After a 10-goal to nine first half in Brisbane’s favour, the Crows overcame a 20-point deficit midway through the third term to surge almost three goals clear in the last quarter, but after the Lions made a late charge, Marcus Picken had the chance from 55m out after the siren to snatch the game, only to fall short with his attempt.
The Crows were led by Nigel Smart, Tyson Edwards, Simon Goodwin and Darren Jarman, with Brett Burton kicking four goals – including three in the last term – and Matthew Clarke registering 21 hitouts against his old side.
For the Lions, Nigel Lappin, Chris Scott, Tim Notting and Jason Akermanis had plenty of the ball in the middle of the ground, and Lappin and Alastair Lynch kicking four goals each, while veteran Marcus Ashcroft was well held with just 12 possessions.
Lynch opened the scoring with the 400th goal of his career, before Scott Welsh got Adelaide’s first, only for Clark Keating to kick his first and Lynch his second as the Lions stretched their lead to two goals.
Crows skipper Mark Ricciuto and Keating exchanged goals before Jarman kicked two in three minutes and Bryan Beinke added another, but with three of the last four goals to Scott, Lappin and Akermanis after Adelaide’s sixth to Kane Johnson, Brisbane led by four points at quarter time, 7.2.44 Adelaide 6.4.40.
After several behinds to both teams, Matthew Robran slotted a long goal from outside 50m, before Lappin finally snapped a run of four straight behinds by the home side with his second.
Ben Hart floated forward from defence to kick his first and again level the scores, before Lappin’s third major and Daniel Bradshaw’s first stretched the margin to 12 points, but a late goal to Andrew McLeod saw Brisbane lead by only six points at half-time, 10.8.68 to 9.8.62.
Brisbane kicked four of the first six goals of the half through Michael Voss, Keating (his third), Bradshaw (his second) and Beau McDonald, to skip 20 points clear, Beinke and Johnson’s second goals ensuring the margin wasn’t even greater.
But the Crows hit back, Beinke kicking his third, Peter Vardy adding a couple, Hart getting his second and Burton putting through another as Adelaide led by five points at the last change, 16.9.105 to 15.10.100, Lynch’s third minimising the deficit.
After Brisbane opened the last quarter with three straight behinds, Burton popped his second and third goals through to open up a 16-point lead.
But the Lions weren’t finished yet, Brad Scott, Lynch and Lappin kicking goals, as well as Burton’s fourth for the Crows, as the margin shrank to four points with a few minutes remaining, before Picken had his chance but failed as time ran out.
Scoreboard:
ADELAIDE: 6.4 9.8 16. 9 19.13 (127)
BRISBANE LIONS: 7.2 10.8 15.10 18.14 (122)
Goals: Adelaide: B Burton 4 B Beinke 3 T Vardy 2 B Hart 2 K Johnson 2 D Jarman 2 M Robran S Welsh A McLeod M Ricciuto. Brisbane: A Lynch 4 N Lappin 4 C Keating 3 D Bradshaw 2 M Voss J Akermanis C Scott B McDonald B Scott.
Best: Adelaide: T Edwards A McLeod B Burton S Goodwin D Jarman B Hart. Brisbane: S Black N Lappin J Akermanis C Scott C Johnson.
Umpires: B Allen K Nicholls M Vozzo.
Official crowd: 24,122 at the Gabba.
