port captain Travis Boak within range right on the 50-metre arc, straight in front. He drills it! This game is insane. Can the Crows hang tough and win it or will Port break Adelaide hearts?
Power goal! 4th quarter (5:12 remaining) Adelaide 18.8 (116) vs Port Adelaide 15.11 (101)
I suppose it’s only fair if this one peters out from here given how frenetic the first three quarters of the game were. But then Justin Westhoff has a chance to make things tight again when he marks 30 metres from goal in a similar sport to Paddy Ryder 5 minutes back. His attempt is even worse than Ryder’s though, hooking comically to the right for a minor score.
Then Tom Lynch misses for the Crows so Port rebound but can’t land a decisive blow. It’s real shut-down footy now, common sense finally prevailing over the joyful aesthetic found in the first three terms. Out of nowhere Lobbe marks in the pocket for Port and dobs a brilliant goal! He might be in trouble for this though:
Sam Jacobs was forced off the ground earlier in Q4 after an altercation with Matthew Lobbe #AFLPowerCrows http://t.co/PHyqKqbiQ3
— AFL (@AFL) July 19, 2015
Power goal! 4th quarter (12:00 remaining) Adelaide 18.7 (115) vs Port Adelaide 14.8 (92)
The final term is under way and it’s the Crows in attack to start with. It takes them a while but Port finally sweep it down the other end only for Rory Laird to stop them dead in their tracks. Sam Jacobs appears to cop a whack in the face from his opposite number Matthew Lobbe and trots off the ground in discomfort right as his side misses a chance to go 6 goals clear. Then Monfries misses a sitter on his left for Port and Ryder a set shot from 40 and this game continues in unfamiliar territory, goals suddenly hard to come by.
Finally Wingard produces the goods, nailing a set shot from 40 metres out to give Port Adelaide the faintest of hopes.
Port diehard and live blog regular Jude McBain is watching from home today. “My Adelaide/Oslo Crows supporting son and his lovely Norwegian wife who is wearing my Port scarf and hat have gone to the game instead of me and Grandad who are babysitting,” she says. “What a game - a wonderful free-flowing game that is a joy to watch for both lots of supporters. I desperately want the glorious Port boys to win but Adelaide are playing so well its going to be very difficult. Can’t wait to hear my daughter-in-law’s take on her unique Aussie experience! Go Port”
At the very least she’d have to enjoy the atmosphere Jude. 54,468 fans are jammed in there today!
Three-quarter time - Adelaide leads by 5 goals
Adelaide 18.6 (114) vs Port Adelaide 13.6 (84)
The heaviest scoring in the third quarter of a Showdown game finally comes to an end as the siren brings welcome relief for the hunched-over and spent midfielders of both sides. That was just a goal blitz from go to woe, that term. Adelaide have ended up extending their half-time lead and take a 5-goal buffer into the final term. I’m worn out just from watching it to be honest.
Crows goal! 3rd quarter (0:33 remaining) Adelaide 18.6 (114) vs Port Adelaide 13.6 (84)
Poetic justice is served when Scott Thompson charges forward from the restart and hacks an ungainly but effective goal from 48 metres out on the run. That really hurts for Port with only 33 seconds on the clock.
Power goal! 3rd quarter (0:52 remaining) Adelaide 17.6 (108) vs Port Adelaide 13.6 (84)
Hmm, not sure about this. Boak pumps Port into attack when he arrows a pass towards Schulz and the Power forward wins a free when Lever spoils his mark illegally in the eyes of the umpire. Not much more he could have done, I wouldn’t think. Very harsh. Schulz drills the 35 metre set shot.
Crows goal! 3rd quarter (1:58 remaining) Adelaide 17.6 (108) vs Port Adelaide 12.6 (78)
Some sloppy defensive work from the Power here means that Matthew Wright is able to wiggle free in the pocket and though his set shot kicking has been noticeably off this season he goes back and converts it after marking in space.
Crows goal! 3rd quarter (3:22 remaining) Adelaide 16.6 (102) vs Port Adelaide 12.6 (78)
Eddie Betts you geniu....oohhh. Okay, he has a left-footed snap from the same pocket as the earlier goal but misses this one. No matter, Adelaide reset once more and Martin picks out Tom Lynch 40 metres from goal. He walks back, takes his time and launches a beautiful long drop punt for the six points. Has that halted Port’s late charge? My hunch is yes.
Port involved in 2/3 games this year where both teams have scored 100+ - won one (v NM) and lost the other (v Carlton). #AFLPowerCrows
— Glenn Valencich (@glennvalencich) July 19, 2015
Power goal! 3rd quarter (6:19 remaining) Adelaide 15.5 (95) vs Port Adelaide 12.6 (78)
Port! Are! Coming! Now skipper Travis Boak goals, hanging off the back of a stoppage in Port’s pocket, gathering a handball and snapping high but accurately from 40 metres out. He punches the air with joy. This game is incredible.
Power goal! 3rd quarter (7:07 remaining) Adelaide 15.5 (95) vs Port Adelaide 11.6 (72)
And another! Again it’s Wingard as the instigator when he tumbles it forward from outside 50 and Monfries sharks an open goal of the back of a contest. Just 27 points now. Doable? Anything is possible when Chad Wingard is involved.
Power goal! 3rd quarter (8:51 remaining) Adelaide 15.5 (95) vs Port Adelaide 10.6 (66)
Finally Port get one back when Wingard’s persistence pays off. He nearly goals with a long bomb at first but does the major damage when he cannily intercepts a Ricky Henderson kick in and goals amid the ensuing chaos. They’ll need four more of them before the siren if they’re going to be a final term threat.
Crows goal! 3rd quarter (8:51 remaining) Adelaide 15.5 (95) vs Port Adelaide 9.4 (58)
This is all but over. Even Eddie Betts is on the board now after struggling all ay. He marks in a paddock of space out in the pocket, strolls in casually and then arrows a banana straight through the middle on the run.
There's a reason why they call it the Eddie Betts pocket! #AFLPowerCrows http://t.co/Sf6o9fs58i
— AFL (@AFL) July 19, 2015
Updated
Crows goal! 3rd quarter (9:48 remaining) Adelaide 14.5 (89) vs Port Adelaide 9.4 (58)
The Crows have three in a row! This time it’s Tom Lynch, a tireless worker today and this time bounding inside 50 to goal on the run after his man (Monfries?) had dropped off badly. This is really slipping away for Hinkley’s side now.
Crows goal! 3rd quarter (11:18 remaining) Adelaide 13.5 (83) vs Port Adelaide 9.4 (58)
Neade is caught holding the ball and from the resultant turnover the Crows pick out Taylor Walker 40 metres from goal on a slight angle but the Adelaide skipper misses to the near side. Jack Homsch has had a tough day at the office today playing on Walker and moments later the latter slams him into the turf in a brutal but entirely fair tackle, after which Eddie Betts misses a snap on goal.
I really like Jack Hombsch when he’s got the ball in his hands but is it a little bit worrying that Walker has pushed him around so easily today? There’s a moment here where Walker ends up wasting possession close to goal but it’s the way he seems to have zero respect for his opponent’s ability to lay an effective tackle that’s a worry. Big Tex knows he can just shove him off. Speaking of which, as I’m typing that the Crows stream forward and Walker gets to the front with ridiculous ease to mark and goal 15 metres out. Hombsch is being toweled up today.
Crows goal! 3rd quarter (17:25 remaining) Adelaide 12.3 (75) vs Port Adelaide 9.4 (58)
Boom! Josh Jenkins gets one back for the Crows and picks up his third goal when Adelaide force a turnover and the big forward is able to baulk past Trengove and arc around for a shot in the goal square. He made sure of it by thumping the ball a good 40 metres back into the stands.
Power goal! 3rd quarter (18:24 remaining) Adelaide 11.3 (69) vs Port Adelaide 9.4 (58)
The second half gets under way and Adelaide head into attack. Ollie Wines copped a nasty one in the gob in that opening passage of play and soon finds himself on the bench having blood wiped away from his face.
Better for Port is that they’re able to counter-attack with ruthless efficiency and though Robbie Gray might have goaled after marking 30 metres out, he flicks a pass across to Schulz for any even easier put-away. Port have kicked 7 straight goals for their last 7 scores and now they’re right back in it.
Some stats from the first half
But first, Jordan Henderson is out on the ground and being interviewed about whether he understands any of the action unfolding in front of him. “Not really, but really enjoying it,” says the Liverpool star with at least partial honesty.
Well, Port really worked their way back into the game in the latter stages of that second half. They’re +3 for inside-50s and +11 for tackles but Adelaide lead contested possessions (+14), hit-outs (+12) and clearances (+6).
The major ball winners for the Crows were Scott Thompson (19), Richard Douglas (15 and a goal) and Patrick Dangerfield (13), while forwards Taylor Walker, Josh Jenkins and Charlie Cameron have all been busy with 2 goals apiece.
For Port, Hamish Hartlett (16 possessions), Robbie Gray (15 and 2 goals) and Paddy Ryder (3 goals in an eye-catching display) have been the best. They need big second halves from Ollie Wines (9 touches and minimal impact), Justin Westhoff (3 touches) and Chad Wingard, who has had plenty of ball but only managed the one goal.
Half-time - Adelaide lead by 17 points
Adelaide 11.3 (69) vs Port Adelaide 8.4 (52)
The Crows don’t get that steadying goal they needed but in the final two minutes they at least manage to stem the bleeding on the scoreboard. They lead it by 17 points now after at one point enjoying a 34-point buffer. I’ll be back in a minute with a few stats from that blistering first half of football.
Updated
Power goal! 2nd quarter (2:08 remaining) Adelaide 11.3 (69) vs Port Adelaide 8.4 (52)
Geez, there’s actually enough time for the Crows to squander their hard work in this second term. The Power head deep into attack with 3 minutes on the clock and suddenly they’re pressing hard. Jay Schulz has been a non-factor until the last few minutes but now he marks uncontedted 25 metres out on a slight angle and the Power fans are on their feet when he strokes it straight through the middle. The Crows are suddenly in desperate need of a steadying goal.
Power goal! 2nd quarter (4:25 remaining) Adelaide 11.3 (69) vs Port Adelaide 7.4 (46)
Oh yeah, Eddie Betts is playing, isn’t he? He’s been Adelaide’s goal-kicking ace this season but has barely had a touch today until he marks in the pocket and misses a 30-metre set shot. Good signs that the Crows are blitzing the scoreboard without his help.
Port get a raw deal when Jay Schulz takes an ungainly but effective mark that is not paid despite its clear merits and really, they need everything going their way at this point if they’re going to be a chance. What they do have is Paddy Ryder, who produces the goods again by volleying a 6-pointer from the goal square after the Crows fail to clear danger. What a jewel he is, the big man. He’s got three goals from nine disposals and is the only thing stopping his sign from falling into the abyss.
We haven’t got the close one but we’ve got the fun one...
Port Adelaide/Adelaide 16.6 (102) leads Melbourne/Brisbane 12.24 (96).
— Ethan (@ethan_meldrum) July 19, 2015
Power goal! 2nd quarter (8:01 remaining) Adelaide 11.2 (68) vs Port Adelaide 6.4 (40)
Adelaide has brought the debutant Atkins into the game for key defender Daniel Talia, who is off under the 20-minute concussion rule and might disappear for the rest of the game, you fear. Right as that happens Paddy Ryder lopes through the corridor inside 50 to mark and kicks his second goal. He’s doing it all himself in the Port forward line today.
Crows goal! 2nd quarter (8:53 remaining) Adelaide 11.2 (68) vs Port Adelaide 5.4 (34)
Walker has Adelaide’s first proper miss of the game when he tugs a set-shot right from 45 metres out. No matter, Charlie Cameron get his second in a minute when he gets poleaxed in the act of marking 30 metres from goal. He pops it through from point blank range and Adelaide are on a rampage now. This could be ‘lights out’ for Port.
Crows goal! 2nd quarter (10:05 remaining) Adelaide 10.1 (61) vs Port Adelaide 5.4 (34)
Now Charlie Cameron gets a soft one when he marks in the middle and his opponent is a bit late to tackle and hold him up. The 50-metre penalty that results from that trasngression brings Cameron to around 30 metres out and he calmly chips it through the middle. This 27 point Crows lead is the biggest of the game and worrying signs abound for Port.
Crows goal! 2nd quarter (10:31 remaining) Adelaide 9.1 (55) vs Port Adelaide 5.4 (34)
It’s raining goals again. Now Josh Jenkins gets a second after he’d marked only inches from the goal line. Or was he slightly over? Either way he ran around the mark and snapped adeptly for a man so big and occasionally uncoordinated. Watching the replay of that marked it looked well over the line. I call that 1-1 after the Ryder goal earlier.
Power goal! 2nd quarter (11:27 remaining) Adelaide 8.1 (49) vs Port Adelaide 5.4 (34)
Port get an immediate reply through Lobbe and again it’s after Paddy Ryder leaps spectacularly into a pack and brings the ball to ground. He nearly knocked himself out attempting that one. Lobbe snapped his goal from a couple of metres out and he really couldn’t have missed if he’d tried.
Crows goal! 2nd quarter (12:02 remaining) Adelaide 8.1 (49) vs Port Adelaide 4.4 (28)
Finally the game settles a little and four minutes - yes, four whole minutes - passes in which neither side goes close to scoring. After that Tex Walker outbodies Jack Hombsch twice in the one play at half forward to gather the ball and send it over the top for Riley Knight to mark at the top of the goal square and convert. Knight’s been a savage tackler today in his second game too.
Crows goal! 2nd quarter (16:42 remaining) Adelaide 7.1 (43) vs Port Adelaide 4.4 (28)
Lung-busting footy being the order of the day, Charlie Cameron streams through the middle like he’s rounding the straight in a 200 metre final and thumps a long, accurate pass onto Tex Walker’s head. Walker holds off his opponent to mark strongly and then dabs the set shot through the middle from 20 metres out. That means he’s kicked multiple goals in 8 Showdowns now. Not too shabby.
Power goal! 2nd quarter (19:19 remaining) Adelaide 6.1 (37) vs Port Adelaide 4.4 (28)
The sun is beating down on Adelaide Oval now as the second term gets under way. The Power shark Sam Jacobs’ hit-out again and head forward and Chad Wingard wins a free kick just outside 50 before sending the ball to the top of the goal square in ominous fashion. Paddy Ryder leaps high to pull down the ball and then flicks a clever handball out the back for Robbie Gray to run into an open goal. That’s precisely the start Ken Hinkley’s side wanted and doesn’t Brendan Rodgers look fascinated sitting in their coaches box?
A frenetic first quarter comes to an end - Adelaide lead by 15 points
Adelaide 6.1 (37) vs Port Adelaide 3.4 (22)
Well, if you were hoping for a tribute to Phil Walsh’s old-school football philosophies that opening term was an absolute gem and fittingly finishes as Adelaide stream forward and punt it deep into attack. They lead by 15 points and finish the term +20 for disposals (+12 contested) and +5 for clearances. That was some blistering footy. Superb stuff.
Updated
Power goal! 1st quarter (0:06 remaining) Adelaide 6.0 (36) vs Port Adelaide 3.4 (22)
Someone appears to have woken the timekeeper from his/her slumber but there is not let-up in the pace of the game. The Power go forward and this time it’s Chad Wingard who marks and goals with only seconds remaining to cut the Crows lead back to 14. He’s very happy with himself, needless to say. Could he be on for another Showdown Medal? He’d been quiet until then.
Crows goal! 1st quarter (1:19 remaining) Adelaide 6.0 (36) vs Port Adelaide 2.4 (16)
Yet another end-to-end goal and this time it’s the vastly underrated Richard Douglas who arches his back and dashes through the corridor like he’s Mick McGuane, kicking a lovely running goal on the counter attack. There’s chaos with the clock, by the way. It’s frozen at 1 minute 19. What the hell is going on? A timeless Test? This game’s got everything!
Crows goal! 1st quarter (2:58 remaining) Adelaide 5.0 (30) vs Port Adelaide 2.3 (15)
If you’re sick of congestion in football, you really should flick this game on because there’s a lot of hard running and fast transitions of play. Brodie Martin gets on the end of another Crows counter attack, heading back Pagan’s Paddock style into plenty of open space to mark and then goal from 30 metres out. “There’s no more pressure than scoreboard pressure,” says Leigh Matthews. I wonder if he’s started calculating the margin and minutes left yet...
Power goal! 1st quarter (5:26 remaining) Adelaide 4.0 (24) vs Port Adelaide 2.3 (15)
Hombsch makes amends for his blunder earlier by finding Monfries in the middle and he in turn picks out Jarman Impey in a scoring position but the latter misses to the right with his set shot. It’s real end-to-end stuff at the moment and we could be in for a 90s-style scoring rate the way we’re going so far.
Ryder gets another chance to goal when he’s shoved out of the way at a ruck contest by Hartigan and with a much tougher chance than earlier - 50 metres out and kicking into a slight breeze - he manages to squeeze it over the line. He’s swamped by happy teammates. But was Ryder even contesting that ruck duel? It looked like Lobbe was about to. The Power probably burgled that one.
Updated
Crows goal! 1st quarter (7:26 remaining) Adelaide 4.0 (24) vs Port Adelaide 1.2 (8)
Jack Hombsch makes the mistake of getting into a wrestle with Tex Walker and in doing so, concedes a holding free to the Crows skipper around 40 metres from goal. Walker goes back and though he’s not exactly setting the world on fire in front of goal in recent times, he strokes it through to maintain his side’s perfect goal-kicking start.
Power goal! 1st quarter (8:16 remaining) Adelaide 3.0 (18) vs Port Adelaide 1.2 (8)
Ebert cleverly intercepts an Adelaide cross-ground switch to send the Power into attack but his pass towards Westhoff at the top of the square dribbles through for a minor score.
The Power are being slaughtered in the contested ball but some fast work in the middle from Broadbent means he’s able to burn off an opponent and send a lace-out pass down Robbie Gray’s throat 25 metres from goal. Gray doesn’t miss those so Port pinch one back against the run of play. They’re on the board.
Crows goal! 1st quarter (10:31 remaining) Adelaide 3.0 (18) vs Port Adelaide 0.1 (1)
Port almost strike back when Travis Boak acts as the calm and skillful quarterback to pick out Paddy Ryder 15 metres from goal but the Power ruckman makes a real hash of his shot on goal, missing to the right by some distance when many fans had probably already struck a line in the goals column of their Footy Record.
It’s still a fierce contest for possession but the Power are at least able to trap it inside their attacking 50 for a sustained period. Playing higher up the ground again and with great impact, Taylor Walker sends the Crows forward and after it ping pongs around in ugly fashion, Ricky Henderson marks and goals from about 48 metres out. The Crows can do no wrong so far.
Crows goal! 1st quarter (15:32 remaining) Adelaide 2.0 (12) vs Port Adelaide 0.0 (0)
The Crows stream forward again from the restart and it’s fast and physical footy so far - probably the ideal way for everyone to overcome nerves and apprehension. After a few minutes of congestion Charlie Cameron almost finds a way through to goal but the ball ends up in the hands of Brad Crouch to snap truly from 25 metres out for Adelaide’s second. Port haven’t had a sniff of the action so far.
They sing it loud and proud at Adelaide Oval before the first bounce #NeverTearUsApart #AFLPowerCrows http://t.co/GOV14BBgDw
— AFL (@AFL) July 19, 2015
Crows goal! 1st quarter (18:30 remaining) Adelaide 1.0 (6) vs Port Adelaide 0.0 (0)
After Taylor Walker wins the toss we get a 1-minute video intro paying tribute to Phil Walsh. It’s great stuff. Port win the first clearance of the game through Robbie Gray but the Crows hammer it forward soon enough and Josh Jenkins leaps into the air like a salmon to mark and sends the Crows crowd into raptures by drilling the set shot from 40 metres out near the boundary. That’s a perfect start for Adelaide.
As both teams make their way out, a little insight on Adelaide’s past fortnight from the perspective of a player
“It might have helped us take one step forward,” says sidelined Crow Rory Sloane of Adelaide’s emotional loss to West Coast last week. You’d get the sense they’ll be better for getting that one out of the way but the emotional hurdle they face is still a significant one. Sloane hopes to be back soon and says he’s been investigating both helmets and the NBA-style face masks to protect himself upon his return.
Meanwhile, I had the dubious pleasure of drinking in the first half of Melbourne’s clash with Brisbane and hoo boy, I hope this Showdown produces some better-looking footy than that. Brisbane are the kind of side that could have me renewing my interest in cleaning out roof gutters and cleaning the filter lint from all of the heating ducts in the house.
Both teams have now entered the field of play and it’s a wonderful sight as they come together to break the banner as one. “Vale Phil Walsh - 1960-2015” is the simple message on the other side.
Here we go ... Game on! #weflyasone pic.twitter.com/FI7sIrSkNm
— Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) July 19, 2015
Our teams today
No changes for either side in the lead-up. Young wingman Rory Atkins makes his debut for the Crows, achieving the dream of every young Croweater by heading straight to the bench in a hi-vis vest. Hopefully he gets a decent run at some point.
Adelaide
Jake Lever, Daniel Talia, Luke Brown, Rory Laird, Kyle Hartigan, David Mackay, Brodie Smith, Scott Thompson, Brodie Martin, Charlie Cameron, Tom Lynch, Matthew Wright, Josh Jenkins, Taylor Walker, Eddie Betts, Sam Jacobs, Patrick Dangerfield, Richard Douglas, Riley Knight, Matt Crouch, Ricky Henderson. SUB: Rory Atkins
Port Adelaide
Nathan Krakouer, Jack Hombsch, Jarman Impey, Tom Clurey, Jackson Trengove, Hamish Hartlett, Matthew Broadbent, Robbie Gray, Brad Ebert, Angus Monfries, Justin Westhoff, Chad Wingard, Jake Neade, Jay Schulz, Patrick Ryder, Matthew Lobbe, Travis Boak, Ollie Wines, Cam O’Shea, Paul Stewart, Brendon Ah Chee. SUB: Aaron Young
P.S. Seven have just shown a quite brilliant Showdown montage in which Gary Ayres was breathlessly described as “The Messiah” after one Crows win. 11 years is a long time in football
P.P.S. Speaking of revered coaching figures...
. @LFC boss Brendan Rodgers with Ken Hinkley #AFLPowerCrows #weareportadelaide pic.twitter.com/rLX1fmwgM5
— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) July 19, 2015
Preamble
Hello and welcome to today’s big AFL game, the Showdown. Adelaide. Port Adelaide. Long term resentments will be put to one side today. Both sides will run through the same banner and before the first bounce, pause to consider the loss of a much-loved figure in Phil Walsh.
Just as I assume the blogging position, Adelaide’s John Worsfold appears on screen and explains how he’s been able to help the Crows out in a time of need following the tragic circumstances of the past few weeks. He says he’s stepped in to handle list management and the review of current coaches, lifting the admin load from caretaker Scott Camporeale and letting him get on with the basics of coaching. “He loved the big games,”Worsfold says of Phil Walsh, “he would have been looking forward to it.”
I’ll be back in a minute with today’s teams but you can get me on russell.jackson@theguardian.com with all your comments throughout the afternoon.
Russ will be here soon enough for what promises to be another emotional night as Adelaide rivals the Crows and Power meet just over two weeks after the tragic death of Phil Walsh. The Crows held a private memorial service in Walsh’s honour on Wednesday and experienced onballer Richard Douglas indicated that grieving Crows players could now attempt to return their focus to football.
“It was a great celebration of Walshy’s life and now it’s about trying to play the way he wanted us to play, especially this week. You will always remember Phil and enjoy the times that we had together... For us now, it’s about this weekend and performing and getting the job done, as he would say.”
Read the full story here.
