Even if Adelaide miss the finals this year Crows fans have reason to rejoice – and the reason is Darcy Fogarty.
The Crows’ finals hopes are on thin ice after suffering a 10-point AFL loss to West Coast on Sunday.
The result left Adelaide 1.5 per cent adrift of eighth-placed Port Adelaide ahead of tricky games against Collingwood (home) and Western Bulldogs (away).
With Taylor Walker’s career winding down and Josh Jenkins out of favour, a huge void is looming for Adelaide’s forward line in the not-too-distant future.
Fogarty looks like the perfect player to fill it.
The 19-year-old booted five goals against the Eagles and took seven grabs in a masterful display.
It was just his second game of the season, following on from 10 last year.
The 193cm key forward has a mature body for his age, and looks set to form a key part of Adelaide’s attack from next year and beyond.
“Fantastic to see him come in and play the way he did,” Crows coach Don Pyke said of Fogarty, who was taken with pick No.12 in the 2017 national draft.
“We’ve always known he’s got that capacity. He’s been building his craft at SANFL level.
“He came in and hit the scoreboard and kicked accurately. He plays with a real presence.
“It’s only going to help him in terms of his confidence and knowing now that he can clearly not only play at this level, but play really strongly. I’m super happy for him.”
Saturday’s clash with Collingwood at Adelaide Oval looms as a make-or-break moment for the Crows.
Pyke says his team will take huge confidence out of the way they were able to push West Coast right to the end on Sunday on enemy territory.
“It gives us the belief that we know our best is going to be good enough,” Pyke said.
“We take some confidence into next week. It becomes a must-win game to stay in that finals hunt.
“All we can control is winning those (last) two games. If winning those two games puts us in the eight – great. If not, then we lick our wounds and get organised for next year.”
Star midfielder Rory Sloane is in doubt to face the Magpies after copping a shoulder to the head against the Eagles.
The hit left Sloane with blurred vision and possible damage to one eye, with the 29-year-old to undergo tests before a decision is made on his availability.
