Josh Rachele Adelaide Crows AFL: Why this seemingly innocent celebration by a fired-up footy star left half of an Aussie city absolutely furious
- Crows star fuels intense rivalry with risky move
- Things got out of hand when his team lost the match by 22 points
Crows star Josh Rachele has infuriated Port Adelaide fans by pointing to his mouth as he celebrated scoring a goal in his team’s defeat on Saturday night.
With the gesture, he reiterated his controversial pre-match comments that the Power supporters “don’t have many teeth” and added a new chapter to the long and intense rivalry between the clubs, which splits the city in two.
Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks urged his players not to become ‘robots’ despite Rachele’s verbal criticism and goal celebrations backfiring in the dismal defeat.
Rachele scored a stunning goal in the second quarter at Adelaide Oval, taunting the Power fans by showing his teeth as he celebrated right in their faces on the touchline.
Before the match he also said he didn’t care that the Power fans were laughing at him and subsequently made a fake apology on social media.
‘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 comment about his teeth.
When asked if he expected a hostile reception, the young man was adamant that his comments would only ruin the sporting world.
“No, I don’t care if they boo me,” he said. “I love it.”
Crows star Josh Rachele turned half of Adelaide against him by pointing at his mouth after scoring a goal against the Power on Saturday night
The 21-year-old did so to double down on the stakes after saying before the match that Port fans ‘don’t have many teeth’ – and some Power supporters took lollipop teeth to the match to hit back
Rachele’s comments did not go down well with Premier League player and Port media personality Kane Cornes, who suggested the forward should play the game of his life.
Crows captain Jordan Dawson and teammate Darcy Fogarty also criticised Port with provocative comments before the match, which only fuelled the rivalry.
But the Power had the final say with their 11.14 (80) to 8.10 (58) victory to secure a top four spot, while the Crows will miss the final.
Some Port fans even brought lollipop teeth to the game and held them up to Rachele during the match.
“When you have a night like tonight where everything is there, it’s part theatre and part adrenaline pumping through people’s bodies,” Nicks said.
‘The people in the stands have a heart rate that goes through the roof. And our players and themselves do it too, despite the physical fatigue, and they work through it.
‘So emotions are running high. It’s part of football and if we eradicate that we’ll become robots and that worries me.
“But we can sometimes go too far. I think most people in the stadium did that tonight.”
Rachele’s gesture backfired as his team lost by 22 points, missing out on the finals, and he found himself embroiled in a heated battle with Port stars Zak Butters and Connor Rozee (pictured).
Adelaide led by nine points at half-time in pursuit of a fourth straight win over their arch-rivals, but were outscored seven points to two after the break.
Nicks admitted Port responded better at a critical point in the third quarter when Dan Houston brought down Crows forward Izak Rankine with a high push.
“You learned a lot tonight,” Nicks said.
‘If you look back at the key moments in the second half, some of the guys still understand that they have to keep calm.
‘Emotions are running high, but there is a key: you have to persevere and play football.’
Nicks said Rankine was “back on his feet” after the match, having been wheeled off the ground on a medical cart.
Rankine will miss the Crows’ final game of the season when they take on leaders Sydney at the SCG on Saturday night.