THE CROWS have secured a thrilling five-point win over a courageous Essendon in front of 41,897 at AAMI Stadium.

The Bombers jumped out of the blocks in the first quarter and led by four points at half time, but the Crows muscled their way back into the match with a committed, but inaccurate second half.

The final quarter went down to the wire, with Adelaide holding on to record it’s seventh win of the season and firm in fourth spot.

Brett Burton and Jason Porplyzia were livewires up forward with two goals apiece and, at the other end of the ground, Ben Rutten and Nathan Bock blanketed Matthew Lloyd and Scott Lucas.

Scott Thompson, Simon Goodwin and Tyson Edwards were inspirational in the all important third quarter.

The Bombers vowed to rectify their slow starts this week and they did with three goals in nine minutes during a scrappy first term.

Adelaide played off its opponents and Essendon used the space to advantage, setting up Adam McPhee for the first goal of the game.

The Crows didn’t even touch the ball in the lead up to Essendon’s second goal with Andrew Lovett and Adam McPhee combining and passing to Jason Winderlich, who kicked the Bombers second.

Coach Neil Craig implored his team to respond to last week’s disappointing loss to West Coast, but the Crows started in similar lacklustre fashion.

South Australian product Angus Monfries, was having the better of Andrew McLeod, and got involved in the Bombers' third, this time to Mark McVeigh.

Skipper Simon Goodwin got crunched in a contest and the Crows jolted into action, but couldn’t shake the yips that derailed them at Subiaco a week earlier.

Porplyzia, Burton and Richard Douglas all missed shots on goal before last week’s leading goal kicker, Ivan Maric, broke the home side’s drought and brought the Crows within nine points at the first break.

Both sides continued to struggle with the dewy conditions in the second quarter, which created another tight, hard fought contest.

Burton threatened to ignite his team, but the enigmatic forward could not find the centre of the big sticks. Nathan Bock ran off Scott Lucas to create some drive and the midfield of Scott Thompson, Nathan van Berlo and Chris Knights started to get on top at the stoppages.

Knights ran hard and linked up with van Berlo to set up a goal to Porplyzia, and a second goal moments later to pinch-hitting forward Graham Johncock put the Crows ahead for the first time in the game.

But a frustrated McLeod gifted the Bombers a goal through a 50m penalty. And when Matthew Lloyd goaled just before half time after the teams had swapped another major each, Essendon were ahead by four points at the main break.

The Bombers surged again at the start of the third term with two quick goals.

McLeod’s unusual ‘off’ night continued when he was outmanoeuvred in front of goal by opponent Monfries, who converted the shot. Young Bomber David Myers, who was also rated highly by the Crows in last year’s draft, showed some class, winning the ball out of the middle and following up his own good work with a clever goal.

But the rest of the term belonged to Adelaide, even if they did not make it fully count on the scoreboard. The Crows, who kicked 4.7 in the second quarter, added a further 3.9 to their tally.

Thompson and the reliable Goodwin and Tyson Edwards took full control in the centre, with the trio combining for 31 possessions in a dominant third-quarter display.

The Burton freak show continued with the Birdman finally adding a major to his list of behinds and three non-scoring shots on goal.

He pulled another rabbit out of his hat minutes later with a mid-air soccer giving Adelaide the lead. A goal to workhorse Thompson extended the Crows lead to 10 points at the final change.

However, Burton may come under the scrutiny of the match reveiw panel after appearing to collect Bomber Henry Slattery with high contact.

McPhee gave Essendon a sniff with two early final quarter goals, but some more Burton magic kept the Bombers at bay. The cunning forward walked the boundary line tightrope before chipping a kick over the top to Porplyzia, who nailed his second.

The Crows kept coming with a goal to Brent Reilly, but Essendon counterpunched with a goal to Lonergan. Both sides had chances to win in the dying minutes, but the Crows held firm for a hard earned victory.

Adelaide      1.6   4.7   7.16   9.20 (74)
Essendon     3.3   5.5    7.6   10.9 (69)

GOALS
Adelaide: Porplyzia 2, Burton 2, Maric, Johncock, Douglas, Thompson, Reilly
Essendon:. McPhee 3, Winderlich 2, McVeigh, Lloyd, Monfries, Myers, Lonergan

BEST
Adelaide: Burton, Thompson, Bock, Goodwin, Porplyzia, Rutten, Douglas
Essendon: Winderlich, Lovett, McPhee, Myers, Fletcher, Monfries
 
INJURIES
Adelaide: nil
Essendon: Hislop (shoulder), Jay Neagle (foot) replaced in selected side by Tayte Pears
 
Reports: Nil
 
Umpires: McLaren, Nicholls, Meredith

Official crowd: 41,897 at AAMI Stadium

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the  club.