One young Adelaide player won’t be looking forward to the review of Friday night’s three-point loss to Essendon after committing one of footy worst cardinal sins twice in the space of five minutes.
Essendon were the better team across the game and managed to hold on to defeat the Crows at Adelaide Oval 10.18 (78) to 11.9 (75) in a thriller.
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In a controversial finish, Bombers ruckman Sam Draper dived on the ball as the siren sounded, but the umpires didn’t penalise him for holding the ball, which would have given the Crows a chance to win the game.
But controversy aside, Adelaide had plenty of chances to win the game in the last quarter and they could well have got the victory if Josh Rachele held onto a couple of marks.
With the Crows surging midway through the final term, Taylor Walker kicked a pinpoint pass to Rachele, who was standing on his own just outside 50.
But instead of taking what should have been a straightforward mark, Rachele was clearly worried about bracing for contact from the opposition and only put one arm up. He lost control of the footy and it went straight to a Bombers player.
James Brayshaw said in commentary on Channel 7: “Oh no. Rachele took his eyes off the ball. That allows Essendon back into it.”
Watch Josh Rachele’s dropped marks in the video above
Barely a minute later, Essendon’s Nic Martin kicked a running goal from outside 50 to given the Bombers the lead — it turned out to be the last major kicked for the game.
Rachele had another moment to forget when Rory Laird found him all on his own in the forward pocket, only for Rachele to duck his head and drop an easy overhead mark cold.
Had he marked the ball, Rachele would have had a chance to snap a goal from close range to put the Crows in front.
Fox Footy’s Garry Lyon said after the game: “We’ve marvelled at his abilities… but he had a moment that will be a great learning moment.
“He blinked. He will go back and they’ll sit him down and look at that and say don’t let this moment define you as a footy player.”
Jonathan Brown said: “You coach the behaviour… you’re not going to kill the kid’s confidence.
“I saw something last week as well that troubled me a little bit, it’s happened two weeks in a row.
“It’s something that needs to be sorted out in his game.
“Hopefully this kid will learn from it and he’ll stand up in big moments going forward.
“To play this game, no matter about the concussion chat and the game changing, physical toughness and the ability to keep your eye on the ball, in all moments of the game, is still a prerequisite and imperative in big moments in games. “
Nathan Buckley added: “We used to talk about that in terms of courage and character.
“It doesn’t speak to someone’s character, it might speak to their skill, he didn’t execute that skill in that moment, to execute the skill he needed to get back an extra step and with that you’re taking the risk of being collected from behind.
“Over the course of the next couple of years, when you’re in that situation you step up and make sure you execute.”
Luke Hodge said on Channel 7: “Rachele he has had three opportunities just miss-judged that one. Through the hands. Took his eyes off the ball.”
Footy fans could immediately tell the 22-year-old former top 10 draft pick wasn’t committed to going back with the flight of the ball.
Collingwood great and Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan wrote on X: “Josh Rachele not real keen on stretching his arms up to mark the ball it would seem.”
Broadcaster Daniel Garb said: “Wouldn’t want to be Josh Rachele in the Monday review.”
Journalist Andrew Wu added: “Won’t be a pleasant review for Josh Rachele if the Crows lose this.”
Footy reporter Ronny Lerner said: “Rachele won’t wanna see a replay of that. Gonna have a rough time sleeping tonight dropping those two crucial marks.”
Rudi Edsall said: “Rachele having the kind of night live on TV that you wake up in a cold sweat having dreamt about.”
Fox Footy’s Garry Lyon also criticised Izak Rankine for peeling off his direct opponent that led to Essendon’s Darcy Parish kicking a goal.
After being competitive against the AFL’s best teams last season and only missing finals because of a goal umpiring howler, hopes were high for Adelaide.
But with a 1-4 season record, it might already be season over for the Crows.
