Walker leads Crows to finals win

Updated September 15, 2012 11:48:41

Enigmatic forward Taylor Walker inspired Adelaide to a comeback 10-point victory over Fremantle in Friday night's semi-final.

Walker kicked five goals and set up another as the Crows overcame a fast-starting Fremantle to win 12.9 (81) to 11.5 (71) at Football Park.

Adelaide booked a preliminary final against Hawthorn next Saturday night by surviving an early ambush from Fremantle, whose season ended with the defeat.

Four of Walker's majors were clutch set shots, while fellow forward Jason Porplyzia potted three goals.

Fremantle's Chris Mayne also booted three goals and he was instrumental in the Dockers replicating their blazing start against Geelong last week.

The Dockers blitzed the Cats with a seven-goal opening term in their elimination final win.

And against Adelaide, Mayne kicked two goals in the initial three minutes of the game - a period in which the Crows logged just one disposal, a handball clanger.

His livewire team-mate Michael Walters goaled in the 12th minute of the opening term to leave the Crows shell-shocked.

Walters kicked another late in the quarter to create a 4.1 to 1.3 lead at quarter-time for the visitors.

Mayne slotted his third, and Hayden Ballantyne crumbed a goal inside four minutes of the second quarter to create a commanding 29-point advantage for the Dockers.

Adelaide appeared set to become the first club in 15 years to finish second and exit the finals with 'straight sets' losses.

But Walker triggered a stunning turnaround as the Crows responded with five of the next six goals - with the key Crow kicking three of them himself.

The Adelaide spearhead threaded a tight 40-metre set shot after the half-time siren to edge the Crows within 13 points.

Adelaide skipper Nathan van Berlo admitted this was a pivotal moment in the game.

"The boys came in with real positive energy at half-time," van Berlo said.

"A lot of the talk was 'we're coming hard at them'.

"There was a genuine belief. Taylor stood up a good few times.

"He's come along way this year but to stand up like he did ... in a big game speaks volumes for his leadership and his development."

After the break, Walker scored from near-identical opportunities - converting long set shots after strong overhead marks - as Adelaide crept within one point.

Utility Matthew Wright ran into an open goal in the 18th minute as the Crows hit the front for the first time in the match, and they held a five-point buffer at three quarter-time.

The Dockers weren't done with, posting two quick goals to open scoring in the last term and steal a seven-point advantage.

But with Walker again prominent, the Crows kicked the last four goals to keep their season alive.

Walker booted two of those, including a goal from the square in the 24th minute which was the final nail in Fremantle's coffin.

The only downside of victory was Jared Petrenko suffering an injury just before the final siren. It remains to be seen whether he will be fit to face the Hawks.

Adelaide: 12.9 (81) - Goals: T Walker 5, J Porplyzia 3, Dangerfield, Tippett, Vince, Wright

Fremantle: 11.5 (71) - Goals: C Mayne 3, M Walters 3, H Ballantyne, N Fyfe, G Ibbotson, M Pavlich, N Suban

AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, adelaide-5000, fremantle-6160

First posted September 14, 2012 23:23:11

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Fevola leads charge to beat heat and play in north

By Kristy O'Brien

Updated October 14, 2011 13:23:00

The AFL NT says the decision to accept former AFL star Brendan Fevola into the Northern Territory competition has been met with some opposition.

Fevola registered yesterday to play his first match for the Waratahs this Saturday at Gardens Oval in Darwin.

AFL NT chief executive officer Tony Frawley says former St Kilda player Andrew Lovett has also registered to play a few games for the Tiwi Bombers.

He says both players have led controversial lives off-field and he says that was considered before accepting their registrations.

"I think that is big news for Darwin football and obviously there have been some mixed feelings about it, even among our staff," he said.

"I mean, should you accept the registration from Brendan?" he said.

"And there is probably going to be another similar player (Lovett) going to play with the Tiwi Bombers in a couple of weeks who was ... on a very serious charge but got off in the court of law."

Former Carlton player Fevola is hoping to make a comeback in the next AFL season.

His manager claims at least one club has flagged interest.

Former Geelong star Cameron Mooney has signed up with the Palmerston Magpies.

Tags: australian-football-league, human-interest, lifestyle, sport, darwin-0800, melbourne-3000

First posted October 14, 2011 13:17:44

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Judd leads Blues to easy win

Updated May 27, 2011 22:56:00

Chris Judd strengthened his claims for back-to-back Brownlow Medals with yet another starring role for Carlton as the Blues easily accounted for the Demons by 47 points at the MCG on Friday evening.

Judd turned in 31 possessions and 12 gut-busting tackles but beyond statistics it was his impact as the leader and creator in midfield that spurred Carlton to a 13.15 (93) to 6.10 (46) win.

The Blues' skipper has already twice been awarded the AFL's most valuable player award and appears on track for a third Brownlow with a string of impressive performances making him arguably the game's premier midfielder in 2011.

The Blues shot out to an early lead and despite an impressive stand from Melbourne in the second quarter, Carlton boasted a comfortable 16-point advantage at the half-time break.

That margin stretched to 29 at the final change and the Blues kicked on in the final quarter to seal a simple victory, their sixth of the campaign, that moved the club into third spot.

But the spectacle at the MCG went beyond football on Friday night with Olivia Newton-John and popular Dees president Jim Stynes teaming up to raise awareness for cancer.

The Demons have now lost four of their past five games, with the only win in that time their 96-point round seven thrashing of Adelaide.

Judd, who had been under an injury cloud after hurting his foot against the Cats, found many helping hands - most notably from midfield colleague Marc Murphy.

Speedsters Chris Yarran, at half-back, and Jeff Garlett (two goals), at half-forward, added some touches of excitement to a match that sorely needed them.

The tone was set in the first term, when the Demons could barely hit a target by foot and were particularly wasteful going into attack.

Demons tall defender Matthew Warnock had a horror first half.

He dropped a chest mark deep in defence to allow Garlett to pounce for Carlton's second goal, then trailed Jarrad Waite to the ball, allowing Waite to mark a Judd pass to kick his side's third.

That set up Carlton's 14-point quarter-time advantage and it became 20 points early in the first when Warnock gave away a close-range free kick diving onto the back of Carlton's Setanta O'hAilpin attempting to rush a behind.

The lead was whittled back to 16 points at half-time but two goals to Carlton's Andrew Walker in the third quarter, the second set up by a slick Judd handball, helped create a 29-point buffer at the last change.

It blew out further in the final term as a tiring Melbourne allowed the Blues to run in for some easy goals.

The win came at a cost for Carlton, with Jordan Russell subbed off with hamstring tightness in the first term and fellow backman Jeremy Laidler forced out of the game by injury in the third quarter.

Carlton: 13.15 (93) - S O'hAilpin 3, A Walker 2, E Betts 2, J Garlett 2, J Waite 2, D Armfield, M Murphy

Melbourne: 6.10 (46) - B Green, C Sylvia, J Rivers, L Jurrah, M Newton, R Petterd

- ABC/AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, carlton-3053, melbourne-3000

First posted May 27, 2011 22:24:00

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