Season Review: Rounds 1-6
Season Review: Rounds 7-12
Season Review: Rounds 14-18
Season Review: Rounds 19-23
Elimination Final v North Melbourne, Adelaide Oval
Adelaide kept its premiership dreams alive with a crushing 62-point win over North Melbourne in the Club’s first ever final at Adelaide Oval.
The Crows stormed over the top of the Kangaroos off the back of a six-goal haul to Eddie Betts that sent the 49,000-strong crowd into a frenzy.
The first half was a tightly fought affair, with the Crows taking a narrow 12-point lead into the main break.
However, Adelaide blew the contest wide open in the second half with eight goals to three in the third quarter and the Kangaroos were unable to recover.
The game was all about Betts though. The mercurial forward put on another show for the ages, producing several staggering highlights to steer his side into a Semi-Final clash with Sydney.
After missing two games with concussion, Brodie Smith (29 possessions, two goals) rebounded brilliantly, while Matt Crouch (29 possessions) was busy around the ground and Tom Lynch (four goals) was another strong contributor.
ADELAIDE 4.6 6.10 14.11 21.15 (141)
NORTH MELBOURNE 2.4 5.4 8.5 12.7 (79)
BEST: Betts, Lynch, M.Crouch, Smith, Lyons, Thompson, Walker
GOALS: Betts 6, Lynch 4, Jenkins, Walker, Smith 2, Cameron, Lever, M.Crouch, Walker, Lyons
Semi-Final v Sydney, SCG
Adelaide’s finals campaign came to a crushing end at the hands of the Sydney Swans at the SCG.
A seven-goal opening term set the tone as the Sydney ran out 36-point winners to end the Crows’ season.
Sydney was ferocious around the contest, led by a 42-disposal, 10-clearance performance from star midfielder Josh Kennedy.
Adelaide showed some fight in the third term to kick four goals to two but never really troubled Sydney, who added another six goals in the final term to seal the win.
Matt Crouch was prolific with 34 possessions but Adelaide’s midfield was thoroughly outplayed.
Rory Laird (28 possessions, four rebound 50s) never stopped trying as Adelaide’s defence was under siege following early injuries to Jake Lever and Daniel Talia.
ADELAIDE 3.2 4.4 8.9 12.10 (82)
SYDNEY 7.3 10.5 12.9 18.10 (118)
BEST: M.Crouch, Laird, Sloane, Atkins, Thompson
GOALS: Betts 3, Cameron, Lynch, Walker, McGovern 2, Thompson
Adelaide's 2016 campaign ended in the Semi-Final against Sydney at the SCG
