Giants back to the top of the AFL vine after Crow capitulation

FOR the first time in a month, Adelaide has slipped from premiership and minor premiership favouritism after back-to-back losses against North Melbourne and Melbourne.

The Crows – who were the $3.25 favourites for the 2017 flag and $1.85 for the minor premiership just a fortnight ago – are now on the second line of betting at WilliamHill.com.au for both the 2017 cup ($4) and to top the ladder at the end of the season.

Loving this season. Crows were flag favourites 2 weeks ago, been flogged in both games since #aflcrowsdees

— Dan O’Connor (@londonsdoc) May 13, 2017

Adelaide coach Don Pyke believes Melbourne bullied the home side in the latter stages of the match on its way to registering an incredible 41-point win.

“We knew it was going to be a fierce start, halfway through that second quarter the game was being played in our half and we were winning our share of the contest,” Pyke said.

“It was the three goals before half-time that kicked the door back open and our second half was just poor.

“All credit to Melbourne.

“Their contested stuff and their pressure around the ball was very good, and their ability to force the turnover was too good on the night.”

The Demons were able to quell the influence of then-Brownlow Medal favourite Rory Sloane, who has since drifted in the market to second favourite at $6 via Sportsbet.com.au.

It was the second week in a row that Sloane has been quiet in a losing match for his side, but Pyke believes the Crows’ issues are deeper than a simple reliance on their premier ball winner.

“We put Rory forward, we put Rory on the wing, he was on-ball, he was trying to make two v ones, he did a range of things, but it didn’t work for him tonight,” Pyke said.

“It’s not about one player.

“It’s about our playing group playing the way we know we’re capable of and everyone contributing and playing their role.

“We didn’t have enough that played their role.”

The Crows’ loss has been the Giants’ gain the betting markets.

GWS ($3.75 at Sportsbet.com.au) has taken Adelaide’s position at the head of premiership betting affairs and are also the short-priced favourites ($2.60 at WilliamHill.com.au) to finish the season on top of the ladder.

The Giants overcame Collingwood in a tight match at Spotless Stadium by three points, but were again impacted by injuries.

Adain Corr and Sam Reid missed the majority of the match after suffering injuries early in the match, while prolific ball-winner Stephen Cogniglio missed the last ten minutes of the match after appearing to re-injure his ankle.

More injuries at GWS (Corr & Reid). Can the Giants still make a proper run at the Premiership this year? #AFLGiantsPies #supercoach

— Schwarzwalder@SCT (@SchwarzwalderSC) May 13, 2017

GWS coach Leon Cameron said the win was a huge boost for the team’s morale.

“It’s a really, really good fightback from where we were,” GWS coach Leon Cameron said.

“To lose Corr in the first 15 seconds – that’s footy, things happen and you’ve got to adjust. Then ‘Reidy’, and ‘Cogs’ (Stephen Coniglio) in the early part of the last. That was a really good character-building win.”

The win to the Giants all but ruled out Collingwood of finals contention.

The Magpies are now at the $6.25 quote at WilliamHill.com.au to finish inside the top eight this year, but Nathan Buckley was optimistic following the match.

The Collingwood coach believes their best is good enough to match the very best in the competition.

“We were good enough, but not for long enough,” Buckley said.

“We got the gap on the scoreboard early in the game, but we had a really poor second quarter, which gave the ascendancy back and let an opponent that clearly play in surges, play in waves – we gave them incentive and kept them interested and paid the price, ultimately.”

When the Pies don’t make the finals this year. Can we please look for an ex player that was a defender. They make the best coaches. #gopies

— Crusty (@Crusty147) May 8, 2017

Buckley believes Collingwood’s inability to capitalise on opportunies allowed the Giants to “steal” the win.

“We had chances and we should have iced it in the last five minutes, but we weren’t able to.”

Then there’s just little things, little blues that we made, that gave the opposition the opportunity to steal it basically in the end.”