Blood-curdling 90-point win something to Crow about
A red-hot Adelaide have asserted their AFL premiership credentials with a 90-point demolition job over Sydney.
On a night celebrating the famed Bloods culture, the Crows mauled last year's beaten grand finalists, slamming through 12 unanswered goals on their way to a 21.5 (131) to 5.11 (41) victory at the SCG on Saturday.
Adelaide rise to third (8-4) on the ladder after holding the Swans to one goal at halftime.
The Crows enjoyed even contributions across all lines, with goal-kicking responsibilities shared among 14 players.
Josh Rachele and Ben Keays kicked three goals, with Alex Neal-Bullen (25 disposals) and Josh Worrell (24) getting plenty of the ball.
Meanwhile, Sydney are left languishing in 14th (4-8) after falling short of emulating the Bloods ethos that in 2005 netted the club's first premiership in 72 years.
The 2005 winning team did a lap of honour at halftime to mark 20 years since their breakthrough, with legend Adam Goodes among the honorees, and powerhouse forward Barry Hall also present at the coin toss.
But the celebration could not inspire the home side.
Dean Cox's side lacked composure against Adelaide's pressure and made uncharacteristic errors, unable to bounce back from last round's dismal 53-point loss to Melbourne.
They next face 16th-placed Richmond before they head into their mid-season bye.
Sydney had opened the scoring through Hayden McLean (two goals), but it was all Adelaide from there, the visitors kicking five goals to one in the first quarter.
Adelaide defender Brodie Smith provided an early highlight, pulling off a goal from just outside the 50-mark after a poor chip kick from Swans superstar Chad Warner.
The Crows' ascendancy continued with little resistance as the home side struggled to get outside their defensive 50.
So poor were the Swans that the 35,229-strong crowd resorted to cheering on their behinds in the second quarter - the home side notched only two points in that term.
Riley Thilthorpe scored his second major of the evening when his boot edged out Swans defenders Tom McCartin and Matt Roberts on the line.
The Swans briefly came alive in the third quarter when Will Hayward ended their goal-scoring drought, but Adelaide snuffed out the challenge.
Justin McInerney led the Swans with 26 touches and five clearances in his 100th AFL game.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
30 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Port star considers more heart surgery at season's end
Port Adelaide's Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines is considering more heart surgery at the end of the AFL season. Wines suffers from a heart irregularity which sometimes causes palpitations, leading him to be substituted out of three games in the past four seasons. The 30-year-old admits frustration at the condition arising most recently - and forcing his substitution - from Port's away win against Sydney on April 20. That episode followed heart surgery last December in a bid to correct the issue. "I had a procedure back in December and there was one per cent likeliness that it wouldn't work," Wines told reporters on Monday. "And unfortunately, I'm in the one per cent that it hasn't worked. "So we've gone back to a bit of an intervention plan that we had the previous two years to manage it up to that operation and that is working well so far. "We will reassess at the end of the season to see if we do it again and try a surgical operation." But Wines remained pragmatic about his heart issue. "It was frustrating (to be subbed out against Sydney)," he said. "But, look, at the end of the day, luckily for me it's not life threatening. "And it's something that cost me a game of footy, enough to get subbed out of a game of footy. "So I'm in a really fortunate position. I've got the best cardiologists and doctors around me at the footy club and they've talked me through everything. "So at the moment, it's just this plan that has previously worked. "I've never had an episode when we're using this intervention and once the season ends, we'll assess if I need a procedure again." Wines and his teammates have returned to training after a mid-season bye which came with the Power languishing in 15th spot with four wins and seven losses ahead of meeting GWS in Canberra on Saturday night. Some pundits have blamed Port's fall on the coaching succession plan - head coach Ken Hinkley will step down at season's end and be replaced by long-time assistant Josh Carr. But Wines said from the February announcement of the handover "nothing has changed". "Ken's our coach, he will be for the rest of the year," he said. "And I know he's got a lot of energy and enthusiasm for the job and we'll be there for him.. "Despite not winning a premiership, I think we've always been up there and we've played a lot of finals. "Ken's done a lot for me personally as a footballer and off the field so I'm always going to play for him." Port Adelaide's Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines is considering more heart surgery at the end of the AFL season. Wines suffers from a heart irregularity which sometimes causes palpitations, leading him to be substituted out of three games in the past four seasons. The 30-year-old admits frustration at the condition arising most recently - and forcing his substitution - from Port's away win against Sydney on April 20. That episode followed heart surgery last December in a bid to correct the issue. "I had a procedure back in December and there was one per cent likeliness that it wouldn't work," Wines told reporters on Monday. "And unfortunately, I'm in the one per cent that it hasn't worked. "So we've gone back to a bit of an intervention plan that we had the previous two years to manage it up to that operation and that is working well so far. "We will reassess at the end of the season to see if we do it again and try a surgical operation." But Wines remained pragmatic about his heart issue. "It was frustrating (to be subbed out against Sydney)," he said. "But, look, at the end of the day, luckily for me it's not life threatening. "And it's something that cost me a game of footy, enough to get subbed out of a game of footy. "So I'm in a really fortunate position. I've got the best cardiologists and doctors around me at the footy club and they've talked me through everything. "So at the moment, it's just this plan that has previously worked. "I've never had an episode when we're using this intervention and once the season ends, we'll assess if I need a procedure again." Wines and his teammates have returned to training after a mid-season bye which came with the Power languishing in 15th spot with four wins and seven losses ahead of meeting GWS in Canberra on Saturday night. Some pundits have blamed Port's fall on the coaching succession plan - head coach Ken Hinkley will step down at season's end and be replaced by long-time assistant Josh Carr. But Wines said from the February announcement of the handover "nothing has changed". "Ken's our coach, he will be for the rest of the year," he said. "And I know he's got a lot of energy and enthusiasm for the job and we'll be there for him.. "Despite not winning a premiership, I think we've always been up there and we've played a lot of finals. "Ken's done a lot for me personally as a footballer and off the field so I'm always going to play for him." Port Adelaide's Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines is considering more heart surgery at the end of the AFL season. Wines suffers from a heart irregularity which sometimes causes palpitations, leading him to be substituted out of three games in the past four seasons. The 30-year-old admits frustration at the condition arising most recently - and forcing his substitution - from Port's away win against Sydney on April 20. That episode followed heart surgery last December in a bid to correct the issue. "I had a procedure back in December and there was one per cent likeliness that it wouldn't work," Wines told reporters on Monday. "And unfortunately, I'm in the one per cent that it hasn't worked. "So we've gone back to a bit of an intervention plan that we had the previous two years to manage it up to that operation and that is working well so far. "We will reassess at the end of the season to see if we do it again and try a surgical operation." But Wines remained pragmatic about his heart issue. "It was frustrating (to be subbed out against Sydney)," he said. "But, look, at the end of the day, luckily for me it's not life threatening. "And it's something that cost me a game of footy, enough to get subbed out of a game of footy. "So I'm in a really fortunate position. I've got the best cardiologists and doctors around me at the footy club and they've talked me through everything. "So at the moment, it's just this plan that has previously worked. "I've never had an episode when we're using this intervention and once the season ends, we'll assess if I need a procedure again." Wines and his teammates have returned to training after a mid-season bye which came with the Power languishing in 15th spot with four wins and seven losses ahead of meeting GWS in Canberra on Saturday night. Some pundits have blamed Port's fall on the coaching succession plan - head coach Ken Hinkley will step down at season's end and be replaced by long-time assistant Josh Carr. But Wines said from the February announcement of the handover "nothing has changed". "Ken's our coach, he will be for the rest of the year," he said. "And I know he's got a lot of energy and enthusiasm for the job and we'll be there for him.. "Despite not winning a premiership, I think we've always been up there and we've played a lot of finals. "Ken's done a lot for me personally as a footballer and off the field so I'm always going to play for him."
ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
Joe Montemurro correctly called Matildas 'one of the best brands in the world', and is now arguably the most important coach in Australia
The role of being Australia's Test cricket captain was once colloquially considered to be the second-most important position to being the prime minister in Australia. This fictional cabinet that features Anthony Albanese and Pat Cummins would be well-versed to extend a seat to another very important role in Australia's sporting sphere, to Joe Montemurro, the new Matildas coach. Over the last half-decade, none of Australia's national sporting teams have captured the attention of the entire nation quite like the Matildas have, particularly during the home World Cup campaign in 2023 where they came within a few matches of winning it all. The Matildas now routinely pack out stadiums at home, whether it be for a friendly or a match of greater importance. They are arguably more popular than their male counterparts, the Socceroos. However, with greater attention and exposure comes greater expectation, and ultimately it will be the ability to match those expectations that will determine whether the Montemurro era is a success or not. The Matildas have truly risen to prominence over the last decade. Alen Stajcic began the ascent by recording crucial wins at the 2015 World Cup and 2016 Rio Olympics. Tony Gustavsson carried on the work by guiding the team at the 2023 World Cup, and now Montemurro must continue the positive momentum. Montemurro was right to call the Matildas "one of the best brands in the world" in his introductory press conference, and will understand the expectations that come with being the leader of that brand. Fans of yesteryear may have been happy to see Matildas teams of previous generations recording the odd positive result as the underdogs punching above their weight, but the adoring public will now simply require more from Montemurro's squad, beginning with next year's Asian Cup at home. The good news for the Matildas is that Montemurro is no stranger to meeting high expectations. Montemurro returns to his home country off the back of successful stints in Europe with Arsenal, Juventus and Lyon at his last three stops, where winning was the major prerogative. The Aussie has proved himself to be a serial winner everywhere he has coached. He won two grand finals with Melbourne City, a WSL title with Arsenal, the Serie A with Juventus and the Premiere Ligue with Lyon. Those are just some of his achievements. If the Matildas have serious plans to stack their trophy cabinet over the next few years, there is really no better candidate to lead them in that quest. The challenge for Montemurro will be straddling the line between winning now while transitioning and future-proofing his squad. Montemurro takes over a squad that features a 31-year-old Steph Catley, a 30-year-old Caitlin Foord, a 32-year-old Katrina Gorry and a 31-year-old Sam Kerr, who were all mainstays of the Gustavsson era. Along with Kerr, the trio of Catley, Foord and Gorry should all have a number of productive years left in them, but also have significant miles on them as they approach their mid-30s. It remains unclear exactly what version of Kerr, Montemurro and the Matildas will get when she makes her long-awaited return following almost two years on the sidelines nursing a serious knee injury. As brilliant as Kerr is, it is probably unfair to expect her to bang in goal after goal immediately when she returns to the park. Montemurro must figure out the optimal time to hand the keys over to the next generation of Matildas, a task made trickier with the face of that generation, Mary Fowler, also currently sidelined with a long-term knee injury. Fowler, when healthy, won't be able to do it alone and Montemurro will be tasked with building the team around her with an eye to the 2027 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics. Doing that will require youngsters coming through the junior national teams to be guided through the system while also maintaining a close eye on the A-League Women. Transitioning away from stalwarts in any sport is particularly tricky, and how he handles the inevitable tough calls that come in the next few years over the likes of the aforementioned veteran quartet will also define the Montemurro tenure. The only controversy surrounding this appointment isn't because of who was appointed, but rather how long it took to appoint him. The 10-month stretch where the Matildas seemingly remained in flux under interim coach Tom Sermanni could have been a period where Montemurro recorded significant reps ahead of the Asian Cup. It was a period that frustrated the players themselves, with Foord admitting earlier this year that playing while not knowing who the next Matildas coach would be felt like "wasted time". FA CEO Heather Garriock hit back at those criticising the timeline of the Montemurro hire saying "all good things come to those who wait" at his official unveiling. Time will tell just how much damage, if any, that period of flux has done to the Matildas train that had built up such positive momentum under Gustavsson and Stajcic before him. Now that Montemurro is finally in the seat, he is arguably the most important coach in Australia as he leads the Matildas brand into its all-important next generation.
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘The smart decision was made': Luke Brooks backs Lachlan Galvin and the Tigers to get on with business now that the young star has moved on
Former Wests Tigers playmaker Luke Brooks says it was the 'smart decision' for the club to part ways with Lachlan Galvin given the contract saga would have become a messy distraction for both parties if it was allowed to fester. The Bulldogs confirmed last week that Galvin had joined the club effective immediately until the end of the 2028 season after the young five-eighth informed the Tigers earlier this year that he wouldn't entertain the idea of re-signing beyond 2026. The contract mess led to Galvin being dropped to NSW Cup for a game before he returned to the NRL side the following week. Galvin is now in line to make his Bulldogs debut next Monday against the Eels who were also after his signature. Get to know our newest recruit, Lachie Galvin ðŸ'™ðŸ¤� — Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (@NRL_Bulldogs) June 1, 2025 Brooks spent 11 seasons at the Tigers but informed the club in 2023 that he would leave at the end of the year to take up a lucrative deal with Manly. He's seen the toll contract negotiations can have on young stars at the club, and he hopes both Galvin and the Tigers can move on swiftly now that it's all sorted. 'I think the smart decision was made for them to part ways,' he told the NewsWire. 'It would have been a distraction if it went for another year. It's good for both parties. 'I don't know too much about what's going on, but looking at it, I feel like he's handled it really well for a 19-year-old. 'Not many guys that age can go through that with all the media pressure and so much noise going on. 'He still came out and played some good footy. There'll still be some news going on around him, but after a few weeks playing for the Bulldogs, hopefully that goes away and he can focus on playing good footy. 'He's a great player and he's a good young kid as well. Hopefully, it works out for him.' While Galvin has been the talk of the town lately, a man at the opposite end of his career has also been in the headlines with chat around whether Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans should keep his spot in the team. The veteran halfback has been a loyal servant for the Maroons throughout his illustrious career, but there have been calls for Tom Dearden to replace him following the game one defeat. Cherry-Evans put the disappointment behind him to star with three try assists as Manly bounced back to thrash the Broncos on Saturday night, with the skipper showing he still has it just days after copping a tough loss in Brisbane. 'When you have a big game like that (the Origin opener) and end up losing, I feel like you want to go out there and play straight away. He really led from the front,' Brooks said. 'To be doing what he's doing at his age by backing up three days later and then putting on a clinic, it just shows that he's a great player. 'There's been a lot of noise, so to put that to the side and put on a performance was great. 'I don't think the halves were the problem (for Queensland). They lost to a good Blues side, so whatever way they go is up to them. 'Hopefully, for his sake, he gets another crack.'
