“That third quarter really changed the momentum, didn’t it?” McRae said. “And I’ve been watching the first two rounds, and now the momentum is changing so quickly in this game.”
Pease were beaten on center clearances, outscored 16–9, and although that translated to just two goals from stops, the conceded territory tally was made up of the 11 goals they conceded on turnovers.
“To be honest, our center bounce stuff, we put a lot of time into it,” McRae said. “We have more work to do.”
Crows did not tag Daicos. With 33 possessions and 790 metres, he was among the Pies’ best players, just behind Dan Houston, but he wasn’t a game-breaker. It doesn’t help to be on the wing, rather than on the edge of the center circle, for key moments of the match.
Matthew Nix chuckled when asked how he felt as he entered the coaches’ box after halftime to see a positional switch for Dikos, who had been the most influential player on the floor in the first half.
The first few games this season have shown just how much damage a center throwup can do in a short amount of time.
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“The big change in the game right now is a little more speed, and a little more agility in your on-ballers and the ability to jump on the loose ground ball,” Nix said. “This rug rule is causing the ball to come out more than just a bump and crash. [style].
“We come out there, and we can go forward, and it’s hard for the opposition to get numbers behind the footy at the moment. That’s the key to the game. I think some of the teams that are winning convincingly at the moment, that center bounce area, or some of them, have got a real weapon.”
Riley Thalthorpe was not expected to have a field day against Darcy Moore and Jeremy Howe but was the most dangerous forward on the ground with three goals.
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Billy Frampton occasionally had the job on Thalthorpe, but there were periods where he was managed by Isaac Coyner, a running defender who gave the Adelaide behemoth 21cm clearance.
McRae is just “hopeful” Moore will be ready to face GWS on Friday after experiencing a hamstring “awareness” during training. Given his history of soft tissue injuries, it may be prudent to give him more time to recover.
For all their battles on the ball, the Pies created more entries inside 50, but their forward line lacked bite.
Jamie Elliott didn’t touch the ball in the first half, and had just two passes through three quarters, but was key to his late charge with two goals. Tim Membree was equally ineffective in the first three quarters before brief cameos in the final term. Dan McStay didn’t do much either.
Membrey and McStay – the Pies’ two main forwards – have scored just two goals in the first two rounds.
The Magpies look desperate after a rare MCG loss.Credit: AFL Photo
Unless the midfield dominates between them, it won’t be the forward line that will make opposition defenses shake in their boots. They have returned two 11-goal hauls in the first two rounds, while the perceived premiership favorites are kicking centuries.
“We’re not getting much out of our keys. [key forwards]it’s real, I’m not going to back down from it,” McRae said.
“We have to work on that. I think sometimes the connection breaks down. In the second and fourth quarters, we made nine of our 11 goals — then you say no. [connection breakdown]. How about the last quarter? How is that connection? I’d say pretty good.”
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