‘This is insane’: Adelaide Crows rattle Geelong Cats in thrilling upset

We’re only 48 hours into the 2021 AFL premiership, but footy fans may have already witnessed the biggest upset of the year.

Taylor Walker of the Crows celebrates another goal.

We’re only 48 hours into the 2021 AFL premiership, but footy fans may have already witnessed the biggest upset of the year.

The Adelaide Crows have secured a shock victory over the Geelong Cats at Adelaide Oval, winning their season opener 15.13 (103) to 13.13 (91).

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The Crows registered 13 consecutive defeats last season to ultimately receive the dreaded wooden spoon, but showed plenty of promising signs towards the end of the year.

However, nobody would have expected Rory Sloane’s young side to topple last year’s grand finalists in round one.

As revealed by Fox Sports reporter Max Laughton, the Crows are the first wooden spooners to defeat a previous year’s grand finalist in round one since 1971.

This is insane @Adelaide_FC#AFLCrowsCats 👌

— Tim Verrall (@timverrall) March 20, 2021

What the hell? #AFLCrowsCats

— Jack Hudson (@jhudson_10) March 20, 2021

Outside the two premierships, that’s the best Crows win ever #AFLCrowsCats

— John Hunt (@JohnHunt1992) March 20, 2021

Gotta love footy !!! How good - M Nicks.....I’m telling ya!!

— David King (@davidking34) March 20, 2021

Adelaide raced off the blocks, winning the first six clearances and kicking the opening goal.

But the Crows accelerated in the second term, booting four consecutive goals to baffle their powerhouse opponent.

At one stage in the third quarter, the Crows were leading 43 points, but the Cats kicked four unanswered goals to stay in the contest.

The margin was reduced to just 19 points at three-quarter time, setting up a thrilling final term.

But Adelaide held their nerve to claim a remarkable 12-point victory, the home crowd erupting when the final siren sounded.

Taylor Walker kicked five goals.

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Adelaide veteran Taylor Walker wound back the clock on Saturday afternoon, putting on a masterclass performance in the forward line.

The 30-year-old booted five goals and two behinds against Geelong, also contributing 18 disposals and seven marks.

Rory Laird was another standout performer for the Crows, managing a game-high 27 disposals, six tackles and two behinds.

Meanwhile, Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield faces a nervous wait from the Match Review Officer following an “ugly” incident with Crows defender Jake Kelly.

The 30-year-old Dangerfield mustered 26 disposals — which featured eight inside 50s — while Cats full-forward Tom Hawkins kicked two goals.

Adelaide will next take on the Sydney Swans at the SCG on Saturday, March 27th.

Originally published as ‘This is insane’: Adelaide Crows rattle Geelong Cats in thrilling upset