Adelaide Crows deliver crushing blow to Geelong Cats, now one step away from ending premiership drought

ADELAIDE is back in the AFL’s “Big Dance’’ for the first time since winning consecutive flags in 1997-98 after crushing Geelong by 61 points.

• Analysis: Is Crows flag now a formality?
• Colour: A night to remember for Adelaide fans
• Coach’s verdict: Pyke says ‘we can still improve’
• Match ratings: Who were Adelaide’s key players?
• SuperFooty: All the latest on Richmond vs the Giants

IT has been 19 years in the making.

Adelaide is back in the AFL’s “Big Dance’’ for the first time since winning consecutive flags in 1997-98 after spectacularly steamrolling Patrick Dangerfield’s Geelong at Adelaide Oval last night.

The resilient, spirited Crows, who have overcame a series of tragedies in the past seven years to win their second McClelland Trophy as AFL minor premier, are now just one win from a third premiership — a triumph that would be one of sports great stories.

Adelaide last night buried the ghosts of four consecutive preliminary final losses with one of their greatest finals victories, winning by 61 points, to set up a grand final showdown against either Richmond or Greater Western Sydney at the MCG on Saturday.

It played with such intent and fanaticism that it simply didn’t give hardened finals combatant Geelong a chance.

In front of a record AFL crowd at Adelaide Oval of 53,817, the Crows bullied the Cats early, kicking two goals in the opening two minutes and racing to an eight-goal lead six minutes into the second quarter. They played tough, aggressive finals-type football while still moving the ball with lightning speed and precision to kick 21 goals, including 18 from turnovers.

Adelaide’s much-maligned midfield — said to be short of star quality — stood up on the big stage with first-time All-Australian Matt Crouch, who had the taller Mark Blicavs as an opponent, his older brother Brad, vice-captain Rory Sloane and wingman Rory Atkins shining.

Charlie Cameron celebrates one of his five goals with Crows teammate Eddie Betts. Picture: AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy

Speedster Charlie Cameron played the game of his life to kick a career-best five goals while Rory Laird was brilliant across half-back with 32 disposals, making up for the loss of injured sidekick Brodie Smith. “Connector’’ forward Tom Lynch was impressive early with two goals and 20 disposals and former Magpie Paul Seedsman — in just his fourth game for the season — produced his best performance in the Crows’ tri-colours.

Geelong again relied heavily on the Dangerfield-Joel Selwood combination, with the pair combining for 58 possessions and three goals while fellow midfielders Seven Motlop and Mitch Duncan battled hard.

Crows v Cats: Preliminary final in pictures

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In a tactical ploy, Adelaide adopted the same strong “stare-down’’ stance during the pre-game national anthem that it used in the qualifying final against GWS.

And — just like it did against the Giants — Don Pyke’s side hit the ground running.

With Dangerfield shocking no-one by starting at full forward a week after he terrorised the Sydney defence, the Crows settled the early nerves by getting off to a dream start.

They had two goals on the board in the blink of an eye.

A brilliant smother from Richard Douglas on Cats defender Harry Taylor close to goal saw Cameron sweep on the loose ball and kick truly. And when Geelong ruckman Zac Smith thumped a hit-out straight down Betts’ throat the pocket rocket split the uprights with his left foot as the home side quickly made a statement that its long wait to play in a third grand final was over.

Dangerfield — marked by Kyle Hartigan — brought jeers from his former home crowd when he marked strongly close to goal but he missed his set shot from 35m.

Sam Jacobs and Tom Lynch embrace after the win. Picture: Sarah Reed

Nakia Cockatoo, who was a controversial selection after playing just 65 minutes in 13 weeks because of hamstring injuries, nailed the Cats’ first major when he caught Luke Brown holding the ball.

But it only brief respite for the visitors.

The Crows were insatiable in their attack on the body and ball and after ruckman Sam Jacobs marked inside 50 and goal, Lynch stamped his imprint on the game in a big way.

A goal from a mark from 50m was followed by a snap that bounced through as Adelaide raced to a four-goal lead.

Betts then produced a trademark party trick.

Earning a free kick after forcing Taylor into a deliberate out-of-bounds infringement, Betts snapped the ball high around his body from 40m just inside the goalpost as his team took a stranglehold on the match. Adelaide blew the game wide open when it kicked three goals, including two to Seedsman, in the opening six minutes of the second quarter to surge to a game-high 48-point lead.

Geelong huffed and puffed to stop the bleeding and with Dangerfield hitting the scoreboard and star sidekick Joel Selwood starting to have an influence it kicked four of the next five goals to draw to within 26 points. But then came the turning point that ended the Cats’ resistance. Dangerfield was hit high by great mate Sloane in a ground-ball contest close to goal but the umpire did not pay the free kick, the Crows rebounded and Andy Otten marked on the goal-line.

It was game over!

ADELAIDE 6.3 11.7 14.10 21.10 (136)

GEELONG 1.2 5.8 8.11 10.15 (75)

BEST — Adelaide: Cameron, Laird, M. Crouch, B. Crouch, Lynch, Atkins, Seedsman, Sloane.

Geelong: J. Selwood, Motlop, Dangerfield, Duncan, Lonergan.

GOALS — Adelaide: Cameron 5, Jenkins 4, Betts, Lynch, Seedsman, Walker 2, M. Crouch, Jacobs, Otten, Knight.

Geelong: Dangerfield 2, Duncan, Hawkins, Motlop, J. Selwood, Henderson, Cockatoo, Lang, Menegola.

INJURIES — Geelong: S. Selwood (hamstring).

UMPIRES — B. Rosebury, M. Stevic, J. Schmitt.

CROWD — 53,817 at Adelaide Oval.