Adelaide emerged from a difficult few days on a high, leapfrogging Melbourne into the top four with a gritty 17-point win over the Demons on Saturday.
It had been a harrowing 36 days for the Crows following club legend Tony Modra’s serious truck crash in rural South Australia on Thursday evening.
Mark Ricciuto, a fellow Crows great, close friend and long-time teammate, delivered positive news on commentary in the third quarter, advising that Modra had woken up after marathon facial surgery after there initially was grave fears for his life.
After a virtual 100-minute arm wrestle and trailing narrowly at each break, Adelaide powered to the finish line.
Riley Thilthorpe of the Crows celebrates a goal with Alex Neal-Bullen.AFL Photos
Rory Laird and Wayne Milera had big moments behind the ball, while Josh Rachele bagged three goals.
Quite fittingly, Taylor Walker, who idolised Modra while growing up as an Adelaide supporter in Broken Hill before later surpassing his hero as the Crows’ greatest goalkicker, kicked the opening goal of the match, less than a minute in.
A rousing round of applause rang around Adelaide Oval at the six-minute mark to commemorate Modra, whose No.6 remains the most popular and iconic jumper in Crows history.
Melbourne were coming off a tough off-field period of their own, for altogether different reasons, following revelations former star defender Steven May’s partner Sachi Dade had launched Federal Court proceedings against the Demons and club officials, coach Steven King and football boss Alan Richardson.
Lachlan McAndrew of the Crows competes with Max Gawn of the Demons.AFL Photos
The lawsuit, alleging the disclosure of private information, stems from a Teams meeting in February involving about 15 partners of Melbourne players.
May, who played 128 games for the Dees, including the 2021 premiership, announced his retirement on March 1 just a few days prior to the commencement of the season.
On Saturday, Melbourne skipper Max Gawn was immense in defeat.
The first term was played largely on the Demons’ terms following Walker’s early strike, their tough tackling and clinical finishing carrying them to an eight-point quarter-time lead.
Field position remained on Melbourne’s terms in the second period, but their radar went awry as Adelaide closed to one point at half-time.
Lachlan McAndrew’s tough day on the great Gawn took a turn when he was crunched in a midair collision by Jake Lever.
The 210-centimetre Crow passed his concussion test and returned early in the fourth where he belatedly but bravely began neutralising Gawn, who had had his measure earlier on.
The Crows had to dig deep and didn’t have it all their own way.
They spent protracted stretches on the ropes but landed the knockout blows when it mattered most.