Season Review: Rounds 1-5
Season Review: Rounds 6-10
Season Review: Rounds 12-17
Season Review: Rounds 18-23
Elimination Final v Western Bulldogs, MCG
Adelaide outlasted the Western Bulldogs by seven points in a classic Elimination Final contest at the MCG.
The Crows gave up four of the first five goals of the game but fought back gallantly to assume the lead by quarter-time. The margin between the two teams never grew beyond 15 points as both sides gave everything in the do-or-die battle.
The Bulldogs reclaimed the ascendency in the final term and looked likely to advance to week two of the finals before Adelaide skipper Taylor Walker took control to steer the Crows home.
Walker nailed a clutch set shot from outside the arc and set up another major to Charlie Cameron with the result in the balance in the dying stages. He finished with three goals next to his name behind livewire Eddie Betts, who slotted five in another dominant display.
Ricky Henderson produced his best performance for the year across half-back on the big stage, while Daniel Talia stifled the influence of Bulldogs dangerman Jake Stringer.
Rory Sloane and Scott Thompson’s hardness at the contest was also crucial in toppling the fleet-footed Dogs in front of over 60,000 at the MCG.
The win kept Adelaide’s perfect record against the Western Bulldogs in finals games intact. The Crows have won all three finals clashes between the two teams.
ADELAIDE 6.3 9.6 13.9 16.13 (109)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 4.6 7.10 10.16 14.18 (102)
BEST: Betts, Thompson, Walker, Henderson, Laird, Sloane, Dangerfield
GOALS: Betts 5, Walker 3, Knight 2, Cameron 2, Henderson, Lynch, Sloane, Thompson
Brodie Smith, Taylor Walker & Matt Crouch celebrate Adelaide's Elimination Final win
Semi-Final v Hawthorn, MCG
Adelaide’s fairytale run came to a shocking end at the hands of eventual premiers Hawthorn, falling by 74 points in the second Semi-Final.
The Hawks blitzed the Crows from the outset off the back of an eight-goal opening term. The visitors were unable to contain Hawthorn’s dash and dare all night, while Adelaide looked slow in comparison and too often burnt possession.
Called upon so often during the season, Adelaide showed no lack of courage in the Semi-Final blockbuster, but could not match the class of the premiership-bound Hawks.
Hawthorn won every quarter before downing Fremantle and West Coast across the following fortnight to claim the club’s third successive premiership.
Backmen Rory Laird and Daniel Talia fought bravely in Adelaide’s under-siege defence while Josh Jenkins was the Crows’ most dangerous forward with four goals.
Patrick Dangerfield was Adelaide’s best midfielder in what proved to be his last game in Crows colours.
The loss extended Adelaide’s wretched recent run against the Hawks. The Crows haven’t beaten Hawthorn since Round One, 2011 and have won just one of four finals meetings between the two teams.
ADELAIDE 2.2 4.3 6.7 8.13 (61)
HAWTHORN 8.4 11.6 16.7 21.9 (135)
BEST: Dangerfield, Talia, Laird, Jenkins, Lynch, Jacobs, Thompson
GOALS: Jenkins 4, Lynch 2, Dangerfield, Walker
Rory Sloane and Luke Hodge get physical during the Semi-Final clash at the MCG
