The Sydney Swans were the better team throughout Saturday night’s Semi-Final, but their 36-point win was set up in the opening quarter. The Swans kicked their highest-ever first quarter score in a final – 7.3 (45) – to take a 25-point lead at the first change.
The home team’s dominance was on the back of its ability to win the contested ball. The Swans finished +20 in contested possession – they were already +10 at quarter time. Sydney also spread better from the contest, winning the uncontested possession count 278 – 201, and got on top at the clearances 47 – 38.
Young midfielder Matt Crouch was Adelaide’s leading possession winner with 34. He also applied five tackles, generated three forward 50m entries and was involved in more scores (eight) than any other Crow.
Crouch was the only Crow to collect in excess of 30 possessions, while four Swans reached the mark: Josh Kennedy (42), Tom Mitchell and Isaac Heeney (32 each) and Dan Hannebery (31).
Rory Sloane and Scott Thompson each won seven clearances and laid a team-high nine tackles.
Sloane finished with 34 pressure acts – seven more than the next-best player on the ground.
Forward Eddie Betts overcame a slow start to finish with three goals. Betts has moved into ninth in Adelaide’s all-time goalkicking with 189 goals for the Club in only 69 games.
He kicked nine goals in two finals this year for a season total of 75. Betts has topped Adelaide’s goalkicking in each of his three seasons at West Lakes.
Taylor Walker, Charlie Cameron, Tom Lynch and Mitch McGovern all finished with two goals against the Sydney Swans. Walker has moved to fourth overall in finals goals for the Adelaide Football Club (18). AFL legend Andrew McLeod leads the way with 23 finals goals.
Cameron, who pushed up onto the wing, finished with an equal-game high six inside 50ms from his 17 possessions. He also won two free kicks for holding the ball with his fierce tackling.
The Crows won the inside 50m count 56 – 49 but weren’t efficient, scoring from only 39.3 per cent of their entries – the worst of any team in action over the weekend.
Match statistics
Disposals
Adelaide – 353
Sydney Swans – 445
Disposal efficiency
Adelaide – 69 per cent
Sydney Swans – 73 per cent
Kicks
Adelaide – 203
Sydney Swans – 221
Handballs
Adelaide – 150
Sydney Swans – 224
Clearances
Adelaide – 38
Sydney Swans – 47
Inside 50ms
Adelaide – 56
Sydney Swans – 49
Contested possessions
Adelaide – 146
Sydney Swans – 166
Uncontested possessions
Adelaide – 278
Sydney Swans – 201
Tackles
Adelaide – 69
Sydney Swans – 59
Hit-outs
Adelaide – 42
Sydney Swans – 47
