by Josh Barnstable
I’m on the computer talking with friends. I am excited. School has finished for two weeks, the footy is back and I’m to play a match on Saturday morning. I’m still talking to friends, oblivious of the time. The computer all of a sudden restarts and I start getting frustrated. But I look at the time on my phone and it’s 8:28pm, two minutes until the footy is on. Great timing for the computer to bonk out. I grab my notebook and head to my room and watch a very intriguing game of football, Adelaide vs. St Kilda from AAMI Stadium.
The first quarter begins and the Crows get on the board with a goal to Jason Porplyzia after he crumbs a pack and snaps. The Saints get away though, booting the next three goals through their big men, Nick Riewoldt, Justin Koschitzke and Steven King. Trent Hentschel marks right on the goal line and kicks an answering goal, his first goal in a match since 2006. A late goal from Koschitzke sees the margin out to 12 points at quarter time.
The second quarter gets underway and the wind starts to pick up. Luckily I’m in the warmth of my own room. The Crows make a dream start, booting two goals through Kurt Tippett and then Ivan Maric snapped a goal from a tough angle, giving the Crows the lead. The Saints reply though, kicking the final two goals of the half through Leigh Montagna, who is playing a brilliant game so far, and Farren Ray after taking an impressive contested mark. Adelaide are playing the handballing game, having many more handballs than kicks. I notice that their skipper, Simon Goodwin, has been rarely sighted by my eyes. Good to note that Graham Johncock is playing well in defence, his determination and persistence see two goals stopped after he tackled down Stephen Milne and Adam Schneider. The Saints lead by 10 points at half time. Montagna has racked up 18 possessions so far in the match while Bock and Thompson have collected 17 disposals each for the Crows.
The second half got started and after a rather low-scoring first half, the third quarter began with a goal through Jarryn Geary from outside 50 after just 26 seconds from when the ball was bounced in the middle. The Crows answered just as quickly, with Bernie Vince showing some magic. He received a free kick on the boundary line, 40m out. He ran out and snapped a brilliant goal. This was replied to with a clever goal to Stephen Milne and Michael Gardiner. Taylor Walker started making an impression. He marked a Tyson Edwards spear kick before kicking the goal. Schneider replied for the Saints but the Crows finished the quarter well with Porplyzia having a purple patch, kicking 2 goals in 5 minutes to reduce the margin to 5 points at three quarter time, 9.8 to 10.7. Dal Santo was brilliant during that quarter, picking up 10 touches. He takes his tally to 26 possessions. Bock and Edwards are on 21 touches each. Brendon Goddard has been very quiet, just 13 touches so far.
The final quarter gets underway and some persistent tackling from Tippett saw him receive a free kick, 10m out. He kicked his 3rd and put the Crows within 1 point. The Saints answered with Schneider crumbing a pack and snapping a great goal to regain the buffer. The Saints ended the game after that, with Koschitzke kicking 2 goals followed by Riewoldt chasing a ball down to snap a goal while running towards the boundary line. A final goal to Goddard saw the margin out to 5 goals, a game-high. The Saints horror run at AAMI Stadium had come to end, they had prevailed by 32 points to go 2-0 in the season, 15.11.101 to 10.9.69. I turn my TV off and prepare for my match tomorrow.
Adelaide 2.2—5.3—9.8—10.9.69
St Kilda 4.2—6.7—10.7—15.11.101
AAMI Stadium (41,189)
Goalkickers:
Adelaide-Porplyzia 3, Tippett 3, Hentschel, Maric, Vince, Walker
St Kilda-Koschitzke 4, Riewoldt 2, Schneider 2, King, Gardiner, Geary, Montagna, Ray, Milne, Goddard
Best:
Adelaide-Edwards, Bock, Thompson, Tippett, Vince, Walker
St Kilda-Dal Santo, Koschitzke, Montagna, Fisher, Gram, Ray
Votes:
3 Votes: N. Dal Santo (STK)
2 Votes: J. Koschitzke (STK)
1 Vote: T. Edwards (ADEL)
Joshua Barnstable
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