It has seriously jeopardised Geelong’s top-four plans, and significantly it has again failed at this venue.
This was Geelong’s 14th loss from 17 matches at AAMI Stadium, and there is every chance the Cats will play their first final here against Port Adelaide.
But while few may have predicted this result, it was by no means a disgrace because the Crows played extremely well. In fact, they could have won by a far greater margin had they not kicked so poorly for goal.
Geelong’s performance was solid, and overall this was an absorbing and quality encounter before 37,576 fans.
Coinciding with Adelaide’s best form were brilliant individual performances by some of its “old” masters in Andrew McLeod, Simon Goodwin, and yet again Mark Ricciuto.
Geelong also had key players making an impact, including Cameron Ling, who bounced off a bruising bump that would have kept down many and battled on tenaciously.
The Cats worked hard, but obviously Adelaide did too. Ultimately, it was the pressure the Crows applied at almost every contest that seemed to surprise Geelong most.
The lead changed seven times in the opening quarter, when Geelong led by two points, 4.3 to 3.7, and as the scores suggest the Crows paid dearly for inaccuracy, missing three set shots and hitting the post.
However, the margin didn’t reflect the tenacity and skill by both sides, and Adelaide’s first quarter was one of its best this season. Highlights included the first goal of the match, a “freakish” snap from Geelong’s Gary Ablett, and a goal from Adelaide’s Ian Perrie with one of his rare kicks using his right boot.
There were also blemishes with Geelong paying dearly with a poor kick out, and the Crows failing to check closely.
Another poor kick-out by the Cats started a three-goal burst by the Crows early in the second term to lead by 16 points. Also hurting Geelong was a right elbow injury to David Wojcinski, forcing him to divert to the medical rooms.
Adelaide continued to be woeful kicking for goal and up to half-time had missed six set shots and hit the post twice from easy targets. This held its margin to 18 points at half-time, 8.13 to 6.7, and the Cats welcomed the opportunity to remain in touch.
Against the odds, Geelong persisted, and after creeping within three points moments before time-on in the third quarter went into the last trailing by 15. The intensity lifted even more, but the Crows continued to find answers to every Geelong challenge, including two inspiring goals from Scott Welsh.
Graham Johncock and, Tyson Stenglein and youngster Nathan Bock were also very good for Adelaide, while Tom Harley and Paul Koulouriotis produced admirable efforts for Geelong.
Adelaide’s repossessed spirit, and a return to its positive running style of play, was too much for the Cats to handle. They are shaken, and will be definitely stirred if they are back here come September.
Craig said he was pleased with the performance against a quality side, and was convinced Geelong would still do well in the finals.
“For us, on our home ground, there were some good signs with some senior players holding up but not having to do all of the work,” he said. “You can’t buy that experience…it was good for our guys.
“Kicking seven goals in the last quarter last week (against Richmond) gave us belief. To have 34 scoring shots today against Geelong was very good, and the players will take a lot out of that.
“It was a positive to have 10 individual goalkickers. We said during the week that you have always got to have talent – no doubt about that – and the big lesson that Malcolm Blight taught me was your champs can have bad days, so if you base your whole game plan around a champ you soon get into trouble. We were pleased to spread the work load around today.”
Geelong coach Mark Thompson said he wasn't happy with the way his team played. “In many ways we might have been due for a game like this,” he said. “It was disappointing of not being able to overcome that sort of difficulty of not winning interstate.
"Adelaide beat us in a lot of areas of the game. It's something we've prided ourselves on all year and Adelaide were better for a lot of the game today.
"I'm talking about the midfield getting their hands on the ball first and just the way they kicked goals from their entries and how we didn't kick goals, so their defenders were quite good.”
"The ball just came out of our forward line far too easily. It's been a real strength of ours. Gary Ablett and (Paul) Chapman and these guys have been laying lots of tackles but today it just wasn't the case.”
ADELAIDE: 3.7, 8.13, 12.14, 15.19 (109)
GEELONG: 4.3, 6.7, 10.11, 12.15 (87)
Goals: Adelaide:Edwards, Welsh, Perrie, Goodwin, Ladhams 2, McLeod, Burton, Biglands, Mattner. Ricciuto. Geelong: Kingsley, Ablett 3, Graham, Riccardi, Callan, Koulouriotis, Milburn, Hunt.
Best: Adelaide: Goodwin, Clarke, McLeod, Johncock, Bassett, Ricciuto, Burton. Geelong:Ling, Koulouriotis, Harley, Milburn, Ablett, Johnson.
Injuries: Adelaide: Reilly (ankle). Geelong:Wojcinski (suspected dislocated elbow).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Grun, Schmitt, Avon.
Crowd: 37,576
At AAMI Stadium
