80 SPORT SATURDAY MARCH 31 2018 Pyke scores a major win for his game theme

MICHELANGELO RUCCI of 10 games against the Tigers” Pyke’s long-standing theme night, this meaningful statistic premiership coach Damien ROUND 2 is given more credence by the that AFL games are decided by signalled why the Crows would Hardwick reinforced. DON Pyke’s greatest note six-goal win on Thursday night. how teams play – not the field overcome their grand final “Not often have we been LADDER from reversing the AFL grand But the turnaround – from a of play – is the major note from nemesis. touched up by close to 50 (con- P W L D % Pts final defeat to Richmond is 48-point loss on the MCG to a the grand final rematch. Adelaide won the contest- tested possessions) around the GWS Giants 1 1 - - 261 4 how the Crows played – and it 36-point win at home six In a sport that is quickly fol- ed-ball tally by (quite appropri- contest,” said Hardwick. Port Adel 1 1 - - 183 4 should not be about where months later – should not focus lowing American professional ately considering the grand “Game has been around for Hawthorn 1 1 - - 151 4 they played. on the argument about the dis- baseball for being awash with final margin) 48 – 192 to 144. over 150 years – and it is a pret- Gold Coast 1 1 - - 141 4 All the commentary that advantage non-Victorian AFL statistics, the true measure Every other note – as Pyke ty simple concept: You win the Nth Melb 2 1 1 - 136 4 “had the Crows played the teams face with the grand final amid the chaff is the contested- has long declared – flows from ball and it goes forward. If you Sydney 1 1 - - 134 4 grand final at , locked in for the ball count. From the start of this basic tenet of Australian don’t, it goes the other way. Essendon 1 1 - - 114 4 they would have won eight out next two decades. the second term on Thursday football, a point Richmond That’s as simple as it is.” Adelaide 2 1 1 - 113 4 Geelong 1 1 - - 103 4 Richmond 2 1 1 - 95 4 St Kilda 2 1 1 - 85 4 Melbourne 1 - 1 - 97 - Carlton 1 - 1 - 79 - Brisbane 1 - 1 - 77 - West Coast 1 - 1 - 75 - Collingwood 1 - 1 - 66 - Fremantle 1 - 1 - 55 - Bulldogs 1 - 1 - 38 - FIXTURE TODAY Carlton v Gold Coast Etihad Stadium, 12.15pm Collingwood v GWS Giants MCG, 3.05pm v Melbourne Gabba, 5.55pm Fremantle v Essendon Optus Stadium, 6.40pm TOMORROW v West Coast Etihad Stadium, 1.50pm Sydney v Port Adelaide CROUCH SCG, 3.10pm MONDAY Geelong v Hawthorn MCG, 1.50pm DOWN BUT Cox ban forces Pies DOWN AND OUT: Adelaide’s to rethink David Mackay, above, was MASON Cox didn’t enjoy a LYNCH SET knocked out on great start to the AFL season Thursday while but Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley still has to figure out was sidelined how to fill the seven-foot hole with a the American’s suspension has hamstring injury. left in his attack. The Pies spent all summer TO RETURN working on a forward structure with Cox as a focal point but he will miss today’s clash against GWS at the MCG as he serves a ANDREW CAPEL final rematch against Rich- Essendon, will miss at least Mackay copped a swing- Rory Sloane straining his one-game ban. mond. a month in what would be a ing left arm to the head right foot in the second “We’ll probably be forced to ADELAIDE are “really The 2017 All-Australian major body blow to the from Josh Caddy, which has quarter and key defender go a bit smaller,” assistant hopeful’’ forward Tom was Adelaide’s leading pos- grand finalist. seen the Tigers premiership hyper-extend- coach Brenton Sanderson said. Lynch will return from ill- session-getter with 13 before Older brother Brad is player offered a one-match ing his right knee in the “No one can replace Mason ness for a match-up against being forced from the field. likely to be sidelined for an- ban for striking. third. Cox because he’s seven-foot his former club St Kilda at “It’s a bit early to tell, other six weeks as he deals Important forward Both returned under tall but we feel like we can put Etihad Stadium tonight. they’ll scan it the next cou- with the chronic groin con- Lynch, who has yet to play duress to play out the game some guys in there who can But the Crows face the ple of days,” coach Don dition osteitis pubis. this season because of a side and had significant says on still have an impact in the air prospect of not having a Pyke said of the injury post- Dashing wingman/half- strain followed by a viral in- the outcome. and still be valuable for us on Crouch in their midfield for match. back David Mackay also is fection, trained on Thurs- They will have their in- the ground. up to a month, with club “I’m not sure exactly in doubt to face the Saints day and will have another juries examined further but “It always hurts to lose big champion Matt joining where it is, if it’s in the mid- after being concussed in the hitout today, according to Adelaide are confident they players because you look at the brother Brad on the side- dle of the hamstring or on final quarter against the Ti- Pyke. will play against the Saints. depth charts of all teams and lines for an extended period. one side, but we’ll assess gers. “He’s tracking along Crows rookie Darcy Fo- not many have got many spare Matt suffered what ap- that.” However, with nine days nicely, so we’re hopeful on garty is free to play despite big men.” peared to be a bad left ham- It is understood Crouch, between games, Pyke is that one,” the coach said. being charged for miscon- Cox, who was suspended for string injury in the second who averaged a club-best 33 “hopeful’’ Mackay can re- The Crows suffered two duct against Caddy. He can striking Hawthorn’s Daniel quarter of Thursday night’s disposals last season and cover in time to confront St more injuries against Rich- accept a $1500 sanction Howe in last week’s loss, de- six-goal win in the grand had 41 in the Round 1 loss to Kilda. mond, with vice-captain with an early plea. parted the side along with Josh Smith, who suffered a ham- string injury. .

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