Adelaide have received their first match in 2023, breaking clear within the final time period to beat Port Adelaide by 31 factors in an epic AFL Showdown.
Crows captain Jordan Dawson controversially received the Showdown Medal as star recruit Izaak Rankine, younger key ahead Riley Thilthorpe and stalwarts Rory Sloane and Rory Laird shone within the 18.9 (117) to 13.8 (86) win on Saturday night time at Adelaide Oval.
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Rankine kicked a aim after the ultimate siren to cap his star efficiency, with the previous Gold Coast ahead kicking 4 majors.
With Darcy Fogarty injured, Thilthorpe stood up and kicked a career-best 5 targets.
But it surely was Dawson, who was voted finest on floor for his 18 disposals and one aim.
Social media blew up with former gamers Steve Johnson and Mitch Robinson amongst these to query the choice.
Followers had been equally baffled with one labeling it an “all time theft”.
One fan stated: “How the hell did Jordan Dawson win the Showdown medal??? Needed to be both Rankine or Thilthorpe. Weird determination.”
One other added: “Jordan Dawson….. geeee who voted for that. Horrible. Rankine ought to have received it by a mile.
It’s Adelaide’s first win of the season and leaves the fierce native rivals with 1-2 information.
Port had received 5 of the previous six Showdowns and likewise had a serious victory forward of this match, putting a take care of Collingwood that allowed them to put on their conventional black-and-white “jail bar” guernsey.
The Energy began favorites of their dwelling sport, however the Crows ran excessive of them after a pulsating duel, with seven targets to 2 within the final time period.
Adelaide sprung a tactical shock, enjoying Dawson within the midfield moderately than his regular defensive position, and he was huge early.
Dawson was highly effective with 12 contested possessions, however Rankine, Laird and Thilthorpe had even greater video games in a well-known Crows win.
Port kicked the primary two targets, however Adelaide hit again instantly in a frantic begin that set the stage for a titanic wrestle.
There was controversy when Adelaide defender Lachie Sholl took a mark, went barely off his line and was tackled by Sam Powell-Pepper, who kicked the aim when it ought to have been a Crows clearance out of hazard.
After taking a one-goal lead into quarter time, Port broke out to a 17-point benefit within the second time period and seemed like they is likely to be about to take management.
However the Crows kicked the final three targets of the half and, fittingly, scores had been stage on the most important break.
The depth of the match was summed up firstly of the third time period when Crows teenager Max Michalanney was ironed out by Todd Marshall.
Michalanney, Adelaide’s first father-son recruit, was charging at full tempo after the ball when Marshall got here from the opposite path and cleaned him up with a brutal front-on bump.
It was a good hit that despatched Michalanney to the bench with sore ribs, however the 19-year-old sucked it up and returned to the sphere to be among the many Crows’ finest.
With the stress monumental, the 2 groups went goal-for-goal earlier than Adelaide blew some possibilities late within the third time period and led by three factors on the final change.
Port kicked two of the primary three targets within the final quarter and led by 4 factors at 10 minutes.
Junior Rioli dropped a mark in assault and Rankine then received a crucial ball on the wing, organising Lachie Murphy for a aim that gave Adelaide again the lead.
That opened the floodgates, with the Crows kicking the final six targets of the match.
Conor Rozee starred for the Energy as Powell-Pepper and Charlie Dixon kicked three targets apiece.
– With 7NEWS
