AFL round 9: Adelaide Crows record 12th consecutive loss after North Melbourne goalfest
The Adelaide Crows will go an entire year without singing the team song after recording their 12th consecutive AFL loss on Saturday.
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Nine rounds, nine defeats.
The Adelaide Crows have recorded their 12th consecutive loss in the AFL after the struggling club were thumped by North Melbourne 19.5 (119) to 7.8 (50) at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.
The loss means Adelaide will go more than 12 months without singing the team song — their most recent victory came against St Kilda on August 3rd last year.
Adelaide were unable to muster a goal in the opening quarter, with the Kangaroos racing to an early lead on the Gold Coast.
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Despite a brief resurgence late in the third quarter, North Melbourne steamed ahead in the final 16 minutes, recording the highest team score of the season to date.
“The Crows are starting to look dispirited and deflated,” Collingwood president Eddie McGuire told Fox Footy.
Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall added: “There’s no doubt the alarm bells are going off in the Adelaide coaches box.
“It’s giving all the indications this is going to turn into a rout.
“The Crows are incredibly reactive, but North are playing proactive footy now.”
Speaking to AFL Nation, St Kilda great Nick Dal Santo argued: “This is not AFL level from the Crows. their inability to stop the opposition is unbelievable.”
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Having suffered six consecutive losses before Saturday’s match, the Kangaroos will take some confidence after booting 19 majors in the one-sided encounter.
But there weren’t any silver linings for Adelaide, who were slammed on social media after the hapless performance. Fox Footy reporter Tom Morris tweeted: “North Melbourne, which entered today with just two wins, now has the highest game score for the year … with 7 mins to play. Crows in a world of pain.”
Sports broadcaster Shane McInnes bluntly posted: “The Crows shouldn’t be allowed back into South Australia.”
AFL Media reporter Lee Gaskin tweeted: “At least there’s a week before I have to watch the Crows again.”
Sports journalist Jack Hudson wrote: “There has been absolutely nothing ‘brave’ about this performance from the Crows. This was their best chance to win after so many good things last week.
“No forward line, a slow midfield and no creativity. A really sad sight.”
Former Australian footballer Rob Cornthwaite tweeted: “The Crows look so slow and so lethargic? Where do they go from here?”
Sports presenter Peter Hooley posted: “Gotta love being a Crows fan. Waited all year to play the second last team and hope we get on the board. And then this is produced.”
AAP sports journalist Ed Jackson wrote: “North are having a great day out but this has been truly dire by Adelaide. Just far too easy for the Kangaroos.”
The Advertiser reporter Matt Turner tweeted: “That’s a new low for Adelaide.
“Lot of people would’ve given them a big chance today, given the Crows’ effort last week and North’s poor form.
“Missing leaders like Sloane, Doedee & Walker & had a lot of inexperience out there, but most of that was horrible.”
Kangaroos were seriously out of form, and they are belting Adelaide.
— Warren Tredrea (@warrentredrea) August 1, 2020
Crows smashed inside and outside the contest. 🤮
I'm glad Crows fans can get to the pub, they'll need it. #AFLNorthCrows
— Titus O'Reily (@TitusOReily) August 1, 2020
69-point loss to 17th. Ponder that for a second #AFLNorthCrows
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) August 1, 2020
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Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks felt obliged to apologise after the embarrassing defeat.
“We took a big step backwards as a group… I’m sorry to our supporters for the performance. It was nowhere near the level. We’re playing AFL football,” Nicks told reporters.
“A lot of players were off today. A lot of players struggled to get themselves into the game.”
North Melbourne young gun Cameron Zurhaar scored a match-high three goals, while defender Luke McDonald mustered 35 disposals.
After registering their third win of 2020, the Kangaroos jump up to 14th spot on the AFL ladder. Their next fixture is against the Geelong Cats at the Gabba on Wednesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the Crows will be hoping to attain their first win of the season when they travel to Adelaide Oval and face the Melbourne Demons on Wednesday evening.
Originally published as AFL round 9: Adelaide Crows record 12th consecutive loss after North Melbourne goalfest