Adelaide’s rollercoaster ride is doing coach Brenton Sanderson’s head in.
“Yes, it is, very much so,” Sanderson said after the tospy-turvy Crows fell to Richmond in Saturday night’s AFL match in Adelaide.
“It has just been a frustrating season – our best footy is just so attractive to watch and so enjoyable to play in, and coach.
“But we’re not doing it consistently enough in games.”
Adelaide cling on to eighth spot after their 10-point defeat on home turf to Richmond.
But the Crows have only twice this season won consecutive games – a winning streak of three games from round four, and two in a row from round 15.
Sanderson blamed crucial skill and decision errors for the loss, in which they conceded the final two goals of the game after stealing to the lead in the last quarter.
“It’s a very shattered group,” Sanderson said.
“I have told them to lift their heads and walk out of the changerooms with plenty of fight left in them because we have still got two games to go this season and anything can happen.”
Adelaide winger David Mackay will likely miss next Saturday’s encounter against North Melbourne in Tasmania after being stretchered from the field with concussion.
GEELONG 3.2 6.5 8.13 11.16 (82)
CARLTON 1.4 5.6 9.10 11.10 (76)
Goals: Geelong: S Motlop 3 A Christensen 2 G Horlin-Smith H McIntosh J Caddy J Selwood J Thurlow M Blicavs. Carlton: B Gibbs 2 J Waite 2 T Menzel 2 C Judd C Yarran M Murphy S White T Bell.
Best: Geelong: H Taylor J Caddy M Stokes S Motlop C Enright. Carlton: B Gibbs C Judd C Yarran S Docherty T Menzel.
Injuries: Geelong: J Murdoch (hip) replaced in selected side by J Thurlow. Carlton: D Ellard (ankle) D Thomas (knee) T Menzel (shoulder) B McLean (calf) replaced in selected side by D Armfield.
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Justin Schmitt, Brett Rosebury, Brendan Hosking.
Official Crowd: 38,812 at Etihad Stadium.
SYDNEY 6.3 8.8 15.9 19.13 (127)
ST KILDA 1.1 2.4 5.7 8.8 (56)
Goals: Sydney: L Franklin 9 K Tippett 3 D Towers H Cunningham J Lloyd J McVeigh L Jetta L Parker N Malceski. St Kilda: N Riewoldt 3 R Stanley 2 D Armitage J Gwilt J Steven.
Best: Sydney: L Franklin J McVeigh D Rampe L Parker D Hannebery G Rohan. St Kilda: J Steven J Newnes N Riewoldt F Ray.
Injuries: Sydney: C Bird (knee) J Kennedy (hamstring). St Kilda: L Montagna (finger) S Fisher (ankle).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Luke Farmer, Nicholas Foot, Tristan Burgess.
Official Crowd: 31,361 at SCG.
PORT ADELAIDE 1.5 2.8 4.12 7.14 (56)
GOLD COAST 3.2 4.3 5.4 7.5 (47)
Goals: Port Adelaide: A Moore C Wingard H Hartlett J Schulz J Westhoff M White R Gray. Gold Coast: H Bennell 2 B Matera D Gorringe J Harbrow K Kolodjashnij T Lynch.
Best: Port Adelaide: M Lobbe J Westhoff R Gray H Hartlett K Cornes M Broadbent. Gold Coast: H Bennell D Prestia T McKenzie M Rischitelli T Lynch D Swallow.
Injuries: Port Adelaide: Nil. Gold Coast: C Dixon (quad) D Stanley (shoulder) J Martin (ankle) G Broughton (elbow) replaced in selected side by L Herbert.
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Sam Hay, Mathew Nicholls, Leigh Fisher.
Official Crowd: 10,042 at Metricon Stadium.
ESSENDON 2.1 4.5 9.7 11.11 (77)
WEST COAST 2.4 8.4 11.6 11.8 (74)
Goals: Essendon: J Winderlich 3 J Daniher 2 B Stanton D Myers D Zaharakis J Watson P Ambrose P Chapman. West Coast: J Cripps 3 J Kennedy 3 J Darling 2 D Cox L Shuey S Lycett.
Best: Essendon: D Heppell D Zaharakis M Hibberd D Myers J Winderlich. West Coast: L Shuey M Priddis S Hurn C Masten D Cox.
Injuries: Essendon: Nil. West Coast: S Butler (concussion).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Chris Donlon, Ben Ryan, Shane McInerney.
Official Crowd: 35,905 at Etihad Stadium.
BRISBANE LIONS 6.1 10.7 15.11 18.15 (123)
COLLINGWOOD 4.3 5.3 6.6 8.8 (56)
Goals: Brisbane Lions: J Freeman 4 D Merrett 3 D Zorko 2 J Green 2 C Beams D Gardiner D McStay J Adcock J Crisp P Hanley R Bewick. Collingwood: T Broomhead 3 A Fasolo C Young D Swan T Cloke T Goldsack.
Best: Brisbane Lions: D Zorko T Rockliff P Hanley J Freeman J Adcock S Martin J Green J Crisp. Collingwood: D Swan J Blair S Sidebottom T Armstrong T Broomhead.
Injuries: Brisbane Lions: D Gardiner (ankle) D Merrett (knee). Collingwood: B Reid (hamstring) D Beams (knee) T Cloke (ankle) J Elliot (hamstring) replaced in selected side by C Young, S Pendlebury (quad) replaced in selected side by T Armstrong.
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Jacob Mollison, Jason Armstrong, Matthew Leppard.
Official Crowd: 32,926 at MCG.
RICHMOND 5.1 7.5 8.14 10.19 (79)
ADELAIDE 2.3 4.10 5.13 9.15 (69)
Goals: Richmond: B Deledio 2 D Martin 2 N Gordon 2 B Griffiths N Foley S Edwards T Cotchin. Adelaide: E Betts 2 J Podsiadly 2 T Walker 2 C Cameron D Mackay J Jenkins.
Best: Richmond: B Deledio B Ellis T Cotchin A Miles B Houli R Petterd. Adelaide: S Jacobs T Walker R Douglas B Crouch.
Injuries: Richmond: Nil. Adelaide: D Mackay (concussion).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Matt Stevic, Jeff Dalgleish, Andrew Mitchell.
Official Crowd: 50,459 at Adelaide Oval.
SUNDAY
North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium 12.40pm
Head to Head: Kangaroos 75 Bulldogs 75 drawn 3
Last clash: Round 2 2014 – Kangaroos 12.11 (83) bt Bulldogs 8.6 (54) at Etihad Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Kangaroos $1.33 Bulldogs $3.35
Sportingbet: Kangaroos $1.37 Bulldogs $3.10
Consistency has been North Melbourne’s biggest problem this season. This is another game everyone expects them to win, but that’s not the reason the Dogs loom as a potential banana peel. In the past six weeks the Bulldogs have recorded three wins and threatened to cause boilovers against Geelong and Essendon.
Key: Bulldogs captain Ryan Griffen plays his 200th AFL game and coach Brendan McCartney was happy to divert from the standard “just another game” script. McCartney says his team will draw on the meaning of the milestone and that he might bring it up at halftime. Can Griffen’s presence help the Dogs win the all-important midfield battle?
Tip: Kangaroos by 14 points
Melbourne v Greater Western Sydney at MCG 2.50pm
Head to Head: Demons 3 Giants 2
Last clash: Round 3 2014 – Giants 10.19 (79) bt Demons 7.5 (47) at Spotless Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Demons $1.48 Giants $2.65
Sportingbet: Demons $1.50 Giants $2.60
Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron felt his side’s performance last week against North Melbourne was their worst of the season, especially after halftime. Both clubs have won only four games and neither side managed to kick 10 goals last weekend. It’s hard to get excited about this clash of 2014’s also-rans. A win will be a boost to either club ahead of another pre-season that will start full of hope.
Key: Melbourne are the lowest-scoring team in the league and need key forwards Chris Dawes and James Frawley to step up or risk an embarrassing defeat against the Giants.
Tip: Demons by 7 points
Fremantle v Hawthorn at Patersons Stadium 4.10pm
Head to Head: Dockers 7 Hawks 22
Last clash: Round 3 2014 – Hawks 21.11 (137) bt Dockers 11.13 (79) at MCG
Tab Sportsbet: Dockers $1.65 Hawks $2.25
Sportingbet: Dockers $1.63 Hawks $2.30
Fremantle’s coach Ross Lyon is complaining about umpires, the Dockers are coming off a two-point loss to Geelong, and they’re hosting the team that beat them in last year’s grand final. So yes, we can assume they’re pumped up for this one. Hawthorn have lost spearhead Jarryd Roughead because of suspension but regain another premiership forward Jack Gunston from injury for what should be an epic battle between two of the league’s top-four sides.
Key: Fremantle have regained goalsneak Michael Walters for the first time since round three. Walters led the club’s goalkicking with 46 majors in 2013 and the Dockers have been eagerly awaiting his return, teaming up with fellow small forward Hayden Ballantyne.
Tip: Dockers by 5 points
