Hill celebrates milestone in style as Saints beat Crows

Adelaide’s advantage was 13 points early in the third term before St Kilda’s big forwards, as they had done all night, pinched the lead and threatened to take over the match.Tim Membrey ran into an open goal, King marked and goaled twice in as many minutes – the second via a horrible turnover from Chayce Jones – and Rowan Marshall began exerting his influence as the Crows’ backline suddenly was made to look small and stretched to its limits.

But with Brodie Smith brilliant, Adelaide’s forward-half pressure stellar and the Saints continuing to be plagued by bouts of ill-discipline, the Crows recaptured the lead ahead of a pulsating final term.

The lead changed hands several times but St Kilda, with Hill at the forefront in a Sir Douglas Nicholls round masterclass to savour, had more composure and class when it mattered, recapturing the lead through Membrey and getting on a late roll, King and Paddy Ryder keeping the scoreboard rattling as the Crows’ skill level slumped badly with the finish line in sight.

MCADAM’S MOMENTWearing the treasured No.23 previously worn by the likes of Andrew McLeod, Jared Petrenko and Charlie Cameron, Crows livewire Shane McAdam had the home fans on their feet in the second quarter.

With Jimmy Webster on his hammer and with the fast-leading Riley Thilthorpe presenting a significant health hazard, McAdam soared sideways, narrowly avoided a big collision and pouched an athletic, courageous mark.

Shane McAdam, centre, celebrates a goal. Credit:Getty Images

He converted the goal, which put Adelaide in front, and proudly pointed to his resplendently designed Indigenous jumper in a memorable moment.

Then midway through the second stanza, with his team in desperate need of a spark, McAdam gave the Crows the lead back with a sweet soccered goal off the deck, a reward for his second effort and composure.

BestSt Kilda: King, Hill, Crouch, Sinclair, Wilkie, Marshall, Gresham.Adelaide: Smith, Dawson, Keays, Soligo, Laird, Berry.