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Adelaide signals its arrival as a genuine AFL heavyweight and is perfectly placed for a premiership charge
Adelaide signals its arrival as a genuine AFL heavyweight and is perfectly placed for a premiership charge

ABC News

time6 days ago

  • Sport
  • ABC News

Adelaide signals its arrival as a genuine AFL heavyweight and is perfectly placed for a premiership charge

The Crows are perfectly placed for a September charge this AFL season. A crushing 61-point defeat over the rising Gold Coast Suns has helped Adelaide soar into premiership contention, now among the favourites to take out the flag alongside Brisbane and Victorian heavyweights Collingwood. With seven wins from their last eight games, (the only loss in that period coming against Hawthorn by three points), the Crows have signalled their arrival as a force to be reckoned with late in the season. Captain Jordan Dawson has led the charge again this season, but he wouldn't be drawn into the argument that his club was the new flag favourite, ahead of Adelaide's Showdown 58 clash against the Power this weekend. "I think we've got a great group and I'm really confident in the way we play our footy and the way we go about it," Dawson said. "I've got no doubt our best footy is definitely good enough but like we've seen this year, any team on any given day can beat you, so we're very wary of that." James Peatling, Isaac Cumming and Alex Neal-Bullen all joined the Crows ahead of 2025 and have all had their moments to shine in 2025. Neal-Bullen's role as a midfielder and forward has given other players, like Dawson and Izak Rankine, freedom to be more damaging up the field. The former Demon has also been damaging himself, kicking three goals and gathering a career-high 31 disposals against the Suns last weekend. Former Giants Peatling and Cumming have also locked up spots in Adelaide's best team, showing versatility with their ability to play multiple roles. Dawson this week said his side now had the depth and talent to challenge for a flag. "Obviously bringing those three recruits in has helped us a lot and internally there's been a lot of growth from individuals," Dawson said at a press conference this week. "We've always had a lot of belief but we've just really narrowed the focus, I suppose, this year and focused on the week to week." In years gone by, if Taylor Walker didn't fire then the Crows struggled up forward. Now in the later stages of his career, the veteran certainly hasn't been poor, but has handed the reins over to Adelaide's young brigade to lead the charge. Riley Thilthorpe has kicked 41 goals this season, including bags of six against the Bulldogs in Round 18 and five against the Suns and Richmond early in the year. Izak Rankine and Josh Rachele have both provided a spark and pinch-hit in the midfield — with both adding 25 goals to the team's goal tally. Because of this, the pressure has been taken off of Walker — who has led the forward line for the past decade. He's still managed 28 goals as a third option, while Darcy Fogarty has also benefited from Thilthorpe's form, with 34 goals as well. Ben Keays and Alex Neal-Bullen also provide pressure and energy inside 50, providing a headache for all opposition defenders. This has helped Adelaide become the third-ranked team in the competition for points per game, behind only Geelong and the Western Bulldogs. Mark Keane, Josh Worrell and Nick Murray are three players not often spoken about as superstars of the competition. With the likes of Carlton's Jacob Weitering, GWS defender Sam Taylor and Brisbane's Harris Andrews marshalling defensive 50s, Adelaide's key defenders are somewhat unheralded. Despite the lack of media attention, Worrell and Keane are currently the top two players for intercept marks this season, Worrell with 137 and Keane with 134. This form has catapulted Adelaide into the number one spot for total intercepts, with Worrell taking 11 marks against the Suns alone in Round 19. Adelaide also sits second behind only Collingwood for points conceded and, thanks to its damaging forward line, has the healthiest percentage of 139.6 from 18 games. It is worth mentioning Adelaide hasn't played in a final since being belted by the Tigers in the 2017 decider. And it's quite rare for a team to jump straight to a premiership in its first finals appearance in years. So, how much impact will that have on player mentality come September? Crows Coach Matthew Nicks backed his team to lift when the finals begin. He said they would treat their remaining games as a warm-up for September, starting with this week's Showdown. "If you look back on the history of the game, we know what's coming," he said. "It's often talked about in the post-game as finals-like footy, there's not many Showdowns that haven't been. "From our point of view, it's perfect. We want to play in the hardest possible games we can and test ourselves and it won't be any harder than this." Despite their form, the Crows have only won three games against current top eight teams this season, the Suns, Brisbane and the Giants. Nicks said despite the extra commentary his side was getting late in the season, they were not thinking about finals at all. "It's not even something that's crossed our mind," Nicks said. "I think the position we're in is off the back of us not looking at any of that … the reality is it's there and it's noise." Port Adelaide Coach Ken Hinkley, however, was keen to put some pressure on, claiming the Crows should finish on top of the ladder. "Without pumping them up too much … they're the form team of the competition," Hinkley said at this week's Showdown press conference. "They've had an unbelievable run, I think eight or 10 of the last 12 or something. Adelaide play Port Adelaide in Showdown 58 this Saturday night, with clashes against Hawthorn and Collingwood to come in the run to finals. A top four spot should be more than achievable, with Adelaide's remaining matches coming against lowly West Coast and North Melbourne.

Petracca helped Melbourne realise a need for change. Can they keep it going?
Petracca helped Melbourne realise a need for change. Can they keep it going?

Sydney Morning Herald

time23-04-2025

  • Sport
  • Sydney Morning Herald

Petracca helped Melbourne realise a need for change. Can they keep it going?

At the end of last season, Alex Neal-Bullen left with the Demons' blessing for family reasons, Clayton Oliver visited Geelong after he realised he was potential trade bait before the club shut down the prospect of him moving, and Kysaiah Pickett acknowledged homesickness had him considering his future at the Demons. But the headline act in the whole episode, one that eventually led to long overdue off-field change, was star midfielder Petracca's frustration. After a season-ending injury on King's Birthday last year morphed into public disappointment with the club's administration and standards, he contemplated leaving. At the heart of the matter for Petracca was the way the club was being run, and how that was hindering the chance of achieving on-field success. But his motivation became clouded in the public arena when stories emerged suggesting the concerns Petracca was expressing were less related to team performance, and more about the impact on his personal brand – a suggestion that made people close to Petracca angry. As the situation became messy he had to explain to teammates in August the traumatic experience he and his family had as he recovered from the lacerated spleen, four broken ribs and punctured lungs caused by the knock he received in a marking contest in June. His teammates had questioned why he was in Queensland during the season as the team was slipping further out of finals contention. Senior figures at other clubs would later tell this masthead they found his teammates' response more mystifying than Petracca's absence. After many meetings with team leaders, including one with the evergreen skipper Max Gawn and straight-talking Jack Viney and other leaders at Gawn's Hawthorn wine bar, the 29-year-old recommitted for this season as any avenues for a trade disappeared. 'I make no apologies for wanting to better our club and contribute to our success both on and off the field,' his statement read. No one doubted there had been validity to Petracca's concerns. New president Brad Green admitted at Melbourne's AGM in December that 'certain off-field issues could have been handled better'. Petracca had already reasserted his commitment for 2025 with a speech to the players as they returned for pre-season in Bright and began to take the tentative steps to rebuild their trust in each other. In that speech, he told them what he thought the team could achieve in 2025 – and then he went to work. A new approach Embarking on a process of change isn't easy, but the club has been thrilled with Petracca's engagement. He ticked all the boxes he needed to during pre-season on his way back from injury. Petracca married Bella Beischer in front of friends and teammates in December and changed management groups. His approach in 2025 is uncomplicated, with playing and training at the centre of his existence. 'Any time you have trauma from an injury perspective that Christian has had, it can take time. He's had a pre-season. He's had five games or six games to get himself going. His game's in good shape, and it's only going to get better. We're actually really enjoying what he's doing,' Goodwin said on Tuesday. They aren't just empty words from the club. Two sources, who preferred to remain anonymous so they could speak freely about the issue, verified that Petracca's commitment is genuine. They think the focus on Petracca has been unfair, and he copped unnecessary heat at a time when his only objective has been to help Melbourne become an environment where everyone can flourish. His professionalism and ambition have never been questioned, although he has never been one to spend more time than needed at a football club. His on-the-go personality makes him as hard to pin down as a mosquito inside a tent. The athlete, who is well known for his love of cooking, is still entertaining his 528,000 Instagram followers with his recipes. But this season, according to a club source, Petracca has made a noticeable effort to stay engaged as the club delved into the emotional as much as the technical to bring about change. The only issue was that change was taking longer than they hoped. Goodwin had to defend that emotional reaction from Petracca after the loss to the Cats. But supporters liked his passion and former Giants captain Phil Davis said on radio the following week it would not have worried him one bit. That didn't stop the moment being analysed ad infinitum. Worse before it got better Another disappointing loss to Essendon during Gather Round, the following week meant frustrations grew even further. Tom McDonald, who has experienced more highs and lows than most on Melbourne's list, joked on Monday that he walked off the ground after that defeat wondering whether the Demons had taken the right track. With the support of senior players a defiant, yet calm, Goodwin doubled down on the change, dropping forwards Bayley Fritsch and Jacob van Rooyen. He emphasised defensive aspects and he also pulled a lever that had been dormant since round one. Loading Petracca returned to the centre bounce, lifting his attendance rate in that part of the ground back above 80 per cent – and making sure the electrifying Pickett joined him. 'We have obviously been about change and about doing some things differently, and sometimes you just lose doing some of the things you really value,' Goodwin said post-game. '[We are] getting back to the things that are really important to us … and leading change.' Having Pickett at centre bounces is expected to help both Petracca and Oliver because opposition midfielders can't focus all their energy on the equally explosive Petracca. As Petracca heads back to the MCG on Anzac Day eve to play in front of the biggest crowd since King's Birthday, the attention is becoming more evenly spread across the team. The change he was central to has finally resulted in some positive signs on-field, albeit a month later than most hoped.

Petracca helped Melbourne realise a need for change. Can they keep it going?
Petracca helped Melbourne realise a need for change. Can they keep it going?

The Age

time23-04-2025

  • Sport
  • The Age

Petracca helped Melbourne realise a need for change. Can they keep it going?

At the end of last season, Alex Neal-Bullen left with the Demons' blessing for family reasons, Clayton Oliver visited Geelong after he realised he was potential trade bait before the club shut down the prospect of him moving, and Kysaiah Pickett acknowledged homesickness had him considering his future at the Demons. But the headline act in the whole episode, one that eventually led to long overdue off-field change, was star midfielder Petracca's frustration. After a season-ending injury on King's Birthday last year morphed into public disappointment with the club's administration and standards, he contemplated leaving. At the heart of the matter for Petracca was the way the club was being run, and how that was hindering the chance of achieving on-field success. But his motivation became clouded in the public arena when stories emerged suggesting the concerns Petracca was expressing were less related to team performance, and more about the impact on his personal brand – a suggestion that made people close to Petracca angry. As the situation became messy he had to explain to teammates in August the traumatic experience he and his family had as he recovered from the lacerated spleen, four broken ribs and punctured lungs caused by the knock he received in a marking contest in June. His teammates had questioned why he was in Queensland during the season as the team was slipping further out of finals contention. Senior figures at other clubs would later tell this masthead they found his teammates' response more mystifying than Petracca's absence. After many meetings with team leaders, including one with the evergreen skipper Max Gawn and straight-talking Jack Viney and other leaders at Gawn's Hawthorn wine bar, the 29-year-old recommitted for this season as any avenues for a trade disappeared. 'I make no apologies for wanting to better our club and contribute to our success both on and off the field,' his statement read. No one doubted there had been validity to Petracca's concerns. New president Brad Green admitted at Melbourne's AGM in December that 'certain off-field issues could have been handled better'. Petracca had already reasserted his commitment for 2025 with a speech to the players as they returned for pre-season in Bright and began to take the tentative steps to rebuild their trust in each other. In that speech, he told them what he thought the team could achieve in 2025 – and then he went to work. A new approach Embarking on a process of change isn't easy, but the club has been thrilled with Petracca's engagement. He ticked all the boxes he needed to during pre-season on his way back from injury. Petracca married Bella Beischer in front of friends and teammates in December and changed management groups. His approach in 2025 is uncomplicated, with playing and training at the centre of his existence. 'Any time you have trauma from an injury perspective that Christian has had, it can take time. He's had a pre-season. He's had five games or six games to get himself going. His game's in good shape, and it's only going to get better. We're actually really enjoying what he's doing,' Goodwin said on Tuesday. They aren't just empty words from the club. Two sources, who preferred to remain anonymous so they could speak freely about the issue, verified that Petracca's commitment is genuine. They think the focus on Petracca has been unfair, and he copped unnecessary heat at a time when his only objective has been to help Melbourne become an environment where everyone can flourish. His professionalism and ambition have never been questioned, although he has never been one to spend more time than needed at a football club. His on-the-go personality makes him as hard to pin down as a mosquito inside a tent. The athlete, who is well known for his love of cooking, is still entertaining his 528,000 Instagram followers with his recipes. But this season, according to a club source, Petracca has made a noticeable effort to stay engaged as the club delved into the emotional as much as the technical to bring about change. The only issue was that change was taking longer than they hoped. Goodwin had to defend that emotional reaction from Petracca after the loss to the Cats. But supporters liked his passion and former Giants captain Phil Davis said on radio the following week it would not have worried him one bit. That didn't stop the moment being analysed ad infinitum. Worse before it got better Another disappointing loss to Essendon during Gather Round, the following week meant frustrations grew even further. Tom McDonald, who has experienced more highs and lows than most on Melbourne's list, joked on Monday that he walked off the ground after that defeat wondering whether the Demons had taken the right track. With the support of senior players a defiant, yet calm, Goodwin doubled down on the change, dropping forwards Bayley Fritsch and Jacob van Rooyen. He emphasised defensive aspects and he also pulled a lever that had been dormant since round one. Loading Petracca returned to the centre bounce, lifting his attendance rate in that part of the ground back above 80 per cent – and making sure the electrifying Pickett joined him. 'We have obviously been about change and about doing some things differently, and sometimes you just lose doing some of the things you really value,' Goodwin said post-game. '[We are] getting back to the things that are really important to us … and leading change.' Having Pickett at centre bounces is expected to help both Petracca and Oliver because opposition midfielders can't focus all their energy on the equally explosive Petracca. As Petracca heads back to the MCG on Anzac Day eve to play in front of the biggest crowd since King's Birthday, the attention is becoming more evenly spread across the team. The change he was central to has finally resulted in some positive signs on-field, albeit a month later than most hoped.

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