Down to just two rotations on the bench, Adelaide got its revenge on Essendon under the Marvel Stadium roof to snatch a two-point win on Friday night.
Ben Keays was the star, but Josh Rachele was the match-winner in the Crows' 17.13 (115) to 17.11 (113) victory, with a rolling snap in the final minute breaking Bombers hearts across the country.
A five-goal performance from Keays – three in the second quarter alone – was inspirational to his teammates.
His dynamic presence in the midfield and up forward proved a problem for Essendon all night, and he didn't allow a dangerous tackle on Bomber Jye Caldwell, which is sure to be studied by the MRO, to lessen his impact.
The Crows led by 36 points late in the second quarter, before the Bombers exploded in the second half. But with persistence despite tired legs, the visitors saw that Essendon never really shut the door on the scoreboard.
Rory Laird (29 disposals, seven clearances) was tireless at the contest, despite copping some knocks throughout the night, while Darcy Fogarty (four goals, nine score involvements) offered a strong target inside 50.
It was a game headlined by devastating momentum swings, each side owning quarters with long consecutive goal runs and impressive run and carry. Adelaide landed the first blow with eight unanswered goals through the second quarter, before Essendon hit back with seven-straight of its own.
It was high-end draftees doing it in attack for the Bombers as Nate Caddy, Nik Cox, and Harrison Jones combining for seven goals to draw the crowd to its feet.
Meanwhile, an attempt from Crow Hugh Bond to nullify the impact of Essendon captain Zach Merrett (30 disposals, eight clearances, one goal) was admirable but not quite enough to stop the star.
Speed and power were on the menu as bodies were repeatedly thrown on the line, with Adelaide coming off second best. Defender Nick Murray was subbed out of the game with what is expected to be a serious knee injury in the first quarter, while a host of other players came to the bench for running repairs.
After a nervous first quarter in which it conceded the first three goals and looked bereft at stoppage, the visiting side burst out of the blocks to kick nine goals in the second term.
Where the Crows' attempts to cut back into the corridor when it was on the attack were easily picked off by Essendon early, they used the lane to great effect once they began running in waves and using neat handballs to attack with speed.
But as soon as they went back into their shells and became reactive, the Bombers' spread from the contest was overwhelming. The home side's ability to make a quick decision to run into attack – and commit to it – allowed it to cut Adelaide's defence wide open.
With the win, Adelaide has broken a run of four-straight losses to the Bombers at Marvel Stadium, and further harmed Essendon's hopes of a top-four finish.
GOALS
Essendon: Cox 3, Jones 2, Caddy 2, Langford 2, Gresham 2, Durham, Stringer, Draper, Caldwell, Merrett, Redman
Adelaide: Keays 5, Fogarty 4, Rachele 3, Thilthorpe 2, Dowling, Taylor, Berry
BEST
Essendon: Redman, Merrett, Durham, Langford, McKay, Cox
Adelaide: Keays, Laird, Fogarty, Hinge, Soligo
INJURIES
Essendon: Caldwell (head knock)
Adelaide: Murray (left knee), Butts (left foot), Dawson (head knock)
SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Archie Perkins (replaced Jye Caldwell in the fourth quarter)
Adelaide: Brayden Cook (replaced Nick Murray at quarter-time)
