AFLW Round 2 – Adelaide v St. Kilda: Saints just miss out against Crows
Adelaide v St Kilda
4:40pm, Sunday February 16
Richmond Oval
The Saints have started the AFLW season fairly well. Their first two games were against former premiers, the Bulldogs (2018) and Crows (2017 and 2019). Against the Bulldogs the Saints started badly, conceded early goals and then fought back to break even for the rest of the game, losing by four goals. They did the reverse against the Crows. They started well and lead at every break to be overrun in the last 5 minutes of the last quarter and lose by 13 points.
Both teams put on a high class game, a notable feature being the high marking by both sides. The Saints looked fluent from the first bounce and kicked the ball more and longer that they had against the Bulldogs. Both teams moved the ball well from their back halves but struggled once they moved the ball into their forward 50. Late in the quarter the Crows gifted a goal with a miskick that landed in the arms of Kate McCarthy who ran into the goal square for an easy finish.
The second quarter was evenly matched. Jess Sedunary kicked an opportunist goal early in the quarter. The Crows came back with a goal. Georgia Patrikios, the best player to wear number 21 since 1966 Premiership player Jimmy Read, was involved in the best goal of the game. She started a move in the center of the ground with a series of hand passes and put her boot into a long kick which landed in the hands of Caitlin Greiser in the goal square who turned around and kicked a goal. The Crows got another goal late in the quarter with the Saints having a 7 point lead at the main break.
The tide changed after half time as the Crows seemed to get their game together. Both teams scored another goal each – with Caitlin Greiser getting her second – with the Saints hanging on. The Saints experienced problems getting clean balls into the forward line. Early in the last quarter, Georgia Patrikios was awarded a 50 meter penalty and had a shot for goal. It looked like she had kicked truly with the goal umpire saying it was touched on the way through (to my unbiased eye, a replay suggested otherwise). It would have given the Saints an 11 point lead. The Crows dominated the rest of the quarter. Half way through Clara Fitzpatrick fell heavily after a marking contest and was carried off on a stretcher. With only a few minutes remaining the Crows came to life, kicking 3 goals. To be fair to them two were from strong marks and the third from a clever snap. The last was kicked on the siren which resulted in a 13 point loss for the Saints; a margin which flattered the Crows.
The Saints have only played two games and looked more accomplished than the did against the Bulldogs. Besides Georgia Patrikios, Tani White and Tilly Lucas-Rodd – who both play in the back half – had strong games. The rucks and midfield are competitive. Caitlin Greiser is a good focal point. The Saints look likely and it is only a matter of time before they will get a win on the board.
Go Saints!
ADELAIDE 0.0 2.1 3.2 6.4 (40)
ST. KILDA 1.1 3.2 4.2 4.3 (27)
GOALS
Adelaide: Considine, Biddell, Thompson, Gould, Newman, Jones.
St. Kilda: Greiser 2, McCarthy, Sedunary.
BEST
Adelaide: Marinoff, Hatchard, Gum, Allan.
St. Kilda: White, Patrikios, Lucas-Rodd, Exon.
Crowd: 6,433
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Thanks for this write up. I managed to get to Richmond at three quarter time after other commitments and was a little surprised the Crows were behind. Enjoyed the footy, the crowd were involved and no doubt all the St Kilda players in the vicinity thought a goal was scored with their celebrating. A perfect stop gap before heading of the see Greg Champion’s show at the Goodwood Institute as part of the Adelaide Fringe..
Braham, the fact this game wasn’t played in a blustery gale would account for much of the rise in standard.
Saints were impressive – this was the best showing to date by one of the 4 new teams. Patrikios looks like a gun.
Re the Crows, I’m struck by the similarity with last season. A first round loss, then trailing most of round 2 before getting up. The 4 points here were important for them. They look like they want to be conservative with Erin Phillip’s return. A 2nd loss here might have forced their hand earlier.
Cheers
Hi Braham,
Your match report is a good read. Saints perform well but as you say girls need more skills in the forward line.
Run fast, finding open space and leading well so that a player can take a mark are needed, I think.
Patrikios is a rising star in attacking, I think as well as White and Fitzpatrick are doing well in the back line.
Cheers
Yoshi
Well done Braham it’s an accurate write up and it makes me excited to see weekly progress in players. Very excited Re Friday but Melbourne look very good. Will be there with bells on.