Adelaide, the AFL's great escape artists, have once again demonstrated their knack for dramatic comebacks, overturning a deficit to defeat Melbourne by 17 points and climb to fifth on the ladder.
Match Summary
In a thrilling encounter at Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon, the Crows trailed for most of the match before booting the last two goals to secure a 11.13 (79) to 9.8 (62) victory. This marks Adelaide's fourth win by 17 points or less this season, allowing them to leapfrog the Demons into fifth place, while Melbourne slips to sixth.
Key Moments
Melbourne led at each quarter break by margins of eight, one, and two points respectively. However, Riley Thilthorpe kicked the Crows into the lead for good 22 minutes into the final term. Josh Rachele added his third major on the final siren, sealing the win and giving Adelaide a 9-5 win-loss record, matching that of the Demons.
Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson, though relatively quiet with 18 disposals, contributed two goals. Rachele finished with three goals from 17 touches, and Darcy Fogarty also booted two goals. Defenders Wayne Milera (27 disposals, one goal) and Rory Laird (26 possessions) were outstanding, while Sam Berry continued his breakout season with 24 touches, seven clearances, and eight score involvements.
Melbourne captain Max Gawn was superb with 28 disposals and 31 hitouts. Jacob van Rooyen kicked three goals in a first-term blitz. Kysaiah Pickett was restricted to 15 disposals by James Peatling and was pushed into attack in the final term. Jake Lever, playing his 200th AFL game against his former club, was a standout in defence. Teammates Jake Bowey (24 touches) and Daniel Turner (22) were also key ball-winners for the visitors.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
The Demons, sparked by van Rooyen, gained an early edge by kicking 5.0 to 3.4 in the opening term. Adelaide's Izak Rankine, returning from a two-game injury absence, set up two of the Crows' majors with classy passes. Adelaide kicked the only two goals of a tight second stanza, with Dawson's long-range conversion from 55 metres being a highlight. Melbourne's first-term accuracy deserted them in the second quarter, as they scored 0.6 to lead at half-time 5.6 to 5.5.
Each team scored three goals in a fiercely contested third quarter, with the Crows briefly taking the lead. However, double strikes from Melbourne's Kade Chandler gave the visitors a two-point buffer at three-quarter time, 8.8 to 8.6. In the final quarter, goalsneak Rachele took centre stage with two goals, punctuated by Thilthorpe's major, as the home side secured a hard-fought triumph.
Looking Ahead
Melbourne has a bye next weekend, while the Crows face home-town rivals Port Adelaide in what promises to be another intense clash.
