Taylor Walker facing nervous wait after dangerous act as Chris Scott fumes over crowd comments, calls for coaches to access boxes without walking into the crowd
Adelaide: Geelong’s Chris Scott has called on coaches to avoid having to wade through crowds after quarter breaks after the incident occurred three quarters of the way through his side’s thrilling defeat to the Crows on Thursday night.
Scott spoke to Adelaide Oval security as he walked towards the Cats’ huddle after fans he later labeled “nuffies” interacted with him and his side fell two points behind.
While Scott said he didn’t say anything to the fans in question, he admitted they had a lot to say to him, adding with a laugh: “Sure… they’re idiots, but that’s okay.”
“This is one of the best stadiums in the world – I love it -,” Scott said at the post-match press conference when asked if it was okay for coaches to have to rush onto the field through the crowd. [but] No, it’s an oversight for the coaches to have to wade through the crowd. “I don’t want to do that under any circumstances.”
Almost exactly five years ago, in the same place, Scott made eerily similar comments.
“I tripped over someone’s leg,” Scott said after the Cats’ match against the Power.
“[It was a] We are still walking so close to people passing us in the crowd, which is strange, given the SA Government’s meticulous care of us over the last 24 hours.
“To put it in the most respectful way possible, when you have a refurbished stadium of this quality, it is a bit silly to ignore the fact that coaches have to walk through the crowd.”
Adelaide was forced to count the cost of its massive 11.9 (75) to 10.14 (74) win on Thursday; This victory was three points behind the bench.
They were reduced to a single rotation for part of a carnage-filled final quarter, with Callum Ah Chee, Jordan Butts, Toby Murray and debutant Hugo Hall-Kahan leaving the field injured.
Ah Chee, who put in an excellent performance against Cats’ star defender Tom Stewart, withdrew from the competition and was put on ice early in the final term after re-aggravating his troublesome right hamstring. This already marked his fourth hamstring problem of the season.
But the hits kept coming.
Butts escaped with an apparent calf injury before Murray and Hall-Kahan crashed into each other in a sickening, bloody clash.
Hall-Kahan, who was working in retail this time last week before being drafted into Tuesday’s midseason draft, returned to finish the game with a debut he’ll never forget.
Taylor Walker also looks set to face the match review official’s ire.
Walker, who has returned to the Crows’ senior squad via the SANFL, returned at the expense of the suspended Riley Thilthorpe and could face a layoff himself after pushing young Cat Connor O’Sullivan into the path of Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson in the third stanza.
O’Sullivan was uninjured but the incident drew the ire of Australian Football Hall of Fame legend Jason Dunstall, who is a match commentator for Kayo Sports.
“I don’t want to see ‘Tex’ Walker get suspended because I love watching him play, but if you want to take that action out of the game, just don’t worry about the result and whether someone gets a concussion,” Dunstall said post-match.
“Anytime someone does this, take them away. Eliminate this action, otherwise players will roll the dice knowing that you will get out unless the other player gets a concussion.
“There is a danger in this. We must eliminate this and remove anyone who does this.”
Commenting on Kayo, David King also said at the time: “This is an absolute no-no.
“Tex. [Walker] in a bit of trouble. “It’s not much, but you don’t need to do much at the moment.”
At the post-match press conference, Crows coach Matthew Nicks was asked about the incident.
“We hope it’s not too much, but I can’t comment on that as I haven’t looked into it thoroughly,” he said.
Ah Chee’s chances of playing for the Western Bulldogs next Thursday appear slim given his latest injury, but he was also involved in an incident with Stewart when the Cats star bumped into him.
When interviewed by Seven at half-time, Stewart was frank about his approach to the matter.
“I thought I eliminated him,” Stewart said of the incident late in the second quarter.
“I hope I didn’t get him drunk. It was never my intention to get him drunk.”
“I think he’s back on his feet, so I’m sure I didn’t blow him up.”
This game had it all; injuries, incidents and a huge tussle in the game between Bailey Smith and James Peatling; In the process, the Cats superstar lost his headband and half of his guernsey.
There was also a first quarter masterclass from Patrick Dangerfield thrown into center square and he responded with a classic opening period, turning back the clock and collecting 13 possessions (10 of which were contested), five shots and a goal.
The Crows were narrowly ahead at the end of each term and were trailing by 19 points when the inspirational Dawson struck brilliantly from a one-two and nailed the bomb from 55 meters out; His third goal and clearly his most significant.
But as Adelaide’s turn looked like a casualty ward, the Cats charged to the finish line, only to be denied by death.
Darcy Fogarty’s behind-the-back 27th-minute score review eventually made the difference as a depleted Adelaide were hanging on by their fingernails.
Ben Keays’ smothering of O’Sullivan’s entry, Dan Curtin’s clutch mark and Hall-Kahan’s tackle on the wing encapsulated the sheer courage of the Crows, beaten but not defeated, while an emotional Dawson was shown struggling to compose himself just after the final siren – no surprise given the year he has had on a personal level.
with Roy Ward
‘He’s doing the best he can’, Dangerfield turns back the clock
Geelong forward Shaun Mannagh believes Dangerfield still has plenty to offer as an elite AFL midfielder after the Cats captain turned back the clock with his old-ball display.
Dangerfield, who has played almost exclusively as a forward this season, put in a masterful performance against Adelaide but could not quite get his side over the line, with the Crows prevailing in a thriller.
Dangerfield, who had participated in just 14 center bounces all season before Thursday night, joined and scored 19 points against the Crows after a shock start at center field.
“Patty Dangerfield was back to her best, wasn’t she?” said Mannagh.
“He set the tone early and did that all game long.
“He is the best there game has ever been.
“Obviously he’s a little bit older and we need to protect him. [him] It’s more, but in games like tonight, those are his conditions and he’s made a career out of it.
“That’s why he’s one of the best players ever.”
Dangerfield broke through the blocks with 13 steals (10 contested) and five shots in the first quarter. He finished with 30 disposals, seven clearances and a goal, his best performance since dominating last year’s preliminary final against Hawthorn.
“I think he should play more in midfield because he is very good at it,” Mannagh said.
“It gives us a different look because it is so powerful.
“Complements Baz [Smith] and Maximum [Holmes] there. I love it there.
“The more we can get him there the better, but I don’t think it’s going to happen every week.”
Scott was conscious of not bringing Dangerfield into the fight until he was fully prepared.
And it was definitely against the Crows.
“It was a bit of a slow build,” Scott said.
“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but no one has access to the information we have internally. [see] where it is.
“This is something that wasn’t really possible for us five, six weeks ago, and we’re putting a little more effort into it.
“It’s not about setting a macro plan and sticking to it no matter what. It’s going to have some ups and downs.”
“[But] He certainly showed that he still had it, didn’t he?”
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