Not even an immense final quarter surge from Crows Captain Jordan Dawson could break the deadlock between Adelaide and Brisbane, as the sides played out a dramatic draw on Sunday evening.
The Crows mowed down an 18-point deficit midway through the final quarter to land all square with the Lions, 13.12 (90) to 13.12 (90) at Adelaide Oval.
It is just the third draw in Adelaide's history and the first for the Lions since 2009.
Dawson (27 disposals, 797 metres gained) led Adelaide from the front just as his side seemed down and out. His powerful running through the corridor to set up three consecutive goals kept the Crows in the hunt and proved to be game-breaking.
But ultimately it was the Crows' Skipper who missed a chance to seal all four points, with his snap late in the game drifting wide to level the scores.
Earlier, the sides traded blows across the first five goals as the lead changed eight times throughout the first half. It was in the air that Brisbane was able to separate itself, winning the contested mark count 17-6, largely off the back of the dominance of Harris Andrews (17 disposals, five contested marks) and Jack Payne (13 intercepts, four contested marks) behind the play.
In a stoppage-heavy game, Brisbane wanted to move the ball quickly by hand to escape the Crows' proactive defensive press.
When feeling the momentum, the young Adelaide side was at times guilty of losing its composure going inside 50 and playing into the hands of Brisbane's intercept markers. But the home side's willingness to apply relentless, exhausting pressure saw it slowly break down the Lions' attempts to exit defence in the third term.
Adelaide handed back that control late in the quarter, however, allowing errors in its defensive structures to re-open the door for Brisbane. Hitting back with two goals before the final break, the visitors ran with that momentum to kick the first three of the fourth quarter.
Elliott Himmelberg (two goals, seven score involvements) made his mark on Adelaide's attack, not only hitting the scoreboard himself, but also proving to be an important conduit between the midfield and forward 50. Meanwhile, Darcy Fogarty found his radar late when the game was there to be won, the beneficiary of Dawson's surge to finish with four goals.
SCOREBOARD
ADELAIDE 3.5 6.9 9.11 13.12 (90)
BRISBANE 4.2 6.7 9.10 13.12 (90)
GOALS
Adelaide: Fogarty 4, Rankine 3, Walker 2, Himmelberg 2, Rachele, Sholl
Brisbane: Ah Chee 4, Morris 2, Cameron, Hipwood, Lohmann, McCluggage, Daniher, Berry, Dunkley
BEST
Adelaide: Dawson, Rankine, Fogarty, Soligo, Crouch, Laird
Brisbane: Andrews, McCluggage, Dunkley, Payne, Berry
INJURIES
Adelaide: Worrell (wrist)
Brisbane: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: Luke Nankervis (replaced Daniel Curtin at half time)
Brisbane: Shadeau Brain (replaced Jaxon Prior at three-quarter time)
