Season Review: Rounds 1-5
Season Review: Rounds 6-10

Round 12 v Hawthorn, Adelaide Oval

Adelaide fell short of the reigning and eventual premiers by 29 points in a physical encounter at Adelaide Oval in Round 12.

The ‘unsociable’ Hawks flexed their muscles early, putting in-form duo Eddie Betts and Charlie Cameron on their haunches behind play.

Tough nuts Scott Thompson (32 possessions), Rory Sloane (29) and Patrick Dangerfield (31) flew the flag for the Crows, while Kyle Cheney was strong in defence against his former club and playing in his 50^th AFL game.

Captain Taylor Walker was subbed out after copping a corked thigh in a collision with Sam Mitchell as the bruising battle continued to wage all night. But in the end it was Hawthorn’s class that proved the difference between the two teams.

ADELAIDE      4.1   7.2   11.7   12.12 (84)
HAWTHORN  6.2   9.6   13.9   17.12 (114)

BEST: Dangerfield, Sloane, Thompson, Douglas, Laird, Cameron, Cheney
GOALS: Cameron 2, Douglas 2, Walker, Talia, Lynch, Wright, Betts, Laird, Dangerfield, Jenkins

Round 13 v Brisbane, Gabba

The Crows escaped with a last-gasp 13-point victory over Brisbane at the Gabba in Round 13.

Adelaide almost kicked itself out of the contest with a scoreline of 5.13 and a deficit of 24 points at the final change.

But the visitors rallied in the fourth term to reel in the lowly Lions with a long bomb from Taylor Walker and a courageous mark and goal to Nathan van Berlo eventually sealing the Club’s seventh win of the season.

Charlie Cameron won a rising star nomination for his part in the fightback.

A second fractured cheekbone to Rory Sloane in the third term was another addition to an already long Crows injury list at the midway point of the year.

ADELAIDE   2.3   3.6   5.13   11.16 (82)
BRISBANE   4.3   6.5   10.7   10.9 (69)

BEST: Thompson, Crouch, Cameron, Laird, Jenkins, Talia
GOALS: Betts 2, Jenkins 2, Walker 2, van Berlo, Cameron, Wright, Smith, Thompson

Taylor Walker kicked a pivotal goal from long range to seal Adelaide's win over the Lions

Round 15 v West Coast, Domain Stadium

The Club’s immense bravery was on display in Adelaide’s clash with West Coast in Round 15 – the Crows’ first outing since the tragic passing of Senior Coach Phil Walsh.

Adelaide’s scheduled match with Geelong was cancelled the previous week given the extraordinary circumstances.

Under the guidance of new interim coach Scott Camporeale, the Crows showed tremendous heart to win two quarters against the eventual Grand Finalists. The visitors actually led by 14 points at the first change, before the floodgates opened and West Coast added eight goals in the second term on their way to a 56-point win

Riley Knight kicked two goals on debut, Patrick Dangerfield collected 36 possessions and Daniel Talia held Eagles spearhead Josh Kennedy to just two majors despite the wave of opposition entries.

The players and coaches stood as one around the centre circle following the game to remember Walsh, before the Domain Stadium faithful gave the emotional Crows players a standing ovation as they left the field in one of the year’s most powerful moments.

ADELAIDE        6.2   6.3   11.5   14.7 (91)
WEST COAST   4.0   12.7   15.10   22.15 (147)

BEST: Dangerfield, Talia, Laird, Crouch, Henderson.
GOALS: Walker 3, Jenkins 2, Betts 2, Knight 2, Cameron 2, Lynch, Wright, Smith

Round 16 v Port Adelaide, Adelaide Oval

Adelaide claimed arguably the greatest Showdown victory in history, holding off Port Adelaide by three points in an emotion-charged clash in Round 16.

The two teams entered the ground through the same banner in honour of fallen coach Phil Walsh, who played significant roles at both clubs during his long coaching journey.

In front of a record Adelaide Oval crowd of 53,518, the Crows built a 30-point lead by three-quarter time before the Power charged home in an epic duel that Walsh would’ve been proud of.

Adelaide did not kick a goal in the final term but “got the job done” in what was the closest finish in Showdown history. 

Scott Thompson was awarded the Phillip Walsh Medal as best afield in Showdown XXXIX for his 36 possessions and 13 clearances, while Sam Jacobs was dominant in the ruck with 51 hit-outs. Rory Atkins made his debut AFL appearance for the Crows.

ADELAIDE               6.1   11.3   18.6   18.8 (116)
PORT ADELAIDE   3.4   8.4   13.6   17.11 (113)

BEST: Thompson, Jacobs, Douglas, Walker, Dangerfield, Crouch, Laird, Henderson
GOALS: Jenkins 3, Walker 3, Cameron 2, Lynch 2, Crouch, Henderson, Martin, Douglas, Knight, Betts, Wright, Thompson

The Crows and Power ran out to a joint banner in honour of Phil Walsh in Round 16

Round 17 v Gold Coast, Adelaide Oval

A career-best four goals from Charlie Cameron helped Adelaide jump into sixth place on the AFL ladder after downing Gold Coast by 45 points in Round 17.

The game was in the balance at three-quarter time with the Crows leading by just nine points, before Adelaide blasted eight goals to the Suns’ two in the final term to put the result beyond doubt.

Josh Jenkins and Eddie Betts both bagged three goals alongside Cameron’s four, while Scott Thompson and Rory Laird continued their consistent seasons with sublime performances.

Jake Lever became the second Crow to receive a Rising Star nomination in 2015 for his 24 possessions and 10 marks in defence.

ADELAIDE        4.1   9.5   11.10   19.11 (125)
GOLD COAST   4.1   7.4   10.7   12.8 (80)

BEST: Douglas, Dangerfield, Laird, Lever, Thompson, Jacobs
GOALS: Cameron 4, Jenkins, Betts 3, Walker, Douglas, Sloane 2, Dangerfield, Laird, Martin