It doesn't have to be your night to be your moment, as Zac Taylor aptly proved at a sopping wet Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
His long-range set shot in the 27th minute of the final quarter was just his eighth disposal of the match, but it was a crucial one, providing a buffer a plucky Richmond outfit would fail to breach in the dour contest's final minutes.
In miserable conditions, the Tigers tested the Crows all night, kicking two consecutive goals to end the second term, and again to begin the third, to test the durability of the fingernails inside the home side's coaching box.
Zac Taylor slots a crucial goal for the Crows 👏#AFLCrowsTigers pic.twitter.com/jlpSDwM0Py
— AFL (@AFL) August 8, 2026
Matthew Nicks admitted the result was hardly a comfortable one, but took solace from the ugly victory.
"There were some smiles at the end, when you actually realise you get four points for that performance," he said.
"If you play that way and win, maybe it's a good sign.
"That even when we're nowhere near our best - and that was ugly tonight, unfortunately - and yet we still got the job done.
"There will be some guys that are challenged out of this one. And we'll learn from that and get better."
It is a case of missed opportunity, however, with the nine-point victory over the lowly Tigers doing little to close the percentage gap fellow top four fancies the Brisbane Lions have opened over Nicks' men.
Nicks was quick to shoot down suggestions that his side took the travelling Tigers lightly on the basis of their abysmal form this season.
"It's not an attitude, it's never an attitude thing - that is not our group," he said.
"People have got it a little bit wrong: the competition is not that uneven.
"There are talented players on every team in the comp. There are some that have got a little more experience than others, and a little bit more talent here and there.
"It was always going to be a tough game."
The tough games continue, with the Crows' next task a rendezvous with Fremantle - a side sure to be smarting after being on the wrong end of the game of the season just hours earlier.
"We have got a short break into Freo," Nicks said.
"And there will be some changes to our side, everything going well."
The Crows expect to welcome back Lachlan McAndrew, with their emerging ruckman rested for the Tigers clash. Darcy Fogarty's three-match suspension has now been served, while in-demand defender James Borlase and utility Luke Nankervis also shape as likely inclusions having overcome hamstring and chest injuries, respectively.
