WebMail
My BigPond
There was a happy homecoming for Gold Coast boy Kurt Tippett as the Adelaide Crows grabbed their sixth straight AFL win - a 17-point victory over an error-riddled Richmond on Saturday night.
But it didn't quite entirely go to script after the fast finishing Tigers reeled in a 46-point deficit early in the fourth to come within a couple of kicks at the death.
However, there was no denying who was the star of the 15.12 (102) to 13.7 (85) victory.
Tippett cut his teeth in the sport near Gold Coast Stadium at the Southport club - and the young forward clearly lapped up the familiar surroundings, booting a match-turning five goals.
He has suspended contract talks with the Crows until the end of the season, adding to speculation that he may be snapped up by the Gold Coast club which makes its AFL debut in 2011.
But his asking price may be considerable by then judging by his heroics in front of an adoring 11,174-strong crowd.
After Richmond threatened to fight back, cutting a 32-point deficit to just 15 early in the second term, Tippett stepped up.
He landed two majors to have four by halftime and blow the damage out to 5.3 (33) to 2.1 (13) at the main break.
And he bagged his fifth in the third to gift the Crows a 14.9 (93) to 8.5 (53) buffer at the final break.
Then the Tigers bared their claws, kicking five goals to one in the last quarter to give Adelaide coach Neil Craig some nervous moments before celebrating yet another victory.
They are on their biggest winning run since 2006.
Richmond's cause was not helped by form player Nathan Foley being hampered by what appeared to be an ankle injury from early on in the clash.
The Crows have won 12 of their last 13 against the Tigers.
It was a frustrating loss for Richmond caretaker coach Jade Rawlings, in charge of just his third game for the Tigers.
He will be desperate to jag as many wins as possible on the regular season run home in a bid to bolster his resume.
He is in a long line of applicants vying for the full-time gig from 2010.
The game marks the last AFL clash held at Carrara before a $126 million upgrade of the venue ahead of the Gold Coast club's debut.
Construction, expected to start in November, will increase the capacity from 25,000 to about 40,000.
