AFL Round 2 – Brisbane vs Adelaide: There’s only one P Dangerfield

Score a footy and Crows gear

Score a footy and Crows gear

A fortnight is a long time in footy, especially if you are Adelaide after a comprehensive first round defeat. The negative rhetoric on radio and print media has been quite extreme for the duration of the last 2 weeks, with Adelaide’s top 4 aspirations apparently already on the line after 1 game.

There’s no doubting that this afternoon’s Round 2 trip to the Gabbatoir will not be an easy task. Brisbane has exhibited great preseason form and are also smarting from a heavy Round 1 defeat at the hands of the Western Bulldogs. Add to that the forecast for typical QLD wet, humid and slippery conditions and grabbing the 4 points will be hard work.

The Channel 7 broadcast starts with the ever flamboyant Andrew Jarman continuing the well worn theme, badging the game as a ‘mini final’ for the Crows before the switch is made to the Foxtel feed.

The game starts and it’s quite a scrap, both sides exhibiting poor skills by foot and hand. Brisbane kick the first couple, but Ricky Henderson produces a fantastic run from half back to slot one from near 50 metres to get Adelaide on the board.

The game settles into a rhythm of to’s and fro’s, one team never more than 2 goals ahead before the other drags the margin back. Neither side is playing particularly inspiring footy, conditions and early season cobwebs making it one for the workhorses.

For Adelaide Sloane is the man, giving a stunning example of supreme gut running, regularly covering 100’s of metres at sprint pace to give his team mates an option. For Brisbane Irishman Pearce Hanley is giving a lesson in efficient ball use across half back – remarkable considering the oval ball is not his native one.

As the game heads into the second half more of the same is in order. The characteristic tropical rains continue to fall, making the contest a bash and crash affair – and where there’s bashing and crashing, you’re bound to find Adelaide’s number 32 in the thick of it.

Enter Patrick Dangerfield. Some players follow the script, Dangerfield is one who writes it. Mid way through the last when the game is in the balance, the ball tumbles out of a contest in the middle and he swoops, tearing away from the pack and slamming it onto his boot. It sails through the goals to put Adelaide in front, carrying with it a message to teammates and opposition alike. Not yet content, he bobs up again a minute later, finding space in the pocket to nail a superb goal at an extremely tight angle, giving Adelaide the breathing space it needs.

Adelaide are yet to lose 2 games in a row under Sanderson’s guidance, and that trend continues with the final siren sounds at the Gabba. The ability of this team to respond to defeat is something to be admired.

Despite the win there will be no relief in the home town fish bowl – a mouth watering Showdown match up against a resurgent Port Adelaide awaits.

BRISBANE       2.3 6.5 10.13 10.17 (77)
ADELAIDE       2.3 7.6 9.11 14.12 (96)

GOALS
Brisbane: Martin 2, Green 2, Zorko 2, Polkinghorne, Hanley, Rockliff, Bewick
Adelaide: Walker 2, Jenkins 2, Petrenko 2, Dangerfield 2, Henderson, Sloane, Douglas, Reilly, Jacobs, Jaensch

BEST
Brisbane: 
Hanley, Leuenberger, Moloney, Rockliff, Zorko
Adelaide: Dangerfield, Sloane, Thompson, Jenkins, Douglas

Umpires: Shane Stewart, Heath Ryan, Ben Ryan

Official crowd: 21,308 at the Gabba

3 votes – P Dangerfield

2 votes – P Hanley

1 vote – R Sloane

About Ben Footner

I'm tragic Crows fan, avid lawn bowler, public librarian and father of 2 little kiddies. Sometimes I also find time amongst all that to squeeze out the occasional article for the Almanac.

Comments

  1. Malcolm Ashwood says

    Good write up Ben Dangerfield is a extraordinary player his ability to set the example his will and ability to grab a Game by the scuff of the neck got Adelaide over the line on several occasions in 2013 he was the only player in the comp who was the key midfielder and then also have to play as the key forward after Walker was injured and while I have the utmost respect for Sloane as a player and person he is great re Footy clinics with kids he is the Energizer battery never stops but it is a joke that Danger didn’t win our B and F classic example of the Champion having to do more
    Good summary of the Game Ben and Hanley is another V good Irish Import I wish the Crows had found

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