- Crows star fueled intense rivalry with risky move
- But he failed and his team lost the game by 22 points.
Crows star Josh Rachele angered Port Adelaide fans by pointing to his mouth while celebrating kicking a goal in his side’s defeat on Saturday night.
The gesture allowed him to double down on his controversial pre-match comments that Power supporters “don’t have many teeth” as he added a new chapter to the long and intense rivalry between the clubs, which divides the city in two.
Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks urged his players not to become “robots” despite Rachele’s verbal attacks and goal celebrations backfiring in the ill-tempered defeat.
Rachele kicked a brilliant second-quarter goal at Adelaide Oval and taunted the Power fans with a display of teeth as she celebrated in their faces on the boundary line.
Before the game, he also said he didn’t care if Power fans booed him and followed up with a fake apology on social media before the game.
“I shouldn’t have said that… I know (it’s a Port home game),” the 21-year-old told Adelaide radio station FIVEAA after making the teeth comment.
Asked if he expected a hostile reception, the young man was adamant that his comments would contribute to the sporting spectacle.
“No, I don’t mind being booed,” he said. “I love it.”
Crows star Josh Rachele turned the Adelaide half against him by pointing at his mouth after scoring a goal against the Power on Saturday night.
The 21-year-old did so to redouble his efforts after saying Port fans “don’t have many teeth” before the game, with some Power supporters bringing tooth candy to the match as a way of fighting back.
Rachele’s comments irked Port premiership player turned media personality Kane Cornes, who suggested the striker should play the game of his life.
Crows captain Jordan Dawson and teammate Darcy Fogarty also took a jibe at Port with provocative pre-match comments that fanned the flames of the rivalry.
But the Power had the last laugh in their 11.14 (80) to 8.10 (58) victory, securing a top-four place while the Crows will miss out on the final.
Some Port fans even brought candy teeth to the game and offered them to Rachele during the action.
“When you have a night like this, where there’s everything, part of that is the theater and part of that is the adrenaline that’s coursing through people’s bodies,” Nicks said.
‘People in the stands have their hearts racing and, from our players’ point of view, they are also dealing with physical fatigue and working to overcome it.
“Emotions are running high. It’s part of football and if we eliminate it we’ll become robots, and that worries me.”
“But sometimes we can get carried away. I think most people in the stadium felt the same way tonight.”
Rachele’s gesture backfired as his team lost by 22 points and crashed out of the final, and he became involved in a heated fight with Port stars Zak Butters and Connor Rozee (pictured).
Adelaide led by nine points at half-time as they sought a fourth consecutive win over their arch-rivals, but were outscored seven goals to two after the main break.
Nicks acknowledged Port responded better to a critical point in the third quarter when Dan Houston brought down Crows forward Izak Rankine with a high hit.
“We learned a lot tonight,” Nicks said.
‘When you look back at the key moments of that second half, some of our lads still understand where composure is needed.
“The excitement is running high, but there is one key: after that you have to get your act together and play.”
Nicks said Rankine was “up and moving” after the game, having been taken off the ground on a medical cart.
Rankine will miss the Crows’ final game of the season when they face league leaders Sydney at the SCG on Saturday night.