ADELAIDE survived a scare from St Kilda early in the Round 10 clash between the sides, allowing the Crows to come away with the four points, and a double chance for finals. The Crows needed to win in order to guarantee a double chance in next week’s finals, but found themselves trailing by five points at half-time, having booted just two behinds. A four goals to one second half turned the game around though and the Crows got up, 4.5 (29) to 2.1 (13).

Coach Matthew Clarke said it was a tale of two halves, but he was pleased his side could turn the game around after the main break.

“I was happy with the second half,” he said. “I thought the first half was pretty poor to be honest, but credit to St Kilda, they brought energy, pressure, they were using the ball well and we were just a little bit off our best. But the ability to respond and get an outcome was really good. Obviously it was significant in the context of the season. To get top four is a great result.”

The Crows brought a better level of pressure in the second half, which allowed them to win more contests and achieve a higher rate of forward 50 entries.

“The pressure we brought in the first half probably wasn’t at the level and St Kilda were then able to get the ball in their forward half.” Clarke said. “The inside 50 differential was pretty significant so better pressure around the contest, started to move the ball forward and then probably the last quarter we got the game on our term, kicking with a bit of a breeze. But we were able to lock the ball in and get some scores so in the end, very happy to get the win.”

Though not the Crows’ best performance in the end, Clarke did credit a couple of rising talents for their individual performances that helped get them over the line.

“In the end ultimately what was good, some of our young players,” Clarke said. “I thought Zoe Prowse coming into the team for the first game in a little while. She played forward and ruck earlier in the season and to play key defender against some pretty good forwards held up strongly for us.

“Then I just think Danielle Ponter over the last couple of weeks has a had really influential impact on our team at times when we haven’t been going that well, she’s been able to step up. Some individuals helped us out today, but in the end it was an okay team performance, not a great team performance.”

Adelaide begins its campaign for a fourth flag on Friday night against the side it beat to win its the third. The Crows tackle Melbourne at Ikon Park from 7:10pm for a spot in the preliminary finals. Clarke said his side would need to lift significantly from its Round 10 performance, but was pleased with how they had gone over Season 7.

“Obviously the minor round is the minor round and we’ve got some improvement to bring to the game, but overall if I look at our whole season, really happy with the way we’ve been able to find ways to win games,” he said. “But we’ll definitely have to improve on that performance leading into the finals series.”