March 07, 2010

NAB Challenge: Adelaide vs Melbourne. Healy braves rugged conditions in Melbourne to listen in to a game in Adelaide...

I HAVE never been so excited about a practice match. Maybe it’s the fact that I can listen on FiveAA covering the game over the internet. I’m really hoping for a Demons victory today at an unfamiliar venue, Hamra Homes Oval in Elizabeth (Northern Adelaide). With three other challenge matches on in the afternoon (turned out to be two) I was on the internet for most of the afternoon, eager to find scores. But just before 3pm, the footy went to the back of my mind as the torrential rain and hail stones hit Ashburton. Finally, broken windows and a white backyard later, this is over, and I can concentrate on the big game.
I click on “Listen Live” and the commentators explain that the Demons arrived 20 minutes late, so the game will be delayed by that amount of time. They speak to Josh Mahoney, Melbourne assistant coach, in the commentary box, he seems confident with the club’s progress. I hear the Dees arrived on the ground and that heavenly tune play. It’ll be interesting to see if we can win without Sylvia, Moloney, Bate, Davey, Bruce and others, but to be fair, Adelaide have a few stars out as well.
The rain starts to pour down outside as the game begins, while in Elizabeth it’s drizzling. The Dees start terribly, like a bottom of the ladder side that they have been. Fumbles everywhere, in one instance they have about 20 possessions but can’t clear because of the fumbling. The Crows simply don’t let the Dees get their hands on the ball. Edwards has five possessions in the first six minutes of the game. The Crows start to put their dominance on the board, McLeod kicks a point, before Edwards hit Tippett on the chest who goals from 40. Warnock concedes a free against Tippett from the same spot, and Tippett kicks it back over the goal umpire’s hat. It’s not a good start, for the Demons or Warnock. Walker links with Cook for another Crows goal, and it could be worse but Johncock flunks a kick from 50. Just as I begin to have my doubts, the Dees go inside 50 for the first time (after fifteen minutes) and Jurrah kicks it over his head from the goal square for the Dees' first. Some things never change. Scully marks and goals from 50, Petterd kicks one too, and the Dees are only two points down at the first break, 3.2 20 to 3.0 18. However, there are casualties, Jurrah and Bell both off with shoulders. I can’t believe it, not Jurrah!!!! On a bright note, Scully and Trengove have both starred early and McDonald has picked up 10 possessions, Edwards has nine for the Crows.
I rejoice as Miller nails one from 45 to begin the quarter. I laugh at how the South Australian commentators are referring to marks as “catches” regularly, as well as using the term “bounce down”. The rain starts to fall heavily, this time over there instead of here. Both teams have youngsters impressing: Petrenko and Dangerfield for the Crows, while McNamara, Cheney and Strauss are doing well for the Dees, and Trengove has a ball on a string during the second term. Maric makes it five straight for the Dees, Tippett takes a screamer but misses the shot, and the Crows go through a bit of a purple patch, not letting the Dees get the ball out of their 50, but all they can get is three behinds on the scoreboard from it. The Crows defence gets caught behind as Miller runs in to kick his second of the day, and Petterd gets a free and goal from 20 just before the siren. The Dees lead at half time, 7.2 (44) to 3.7 (25), and I’m over the moon with the result. I just hope we can back it up in the second half.
The Dees pounce forward to begin the second half, and Petterd just misses an easy shot, a case of “Why did he choose to snap it?” Neil Craig must’ve said something to the Crows that worked at half time, because they absolutely dominate the quarter. Petrenko squeezes one through from 30, Ricky Henderson (an impressive youngster for the Crows) dashes and delivers to Tippett, who kicks goal number three. The Crows miss a couple and still aren’t in front, before Tippett kicks another! Mackay puts another one through and it’s getting painful, which I’m used to. Petterd kicks his and the Demons’ second score for the quarter, this time a goal, Petterd’s third. We are only three points down at three quarter time, 7.12 (54) to 8.3 (51), and probably lucky, looking at the scoring shots. Trengove has 22 possessions for the Dees, McDonald 23, while Mackay has 19 for Adelaide.
Trengove was the better out of Picks one and two for the first three quarters, but it’s Scully who stars in the last, showing his expertise with a handball to Maric for a goal. Dees in front! The Crows level the scores with two behinds, but they are really wasting opportunities. Tippett flies high and takes an incredible mark, the 5,000 crowd sounding more like 40,000. Tippett misses everything from a gettable shot, however. This is nerve racking, I can’t stand it. Jack Gunston kicks one for the Crows, and they’re in the lead.
Apparently the scoreboard is broken, so there is some confusion as to how long’s left. The rain tumbles down more heavily and the Dees attack. Trengove marks, and misses a gettable shot from 25. Scully marks from a similar spot, and misses everything. This is ridiculous! Miller marks 40 out and misses, and Green, 20 out directly in front, misses! This is Brad Green we’re talking about, as good a kick as you’ll find in the league! Petterd marks and kicks goal number four for the second week in a row. YESSSS!!!!! Demons in front! There’s still time for the Crows, but I’m just holding my breath in hope. The Crows go inside 50, Tippett flies, he’s been held on to by Warnock! Oh no! Tippett goes back from 30 and kicks it, and the siren goes shortly after the so called “bounce down”.
We threw it away, we had our chances in the last term. A bit of dinner cheers me up, however.  There are a few lessons to be learnt from this game:
1. Scully and Trengove are incredible.
2. Injuries are just a matter of bad luck, even in practice games.
And finally,
3. Never take a game that means absolutely nothing as seriously as I did.


Adelaide 3.2 3.7 7.12 9.15 (69)
Melbourne 3.0 7.2 8.3 10.7 (67)
GOALS – Adelaide: Tippett 5, Petrenko, Mackay, Gunston, Cook. Melbourne: Petterd 4, Miller 2, Maric 2, Scully, Jurrah.
BEST –Adelaide: Tippett, Edwards, Mackay, McLeod, Petrenko, Dangerfield. Melbourne: Trengove, Scully, Petterd, McNamara, Cheney, McDonald, Maric.
My votes: 3. Kurt Tippett (ADEL), 2. Jack Trengove (MELB), 1. Tom Scully (MELB).
Crowd: Around 5,000 at Hamra Holmes Oval.

• Jonathon Griffin of Adelaide in action during the AFL NAB Challenge match between Adelaide and Melbourne at Argana Park, Elizabeth. Photo by Sean Garnsworthy. The Slattery Media Group

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