It’s now a pair of home losses for the Crows either side of their stirring win against the Swans in Sydney. For the Cats, despite predictions of doom and gloom, they now sit 3-0 and are well poised for an attack at season 2019.
Despite a spirited third quarter charge, the Crows were ultimately undone by a blistering Geelong opening and a strong finish during which they outscored the home team 10 goals to four. Both teams have injury concerns with Tim Kelly and Paul Seedsman requiring attention. Brad Crouch and Patrick Dangerfield were the starts on the night with Gary Ablett influential in the finish.
Crows need to find a Plan B soon.
The Crows played stellar football for parts of Thursday night’s match but for most of it were not able to get their trademark fast moving rebound style of play going. When this tactic works and the Crows are on they’re near unstoppable, when they can’t get it going they look second-rate and that’s how Geelong made them look in a more one-sided match than expected.
Cats future might be brighter than we thought.
The Cats have unveiled a few of their new additions so far this year, and players like Gryan Miers and Charlie Constable, who kicked three goals and had 23 touches respectively show that maybe there is life after Ablett and Selwood. Luke Dahlhaus has also proven to be a very handy inclusion, the ex-Dog has been unstoppable and looked dangerous in each of his first three matches in the navy hoops.
The Cats may well have us at The Pinch Hitters eating humble pie at seasons end after our fearless predictions for them in 2019, read here.
Brad Crouch is Elite.
After missing the entire 2018 season, Brad Crouch is still playing like his team is back in the form they were in in 2017. He has been dynamic and hard at the ball, and on Thursday night he and Rory Sloane really were the two major shining lights in a team that disappointed at home once again. If Crouch can maintain this form, he may one day overtake his little brother as every South Australian’s favourite Crouch. 35 touches, six tackles and a goal in a side that was far outclassed is no mean feat.
Gryan – a new baby name of choice in Geelong.
He may be just three games into his AFL career, he may have forgotten his boots on Thursday night, but Gryan Miers is without question a new fan favourite at the Cattery. He kicked two pressure goals in the second quarter and three for the night, in the kind of performance that may well see a few baby boys named Gryan by their Geelong supporting parents in the years to come.
Some things are bigger than the game.
It is always a heartbreaking moment when a player goes down with what seems like a season ending injury. So it was on Thursday night when Paul Seedsman appeared to have ruptured his ACL and needed to be stretchered off the ground. To see players from both teams rush to offer the Crow comfort as he left the ground was truly uplifting, proving once again that some things are bigger than the game.
Enjoyed our Five Things We Learned Adelaide v Geelong? Be sure to check out more of our AFL collection here. If you really like it, do us a favour and like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
AFL ROUND THREE
ADELAIDE 3.6 4.9 9.12 10.15 (75)
GEELONG 6.2 8.8 10.9 14.15 (99)
GOALS
Adelaide: Lynch 2, Atkins, Knight, Jenkins, Sloane, B.Crouch, M.Crouch, Murphy, Walker,
Geelong: Miers 3, Hawkins 2, Rohan 2, Taylor, Menegola, Atkins, Clark, Constable, Dangerfield, Ablett
BEST
Adelaide: B Crouch, Sloane, Keath, M Crouch, Lynch
Geelong: Dangerfield, Kelly, Stewart, Duncan, Ablett, Stanley, Blicavs
INJURIES
Adelaide: Seedsman (knee)
Geelong: O’Connor (hip), Kelly (ankle)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Rosebury, Stephens, Hosking
Official crowd: 45,631 at Adelaide Oval