Adelaide has overcome a sluggish start to defeat Fremantle 12.5 (77) to 10.6 (66) in Cockburn on Friday, helped by a great performance from new recruit Izak Rankine.
Fremantle trade recruits Luke Jackson and Jaeger O’Meara starred early for the Dockers, but Rankine helped spark a Crows fightback, with the side eventually running over the top of their opponents.
The Dockers will host Port Adelaide in next week’s practice match, while the Crows take on West Coast.
QUARTER-BY-QUARTER RECAP
Lachie Schultz got the Dockers off to a great start, putting through a set shot in the opening minute.
Jaeger O’Meara was impressive in the first few minutes, registering a couple of clearances for his new side.
A free kick to Matt Taberner led to the Dockers’ second goal of the match, with the Crows still yet to enter their attacking 50.
Darcy Fogarty breathed life into the Crows’ attack, kicking a goal after missing a set shot shortly before.
It was Luke Jackson’s turn to hit the scoreboard, taking a lead-up mark on a slight angle and drilling through his first major of the evening.
Still, the Crows had worked their way into the match by that point and were beginning to hold their own in general play, with Rory Sloane kicking a classy goal later in the quarter.
The Crows trailed by eight points at the close of the first quarter, but suffered an injury blow, with 21-year-old key defender Josh Worrell suffering a hamstring injury.
Nat Fyfe looked impressive at stages in the opening term and got on the end of a goal midway through the second term.
He got on the end of a great passage of pure footy out of the centre bounce, but missed the set shot to finish off the smooth play.
Bailey Banfield made no such mistake when he got a chance a few minutes later, putting the Dockers up by nine points.
Quiet for most of the match to that point, Izak Rankine clicked into gear with a great goal and threatened to kick another shortly after.
The Dockers took a three-point lead into the main break.
Rankine booted another goal early in the third quarter as the Crows began to take the ascendancy.
The Crows continued to build throughout the third period, with a long-range goal to Jordan Dawson extending his side’s lead to 28 points.
Fremantle managed to reduce the margin in the fourth term, but never truly looked like overtaking the Crows.
THE 3-2-1
3) HIGH-OCTANE CROWS SWOOP ON SLEEPY DOCKERS
A sluggish start would‘ve had Crows fans fearing more of the same in 2023, but Matthew Nicks’ side was mightily impressive in upping the ante after the first quarter.
The Crows‘ midfield was central to the resurgence, with the likes of Rory Laird spearheading the charge.
Also crucial to the change in fortune for the Crows was Izak Rankine, with the star recruit roaring to life after a middling start to the contest.
He kicked one goal in typical Rankine fashion and had a chance for another, while his goal to start the third quarter kept the side‘s momentum going.
It was part of a marked shift noted by former Docker Lee Spurr.
“The pressure they‘re building, the repeat entries and the ability to stifle the Dockers’ ball movement,” he said.
“In the first quarter the Dockers were winning it from clearances and their forward line looked really good ... since then the Crows midfield has stepped up.
“They‘ve upped the pressure and turned it around. They’ve just pushing it into the forward line.
“They‘ve created a mystique where the Dockers have been caught napping a little bit.”
2) FYFE FIRES UP FORWARD
He didn‘t set the game alight, but Nathan Fyfe’s first competitive showing of 2023 was enough to be very promising for Dockers fans.
Just having Fyfe out on the park at all is a major win given the former captain‘s injury woes in recent years, but he offered glimpses at what he could add to a forward line in desperate need of a point of difference.
He cut a powerful figure on the lead, hitting the scoreboard while also setting up other looks.
The dual Brownlow medallist also did damage further up the ground at times when needed, with perhaps the only letdown his set shot form.
“Nathan Fyfe is a real x-factor for them,” former teammate Lee Spurr said.
“He will get opportunities, he‘ll get looks. I think he’s still adjusting. I think he’s led really hard and straight, which has been great, he’s got his hands to it.
“All the things Nathan Fyfe does really well, he‘s done well. He can add some set shot routine .. that’s something he’ll need to continue to work at.
“I think he‘ll get more opportunity the more players get used to him leading hard and fast.”
He finished with three goals for the day.
1) NEW RECRUITS MAKE SOLID START
The three big recruits on display fired in tandem with their new sides‘ form on Friday.
Early on, there were great signs from Luke Jackson and Jaeger O‘Meara, with O’Meara starring in the middle early while Jackson offered a fair bit up forward and in the ruck where needed.
Lee Spurr labelled the former Gold Coast and Hawthorn midfielder “industrious” early, while Jackson did more than enough to impress.
“Luke Jackson has really been impressive,” Spurr said in the opening half.
“His follow up around the ruck and athleticism - we‘ve heard a lot coming out of the training circles about how impressive he is - to see it here actually on display, he’s a supreme athlete.”
As the Crows worked their way back into the match and eventually took control, it was Izak Rankine‘s turn to shine.
He kicked a goal in the second term and had a chance at another shortly after, then kicked the first goal of the second half.
His work around contests was noticeable, particuarly in forward 50 stoppages, where on more than one occassion he looked in the frame for a stunning goal.
DOCKERS
1. Sam Sturt, 2. Jaeger O’Meara, 3. Caleb Serong, 4. Sean Darcy, 5. Lachie Schultz, 6. Jordan Clark, 7. Nathan Fyfe, 8. Andrew Brayshaw, 9. Luke Jackson, 11. James Aish, 12. Hugh Davies, 14. Nathan Wilson, 15. Ethan Hughes, 17. Will Brodie, 18. Tom Emmett, 19. Josh Corbett, 20. Matt Taberner, 21. Joel Hamling, 22. Max Knobel, 23. Liam Henry, 24. Jye Amiss, 25. Alex Pearce, 26. Hayden Young, 28. Neil Erasmus, 31. Brandon Walker, 33. Travis Colyer, 35. Josh Treacy, 36. Brennan Cox, 37. Josh Draper, 38. Eric Benning, 39. Sam Switkowski, 40. Karl Worner, 41. Bailey Banfield, 42. Liam Reidy, 43. Sebit Kuek, 44. Matt Johnson, 45. Conrad Williams
Notable absentees: Heath Chapman, Luke Ryan, Michael Frederick, Michael Walters, Nathan O’Driscoll, Corey Wagner
ADELAIDE
1. Chayce Jones, 2. Ben Keays, 3. Sam Berry, 4. Lachlan Murphy, 5. Matthew Crouch, 6. Jackson Hately, 7. Riley Thilthorpe, 8. Josh Rachele, 9. Rory Sloane, 10. Luke Pedlar, 12. Jordan Dawson, 14. Jake Soligo, 15. Brayden Cook, 16. Max Michalanney, 17. Will Hamill, 19. Zac Taylor, 20. Mitch Hinge, 21. Tyler Brown, 22. Izak Rankine, 23. Shane McAdam, 24. Joshua Worrell, 25. Ned McHenry, 26. Harry Schoenberg, 27. Luke Nankervis, 28. Nick Murray, 29. Rory Laird, 30. Wayne Milera, 31. Billy Dowling, 32. Darcy Fogarty, 33. Brodie Smith, 34. Elliott Himmelberg, 35. James Borlase, 37. Patrick Parnell, 38. Lachlan Sholl, 39. Tom Doedee, 40. Hugh Bond, 41. Jordon Butts, 42. Tariek Newchurch, 43. Reilly O’Brien, 44. Lachlan Gollant, 45. Kieran Strachan, 48. Mark Keane.
Notable absentees: Taylor Walker, Andrew McPherson
