Crows no match as Indigenous AFL team reclaim the silverware
THE Indigenous All-Stars have made a mockery of the slippery conditions, pre-game predictions and their six days' preparation to reclaim the Pastor Sir Doug Nichols Trophy after defeating Adelaide at Marrara Oval in Darwin at the weekend.
The confident, composite side was a world away from the meek unit that surrendered to Essendon two years ago, scoring almost 100 points to defeat the Crows by 54, 14.13 (97) to 6.7 (43), in front of a somewhat disappointing crowd of 9,497.
The result takes the All-Stars' record to 4-1 from five such matches since 1994.
Former Brisbane triple-premiership defender Chris Johnson, in his first role as senior coach, was justifiably proud of the All-Stars.
The team, brought together from around the country and needing to gell in less than a week, gave Adelaide no respite in the slippery conditions with their attack on the ball and the man to conjure a score more than double that of the Crows', and to restrict their opponents to single-digit scoring shots -- all from a makeshift line-up that saw Daniel Motlop at full-forward, Jarrod Atkinson at full-back and 2008 draftee Warren Benjamin first change in the ruck, among other unconventional positioning.
"We didn't have one leader tonight, we had a lot of senior players stand up through the whole week and, especially tonight, lead the way and the rest of the boys just followed," Johnson said.
"I thought the way that they chased, tackled -- they did all the 1-per-center things -- (that) was fantastic, especially from the start of the game. Richie Tambling ... putting his head over the ball, to act and leave his man to help someone else, (it) was just unbelievable what some of these guys achieved tonight and hopefully they can just take it on to their clubs."
The attack on the ball bore all the hallmarks of Johnson the player: an uncompromising defender during the height of his career at the Lions. But he was having none of that. "No, they're genuinely hard-at-it anyway. I didn't have to tell them," he countered.
Smarter use of the ball in the conditions provided the All-Stars a clear advantage. Johnson hinted earlier in the week he wouldn't 'structure up' his team and although there were obvious structures in place, that play-on style of Indigenous football was a feature the team were more than happy to implement.
Adelaide coach Neil Craig said his players would learn much from the game.
"(It was) an eye-opener in terms of speed," Craig said afterwards. "That's an unnatural AFL side; you're not going to come up against that too often. It was a good experience for (our) guys to play against."
Campbell wins Polly Farmer Medal
NORTH Melbourne goalsneak Matt Campbell made the big stage at Marrara Oval his own on Saturday night and was judged a worthy winner of the Polly Farmer Medal for best-on-ground. The zippy forward, who kicked two majors, popped up at will and was instrumental in keeping the ball alive around the packs.
There were other superb efforts, too.
Aaron Davey and fellow Territorian Mathew Stokes with their second, third and fourth efforts through the midfield effected clear possession for Travis Varcoe, who showed some fine touch, Lindsay Thomas and Austin Wonaeamirri with well-directed tap-ons, bullet-like passes and general harassment of the Crows' ball-carriers.
Atkinson was like the running man with his preparedness to take his opponents on from the backline, even if it came unstuck sometimes. His best moment came midway through the final term when, as the last man in defence at half-back, he dived for the ball at the foot of a Crow, won it, and set off a chain of handpasses that led to a spirit-rousing goal. The rush of team-mates that came to pat him on the back told him the goal was his.
Jonathon Griffin held his own in the ruck and Benjamin's backing up ensured the All-Stars had a better than even chance at winning the ball from the stoppages. Benjamin's efforts in the ruck against seasoned opponents belied his inexperience at AFL level.
Motlop provided crucial leadership and direction from inside the forward 50m and it gave the pockets confidence to back themselves. His aggressiveness and leading for the ball was decisive.
All the while the 'kids', eight or so who have yet to make their AFL debuts, showed glimpses of what's in store.
The All-Stars booted the first goal of the match when Motlop marked in the goal-square two-to-one against. Adelaide answered right away but the Indigenous team, having adapted better to the conditions, raced out to a five goals-to-one lead by quarter-time.
The All-Stars' quarter-time lead was never headed and the result was put beyond doubt with a solid third term in which they stretched out their 25-point advantage into a more comfortable 39-point margin. Their defensive pressure in the backline restricted Adelaide to the solitary major, while also adding 3.4 for the quarter.
The show ramped up a notch in the last term and became more of an exhibition as the All-Stars grew an extra leg while the Crows' collective will and energy waned from the four-quarter onslaught.
Scoreboard
Indigenous All-Stars
5.3 (33), 7.5 (47), 10.9 (69), 14.13 (97)
defeated
Adelaide Crows
1.2 (08), 3.6 (24), 04.6 (30), 06.07 (43)
Goals
IAS: Daniel Motlop 3, Austin Wonaeamirri, Travis Varcoe, Matt Campbell 2, Shaun Burgoyne, Cyril Rioli, Danyle Pearce, Lindsay Thomas, Andrews Lovett
Adelaide: Tippett, Bernie Vince 2, Robert Shirley, Stevens
Best
IAS: Matt Campbell, Travis Varcoe, Cyril Rioli, Daniel Motlop, Austin Wonaeamirri, Shaun Burgoyne, Raphael Clarke
Adelaide: Tyson Edwards, Tippett, Tony Armstrong, Martin
Polly Farmer Medallist: Matt Campbell
Crowd: 9,497 at TIO Stadium, Darwin
DARREN MONCRIEFF
Darren@AboriginalFootball.com.au
Monday, February 9, 2009
Last Modified on 10/02/2009 01:06