Terrific Tigers triumph in thrilling upset as Crows' sorry season fades ...

A spirited Richmond outfit has staged an improbable upset victory over the Crows on Thursday night, winning 12.7 (79) to 10.11 (71) at Adelaide Oval.

After going into half-time neck-and-neck, the Tigers booted five unanswered goals to begin the second half, taking a 22-point lead into the final change.

Adem Yze’s young brigade didn’t look back from there, staving off a last-gasp Adelaide assault to win just their second game of the season.

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A starring defensive performance from key backman Noah Balta helped drag Richmond over the line, while streaky forward Noah Cumberland made the most of his opportunities with three goals from just four kicks of the footy.

Balta had 20 disposals — 18 were kicks — at 90 per cent efficiency and took a whopping 12 marks for the game.

However, Richmond’s win might have been soured by a late injury to Dion Prestia, who exited with a calf issue. He returned against the Crows after being managed.

The Tigers made their worst ever start to a V/AFL season, but injuries have made them look much worse than they really are; an excellent first half against Geelong in Geelong last week was a reminder of the threat they pose.

The Crows, conversely, saw their fading finals hopes fade further on Thursday night as they were consigned to 4-8-1, with Jordan Dawson’s 32 disposals and four inside-50s not enough to spur a desperately needed win.

In his first senior game for the year, Kieran Strachan (groin) was substituted out at three-quarter-time.

ADELAIDE CROWS vs. RICHMOND — AS IT HAPPENED

There were no late changes with Ned McHenry (Adelaide) and Kane McAuliffe (Richmond) the subs.

James Borlase began the game playing forward of the ball with Taylor Walker absent — and he started his night with an impressive pack grab.

However, Richmond was first on the board through left-footed forward Noah Cumberland, who was on the receiving end of an early free kick.

Shortly after, veteran wingman Kamdyn McIntosh saluted with a terrific set shot to give the Tigers an early two-goal lead. Rhyan Mansell then burned Max Michalanney and finished after a wonderful solo piece of play.

The Crows got on the board late in the quarter through Josh Rachele — who’s played forward early — and Darcy Fogarty. The Crows trailed by six points at quarter-time.

Richmond’s pressure levels have been impressive in these opening stages, and the Crows have certainly felt it. Jack Graham has stuck a few crunching tackles already.

Seth Campbell kicked the first goal of the second term for the Tigers, who opened up a 12-point lead.

Josh Rachele and Darcy Fogarty hurt the Tigers in transition off turnover — Richmond is last in the AFL in points from turnovers differential. Six-point game.

Borlase has provided a solid marking target forward of the ball for the Crows. He’s only registered one behind thus far, but he’s been threatening with his sticky hands.

Kieran Strachan booted his first AFL goal before Lachlan Murphy benefitted from a contentious in-the-back free kick. Crows led by seven points halfway through the second term.

Nathan Broad issued Richmond’s response, kicking a rare major to ensure the sides remained neck-and-neck.

“(It’s a) good contest,” Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall told Fox Footy at half-time.

“I think they’re both trying hard, it’s just (about) whose executing skills are the best that (will) score the goals. Turnovers both ways at the moment, which leaves a bit to be desired skill-wise, but I think the endeavour from both teams is pretty good — Richmond are really fighting hard to get themselves in the contest.”

Two-time premiership Kangaroo David King emphasised Jordan Dawson’s impact on the game.

“It’s a different game when Jordan Dawson gets the ball,” he told Fox Footy.

“He’s the one that’s separating the game, really, from an Adelaide Crows point of view. If he can steer it around Noah Balta, they score. It’s as simple as that. It’s an interesting battle being won on counterpunch, I think.”

287-gamer Leigh Montagna was skeptical about Richmond’s “Achilles heel”.

“(Their) Achilles heel is their skill level — the unforced giveaways,” he said.

“Mistakes when you’re under no pressure — they’ve conceded 10 (and) the AFL average is 13 for a whole game. They’re the worst in the competition all year, it’s been an issue, particularly going forward.

“A lot of opportunities (but) just three marks inside 50. Just not finishing their work and giving themselves some scoreboard reward.”

King highlighted the Crows’ ability to move the ball from their back half to attack.

“I think it’s been quite brilliant when they’ve been able to go lateral and get the ball to the other side of the ground,” King outlined to the Fox Footy panel at half-time.

“Richmond is disorganised with their zone. They’re getting their spacings wrong and they’re getting picked apart. They’ve only done (it) three or four times, but it’s been of maximum benefit every time.

“It’s basic football, and they’re taking advantage of a team that’s a fraction young and a fraction unorganised.”

Dunstall added: “The Tigers want to press high when they defend, and they’ve been caught a couple of times because if the skills are good, you can pick (them) apart, pick a hole in the gap and then kick over the top of the last man — we saw Fogarty get on the end of one of those as well.”

Crows scored 19 points from the defensive half between the first quarter’s 20-minute mark to half-time, and they’re +16 uncontested possessions at the main change.

Over the past five weeks, the Crows have ranked first in the AFL in defensive-half scoring differential.

In the third quarter, Richmond goals to Cumberland (two), Mansell, Koschitzke and Baker helped open a game-high 24 points. Five answered goals for the Tigers!

Harry Schoenberg slammed home a much-needed long-distance goal to reduce Adelaide’s deficit to 16 points in the later stages of the third stanza.

However, a late running goal by Kamdyn McIntosh pushed Richmond’s advantage back out to 22 minutes with just over a minute remaining in the third quarter. Seven’s Alistair Nicholson said the Tigers were “playing with passion”.

Koschitzke was about to have shot at goal from directly in front before a Noah Cumberland brain fade reversed it! What was he thinking?

Kieran Strachan (groin) was subbed out of the game. Ned McHenry is into the action.

The Crows kicked the first two goals of the final term to reduce their deficit to 12 points, before a rousing Seth Campbell strike pushed the difference back out to 15 points.

First-gamer Billy Dowling made it a nine-point game with just six minutes left to play!

Albeit it’s Richmond who holds on for just its second win of the season!

3. TOPSY-TURVY GAME FALLS WAY OF FIGHTING TIGERS

While not perhaps the flashiest finish to Thursday night football for the 2024 home-and-away season, the lowly-ranked Tigers and Crows battled it out for a hard-fought game of football to kick off Round 13.

And it was the Tigers who remarkably came out winners, doubling their victory count for the season with an eight-point win over a very disappointing Adelaide outfit.

Tigers tall Noah Balta and Jayden Short pulled the way for the visitors coming out of the defensive half, while Noah Cumberland showed glimpses of his potential for his three goals.

It was swings and roundabouts early for both sides, with Crows coach Matthew Nicks improvising with his light-on forward line by starting young key defender James Borlase up forward in a surprise move.

It didn’t take long for the 21-year-old to make his mark in the attacking half, clunking a big pack mark with his very first play.

A shot close to goal after the quarter time siren eventuated in a miss, but he made the most of a free kick to start the second term – kicking his first career goal in a great moment.

From there though, it was mostly all Richmond – who kicked six goals in the third term to give themselves a 22-point buffer leading into the final break.

Two goals in five minutes for Cumberland was the highlight for Tigers during the purple patch, with a touching tribute as he looked up to the sky after the death of a close relative.

And despite a comeback looking imminent from the hosts at one stage of the last quarter, the Tigers held on for a memorable win to well and truly put a line through Adelaide’s season.

Tigers tall Noah Balta and Jayden Short pulled the way for the visitors coming out of the defensive half and gave their midfielders and forwards plenty of chances to fit the scorecard with their game-breaking run.

And conversely, Balta’s direct opponent Darcy Fogarty stepped up in a big way – with both players playing a big part in their teams’ winning chances.

Fogarty finished the match with three goals and 14 disposals in a solid performance, but still leading a forward line that evidently missed star Taylor Walker who sat out the match with a back injury.

2. MANIC MERRY-GO-ROUND AS FLUCTUATING FORM SHOWS

Viewers on Thursday night were subject to the best and worst of either side, with both individual brilliance and unforced errors on show across the match.

Speaking on Fox Footy’s half-time coverage, St Kilda great Leigh Montagna highlighted the area of Richmond’s game that, if executed better, could have given Adam Yze’s men a far larger win.

“Richmond’s Achilles heel is their skill level — the unforced giveaways; mistakes when you’re under no pressure — they’ve conceded 10 (and) the AFL average is 13 for a whole game,” Montagna explained.

“They’re the worst in the competition all year, it’s been an issue, particularly going forward. A lot of opportunities (but) just three marks inside 50. Just not finishing their work and giving themselves some scoreboard reward.”

Conversely, and despite the ensuing result, two-time North Melbourne premiership player David King applauded the Crows’ efforts at the main break – particularly their ball movement.

“I think it’s been quite brilliant when they’ve been able to go lateral and get the ball to the other side of the ground; Richmond is disorganised with their zone,” King noted.

“They’re getting their spacings wrong and they’re getting picked apart – they’ve only done this three or four times, but it’s been of maximum benefit every time ... It’s more often than not ending with Dawson because that’s by their selection in the end, really.

“It’s basic football, and they’re taking advantage of a team that’s a fraction young and a fraction unorganised.”

King went on to highlight Dawson’s own efforts early, and while couldn’t quite steer the Crows over the line in the end, were instrumental in their ability to even have a chance.

“It’s a different game when Jordan Dawson gets the ball – he’s the one that’s separating the game, really, from an Adelaide Crows point of view,” King continued.

“If he can steer it around Noah Balta, they score. It’s as simple as that. It’s an interesting battle being won on counterpunch, I think.”

The Crows scored 19 points from the defensive half between the first quarter’s 20-minute mark to half-time and were +16 in uncontested possessions at the main break.

Despite being beaten in the overall disposal count, the Tigers won some crucial stat lines in the end, such as the inside 50 count 52-46, as well as the hitouts 57-25, and tackles inside forward 50 13-3.

1. YOUNG CROW, DASHING DEFENDER HIT CAREER FIRST HALF HIGHS

In one of the more extraordinary opening quarters by individual players this 2024 season, Noah Balta and Max Michalanney set the Adelaide Oval alight during the first quarter with some extraordinary stat lines.

Rebounding off half-back for the Tigers, Balta was everywhere in the first 20 minutes off the match – accumulating 10 disposals, seven marks and a whopping 313 metres gained in the first two-thirds of the term.

His run and carry from the defensive half played a big part in giving his side an early three-goal lead to leave the Crows stunned.

“I thought the way Balta was playing was exceptional a lot of the time on (Fogarty),” – Dunstall said on Fox Footy’s quarter-time coverage.

Given the reins in the forward line during Walker’s absence, Fogarty still held Balta accountable at times in the first half, kicking a goal in each of the first and second quarter with some superb body work.

“He (Nicks) would have been nervous watching those first 10 minutes, I guarantee you – thinking ‘we’re not going to play like this again, are we?!” Dunstall added after his analysis on Balta’s output.

Balta rounded out the first half with 15 disposals at an incredible 100% disposal efficiency, with nine marks and five intercept possessions to go along with it.

Not to be outdone by the 194cm tall though, young gun Michalanney turned it up moving the opposite direction of the ground for 13 disposals, seven marks and four intercept possessions of his own in the term.

His work from defensive 50 was arguably the best Crows fans have seen yet, with his previous career high of 19 disposals and nine marks both equalled and surpassed by half-time – a huge indication of the 20-year-old’s newfound ceiling.

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