AN INJURY to co-captain Adam Goodes has put a further dent in a tough Saturday night for the Sydney Swans, who suffered their first defeat of the season against bogey team Adelaide at the SCG.
Goodes had kicked five goals in a commanding display, and was attempting to take another mark inside 50 six minutes into the final quarter, when he pulled up and immediately grabbed for his left leg.
Examined by club doctor Nathan Gibbs, Goodes was quickly handed the red substitute vest and the club will nervously await the full diagnosis of their dual Brownlow medallist.
A rare injury to Goodes was the talking point, but the Crows will earn plenty of plaudits for their 15.9 (99) to 14.10 (94) triumph that puts them level with the Swans at 5-1 for the season.
Trailing by seven points at the last change, Adelaide kicked four straight goals at the start of the final term before surviving a furious late rally as the visitors continued their mastery of the Swans.
It was the Crows' fourth consecutive win at the SCG and 12th victory from their past 14 clashes against the Harbour City club.
Taylor Walker kicked five goals for the visitors, while Scott Thompson (31 possessions) and Rory Sloane (29) found plenty of the ball.
Lewis Jetta was brilliant for the Swans, picking up a career-high 27 disposals and kicking two goals - and he could have been the hero, but his snap with two minutes left bounced agonisingly wide.
Ryan O'Keefe (three goals), Jude Bolton (18 possessions, 13 tackles) and Josh Kennedy (26 possessions) were also good for the home side, which had its best start to a season since 1998 snapped.
The Swans lacked the cohesion that personified their outstanding start to the season in the early stages, regularly turning the ball over and at times getting in each other's way.
Three quick Adelaide goals in a five-minute span late in the first quarter broke the game open and they took a deserved 24-point lead into the first break in front of a stunned SCG crowd.
Walker was dominating Ted Richards, kicking two goals in the second quarter as the Crows jumped out to a 28-point lead, forcing Swans coach John Longmire to switch Alex Johnson onto the mulletted spearhead.
But the Swans turned the tide in 10 brilliant minutes late in the second quarter.
With Jetta pivotal, Goodes and Jack kicked two goals apiece, slashing the margin to just three points at the long break.
Five goals to three to the Swans in the third quarter put them in front heading into the final quarter, but it was Adelaide who did just enough to continue its excellent start to the season.
Sydney Swans 1.2 7.6 12.7 14.10 (94)
Adelaide 5.2 8.3 11.6 15.9 (99)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Goodes 5, O'Keefe 3, Jack, Jetta 2, Bolton, Kennedy
Adelaide: Walker 5, Callinan, Petrenko 3, Jaensch 2, McKernan, Tippett.
BEST
Sydney Swans: Goodes, Bolton, Grundy, Jetta, Kennedy, Parker
Adelaide: Walker, Dangerfield, Petrenko, Thompson, Smith, Callinan
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Goodes (leg)
Adelaide: TBA
SUBSTITUTES
Sydney Swans: Adam Goodes replaced by Andrejs Everitt in the fourth quarter.
Adelaide: Shaun McKernan replaced by Jarryd Lyons in the fourth quarter.
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Ryan, Meredith, McInerney
Official crowd: 23,969 at SCG.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the AFL or the clubs
