Crows move to 9-0 against bottom nine AFL sides with comeback win over Melbourne

For a while, it looked like the Demons were going to pull off an almighty upset against the Crows. Any other season, Adelaide may have wilted but, Matt Turner writes, these Crows are different.

Adelaide gets scrutinised for not beating enough top sides but there is something to be said for this version of the Crows taking care of business against the others.

In beating 14th-placed Melbourne at home on Sunday, the Crows are now 9-0 against

the bottom nine this year.

That is a big reason why they are on their way to a first finals appearance since 2017 – and possibly a top-four berth.

Their record had been inconsistent against the also-rans under Matthew Nicks before this season, so it was no surprise Adelaide had always finished among that group.

Sunday’s was the type of game the Crows might have lost in previous seasons.

They trailed by 28 points 12 minutes into the second term, had just seven disposals by the time the Demons had kicked their fifth goal that quarter, registered a mere 136 disposals (to Melbourne’s 215) to half-time and coughed up 72 uncontested marks over the first two terms.

But just as the Demons looked like they might be on their way to an upset, leading 43-15, Adelaide turned the screws.

Like it has against non-contenders all season.

Adelaide’s only losses in 2025 are to flag hopefuls Gold Coast, Geelong, Fremantle, Collingwood and Hawthorn.

The Crows had to get the job done on Sunday because the difference between a win and a loss was significant.

Victory propelled them to third spot on the ladder with seven matches remaining.

Defeat would have dropped them to sixth with the same record (10-6) as the ninth-placed Dockers.

Dan Curtin only had two disposals to half-time but the second led to something of a turning point – a dash down the wing and terrific delivery inside 50 to Izak Rankine.

Izak Rankine kicked five for the Crows. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

It was Rankine, who finished with five majors and highest-rated game of his career, who sparked Adelaide when it needed it during the middle part of the match.

Errant kicking inside 50 and terrific marking from Melbourne’s key defenders, led by Steven May, had been crucial to the Demons’ hot start.

Melbourne took 10 intercept marks in back half to the main break, when Adelaide led inside 50s 30-21.

Uncontested marks were 72-23 to that point.

Something the hosts clearly addressed because it was 31-48 in the second half in their favour.

Just as the Crows have jumped from 15th to finals-bound by going unbeaten against 10th to 18th, it has also turned Adelaide Oval into something of a fortress.

Nicks’s side is now 8-1 at the ground this season, the sole loss coming to the Cats in Gather Round.

Originally published as Crows move to 9-0 against bottom nine AFL sides with comeback win over Melbourne