The SANFL Crows have finished their home and away season with a lacklustre 38-point loss to second-placed South Adelaide at Hickinbotham Oval on Saturday.

In a finals preview between two top-five sides, the SANFL Crows never looked like challenging for victory in front of a healthy crowd at Noarlunga. Adelaide trailed the Panthers all afternoon and struggled to adjust to the blustery conditions in the 9.8 (62) to 14.16 (100) defeat.

South Adelaide stormed clear in a six-goal to three second quarter to set up the win, making light of a strong breeze which should’ve been in the visitors’ favour.

The Panthers’ pressure was also immense all game. South Adelaide kicked 85 points from turnovers and regularly forced the Crows to miss targets from defence.

South’s lead extended out to as much as 52 points early in the last quarter before a few late consolation goals went Adelaide’s way once the sting was out of the contest.

The final result was the SANFL Crows’ worst loss to South Adelaide in six meetings between the two clubs.

SANFL Stats: Round 22 v South Adelaide

It was an ill-timed performance as the Crows prepare for their first ever SANFL final next Saturday afternoon against Central District at Adelaide Oval. Full SANFL finals fixture

Crows SANFL coach Heath Younie rued Adelaide's inability to stop South’s surge in the second term.

“The second quarter was where the damage was done,” Younie said.

“They kicked six goals into the breeze and it’s ended up being a 38-point game - there it is there.

“Full credit to South, they came with a real intensity and an ability to get into the contest.”

Younie said the Crows wouldn’t dwell on Saturday’s poor performance ahead of next week’s historic final at Adelaide Oval.

“We’re in a really positive position. It’s the first time we’ll play finals,” he said.

“We didn’t bring our best today. The guys are disappointed in what they put out today, but we’ll move on quickly.”

Adelaide had few winners on the ground, such was South Adelaide’s complete dominance.

Jonathon Beech impressed with his 23 possessions as he continues to work towards an AFL debut. The 25-year-old also had nine marks, six inside 50ms and a goal.

Left footers Hugh Greenwood and Mitch Grigg battled bravely against South Adelaide’s classy midfield. Greenwood’s physicality continues to be a feature of his game, while Grigg was Adelaide’s leading ball-winner with 24 disposals, six inside 50ms, five clearances and a goal.

After missing almost a month of football, Keenan Ramsey impressed in his return from an ankle injury. The 20-year-old rookie read the ball well in defence, particularly when Adelaide was under siege in the opening half, to take a match-high six intercept marks.

Riley Knight also tried hard with 19 disposals, eight tackles and two goals. The hard-running youngster has now kicked seven majors from his last three games.

Veteran Nathan van Berlo (foot) and young defender Tom Doedee (rib sprain) were late withdrawals from the clash at Noarlunga.

They were telling omissions as Adelaide struggled against a stacked South Adelaide forward line spearheaded by dangerous forward Brett Eddy, who secured his maiden Ken Farmer Medal with another five-goal haul.

We’ll bounce back, says Hampton

South Adelaide started with the aid of a strong breeze in the opening term. The Crows limited the damage for most of the quarter, but the Panthers booted three late goals to edge away to a 19-point quarter-time lead.

The Crows pressed early in the second quarter before the Panthers piled on five unanswered goals with a hard-running brand of rebound footy against the breeze. A long goal to Curtly Hampton from outside 50 momentarily stopped the rot, but the Crows remained 38 points adrift at the main break.

South Adelaide then dominated the third term. The Panthers had 11 scoring shots to just three for Adelaide, building a 51-point margin by three-quarter time. South’s inaccurate 3.8 conversion was the only relief for the visitors.

The Crows outscored the opposition in the final term, but the damage was already done.

Both teams agreed to wear Indigenous arm bands during Saturday’s match in a united stand against racism.


ADELAIDE                 1.2    4.3    6.4    9.8 (62)
SOUTH ADELAIDE     4.3   10.5   13.13   14.16 (100)

GOALS
Adelaide: Knight 2, Hunter, Menzel, Hampton, Greenwood, Grigg, Dear, Beech
South Adelaide: Eddy 5, Barnes 3, McMahon 2, Fields, Cross, Gulden, Schwarz

BEST
Adelaide: Beech, Greenwood, Grigg, Ramsey, Knight
South Adelaide: Seccull,Eddy, Cross, Barnes, Schwarz, Durdin, Taylor

INJURIES
Adelaide: Nathan van Berlo (foot), Tom Doedee (rib sprain) both withdrawn pre-match
South Adelaide: Haren (shoulder), Gulden (ankle)