Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Sholl prominent as Adelaide sink St Kilda in AFL slog

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Adelaide winger Lachlan Sholl has kicked two goals to help his fast-finishing side sink St Kilda by 32 points in a Saturday night slog.

Sholl collected 17 disposals as the Crows booted four goals to none in the last term to win 10.11 (79) to 5.9 (59) at a rain-soaked Adelaide Oval.

The Saints managed only two goals after quarter time and slip to 15th on the ladder, with Adelaide replacing them in 14th spot.

Emerging Crows on-baller Jake Soligo revelled in the wet with 25 disposals, as did stalwarts Jordan Dawson (26 disposals) and triple club champion Rory Laird (31).

St Kilda defender Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera collected a team-high 29 possessions and Mattaes Phillipou was a standout with 20 possessions and a classy third-term goal.

Mason Wood and Cooper Sharman kicked two majors each while Hunter Clark (21 touches) and the recalled Zak Jones (20) were busy.

The Saints led 3.3 to 2.1 at quarter time, with Sharman slotting two set-shots and Phillipou prominent with eight disposals including three clearances.

But the tide turned in the second quarter as the Crows scored three goals to one to take a four-point halftime advantage, 5.5 to 4.7.

Adelaide gained ascendancy around the ball as rain made ball-handling tricky, with the home recording 18 inside 50s to St Kilda’s eight for the quarter.

Heavy rain continued throughout the third term, resulting in a scoring stalemate as both sides failed to kick a major for almost 23 minutes.

The deadlock was broken in style by the Saints’ Phillipou, who bounced through a 55 metre goal when near the boundary line.

That strike got St Kilda to within one point but the Crows responded two minutes later when Sholl neatly collected a half-volley in the goal square and converted.

Adelaide held an eight-point buffer, 6.10 to 5.8, at three-quarter time and gained precious breathing space 11 minutes into the last term when Billy Dowling goaled.

Comeback Crow Riley Thilthorpe then sealed victory with consecutive goals in his first game of the season since recovering from a knee injury.

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