Round Seven v Western Bulldogs, Etihad Stadium
Adelaide fell to the Western Bulldogs by 15 points in a thrilling shootout at Etihad Stadium despite a career-best performance from forward Josh Jenkins.
Jenkins kicked eight majors for the game with his final goal narrowing the margin to just three points with under two minutes of play remaining. The Crows trailed by as much as four goals in the final term but refused to go down without a fight.
But young Bulldog Marcus Bontempelli stepped up to seal the win for the home side, marking on the lead and slotting the match-winning goal from the 50m arc.
It was the Crows’ third narrow loss in Melbourne for the season and the third defeat against an eventual finalist.
The Dogs dominated the midfield battle and applied immense pressure at the contest, winning centre clearances 23-8.
Tom Lynch (24 disposals, three goals) provided strong support for Jenkins up forward while Matt Crouch (24 disposals, four clearances) was Adelaide’s most effective onballer.
ADELAIDE 2.3 6.5 12.5 17.6 (108)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 6.3 9.7 14.11 18.15 (123)
BEST: Jenkins, M. Crouch, Henderson, Lynch, Smith
GOALS: Jenkins 8, Lynch 3, Cameron 2, Jacobs, Atkins, Sloane, Walker
Round Eight v Geelong, Adelaide Oval
The Crows suffered their first loss at home in Round Eight, falling by 26 points to second-placed Geelong at Adelaide Oval.
The Cats dominated with 16 more scoring shots to run over the top of Adelaide 13.20 (98) to 11.6 (72), but Geelong’s poor conversion left the door ajar for a possible Crows comeback.
Adelaide managed to gain some momentum during the third term and into the final quarter and suddenly looked capable of pinching an unlikely victory.
Paul Seedsman had the chance to put the Crows into the lead nine minutes into the final term, but the recruit’s set shot slid wide and stalled Adelaide’s surge.
Back-to-back goals to Corey Enright and Steven Motlop all-but settled the contest.
Rory Sloane (28 disposals, 11 tackles, one goal) did his best to inspire his teammates around the stoppages in front of a record Adelaide Oval crowd of 53,141.
ADELAIDE 2.1 5.1 11.3 11.6 (72)
GEELONG 3.8 5.13 9.17 13.20 (98)
BEST: Sloane, Cameron, Lynch, Henderson
GOALS: Betts, Jenkins, McGovern, Walker 2, Atkins, Cameron, Sloane
The Crows suffered their first loss at Adelaide Oval in 2016 against Geelong in Round Eight
Round Nine vs Gold Coast, Metricon Stadium
Adelaide snapped a two-game losing streak with an impressive 75-point win over a depleted Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium in Round Nine.
Sitting 4-4 and eighth on the ladder after a demanding opening two months of the season, the Crows thrived in the Queensland sunshine courtesy of a five-goal game to captain Taylor Walker.
After being hampered by a lingering foot issue early in the year, Walker looked backed to his dominant best against a Suns outfit that was missing a raft of key players.
The win improved Adelaide’s record against the Suns to 9-0 and handed Gold Coast its sixth-straight loss in the process.
Ruckman Sam Jacobs (29 hit-outs), Tom Lynch (22 touches, 10 marks, two goals) and Daniel Talia (23 touches, one goal) were Adelaide’s leading contributors.
But it was a strong showing by the entire team. The visitors dominated the inside 50ms tally 71-35 and also had 13 different goalkickers.
GOLD COAST 1.2 4.3 7.4 11.8 (74)
ADELAIDE 4.5 12.8 18.12 22.17 (149)
BEST: Douglas, Jacobs, Lynch, Talia, Thompson, Seedsman, Walker
GOALS: Walker 5, Milera 3, McGovern 3, Lynch 2, Talia, Smith, Seedsman, Lyons, Jenkins, Douglas, Cameron, Brown, Atkins
Round 10 v Greater Western Sydney, Adelaide Oval
Spearheaded by skipper Taylor Walker and Eddie Betts, Adelaide survived a final-term fightback from Greater Western Sydney to finish 22-point victors at Adelaide Oval in Round 10.
Both Walker and Betts booted five goals, with the latter slotting his second-straight Goal of the Year winner to send the 47,000-strong crowd into a frenzy.
Betts’ beauty helped his side to a 46-point lead at the final change and a huge Crows victory looked likely.
However, the Giants fought back admirably, kicking five goals to one in the final term to drag the margin back to as little as 17 points late in the game.
Richard Douglas (seven clearances) and Jarryd Lyons (seven) were terrific for the Crows on the inside. Rory Atkins (28 disposals), Brodie Smith (26) and Josh Jenkins (three goal assists) were also influential while Kyle Cheney and Kyle Hartigan continued their career-best seasons in defence.
ADELAIDE 4.6 6.11 14.13 15.17 (107)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 2.1 7.3 8.3 13.7 (85)
BEST: Walker, Betts, Thompson, Atkins, Sloane, Talia, Lever, Douglas
GOALS: Walker, Betts 5, Jenkins, Sloane, Milera, Lyons, McGovern
Eddie Betts kicked the AFL Goal of the Year against Greater Western Sydney in Round 10
Round 11 v St Kilda, Adelaide Oval
Adelaide notched its third win in a row, handing St Kilda a devastating 88-point loss at Adelaide Oval in Round 11.
Josh Jenkins was the star yet again with a dominant seven-goal haul as the Crows stormed to their biggest win of the season so far.
Adelaide blitzed the Saints from the start, kicking six goals to one in the first term as midfielder Matt Crouch – who was a late inclusion for veteran Scott Thompson – amassed 17 disposals for the quarter.
The second quarter belonged to Jenkins as the powerful forward kicked four goals for the term to give the Crows a 51-point lead at the main break.
In front of almost 41,000 fans, Adelaide never looked back and piled on eight goals to two in the second half to run out comfortable winners.
Crouch ended up with a career-high 36 possessions and was well-supported by fellow onballers Rory Sloane (32 disposals) and Jarryd Lyons (28 disposals).
ADELAIDE 6.5 11.11 16.14 19.19 (133)
ST KILDA 1.2 4.2 5.5 6.9 (45)
BEST: Jenkins, M. Crouch, Sloane, Talia, Jacobs, Lever
GOALS: Jenkins 7, Walker 3, Cameron 2, McGovern, Lyons, Lynch, Jacobs, Betts, Sloane, Seedsman
Round 12 v West Coast, Domain Stadium
Adelaide produced a stunning second-half comeback to hand West Coast its first home loss of the season in Round 12, defeating the Eagles by 29 points at Domain Stadium.
After trailing by 26 points midway through the third term, the Crows rallied to pile on the last eight goals of the match and held West Coast scoreless in the final term to stun the 38,000-strong Perth crowd.
Adelaide had 40 inside 50ms to just 12 for the Eagles in the second half to help set up the astounding fightback.
Rory Sloane was at his inspirational best for the Crows, gathering 11 possessions, four inside 50ms and three score assists in the final term. He finished with 29 disposals for the match.
Eddie Betts starred up forward with five goals, while Josh Jenkins finished with three. Veteran Scott Thompson gathered 24 touches to go with 12 tackles.
Prior to Adelaide’s win, no side had come within 62 points of the Eagles in Perth in 2016 and it was the first of only two losses West Coast suffered at home all season.
ADELAIDE 3.1 6.5 9.10 15.15 (105)
WEST COAST 5.6 9.6 11.10 11.10 (76)
BEST: Sloane, Betts, Thompson, Laird, M.Crouch, Talia, Jenkins, Lynch
GOALS: Betts 5, Jenkins 3, Walker 2, Lynch, Douglas, McGovern, Cameron, Atkins
Rory Atkins booted the sealer against West Coast in Round 12
