AFL round 11 Adelaide v West Coast: All the news, fallout and analysis from the Crows’ 66-point win

It was a case of no Tex, no worries for the Crows in the second half, pouring on the goals at home to move into the top four after a spirited first half from West Coast at Adelaide Oval.

Josh Rachele starred in a big win for the Crows. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Another Jordan Dawson masterclass and five goals to Josh Rachele inspired Adelaide on Sunday, the Crows overcoming a tricky breeze and a dogged first-half challenge from West Coast to move into the top four with a commanding 66-point win.

Matthew Nicks’ men led by 17 points at half-time at Adelaide Oval, but shook off the energetic Eagles with a seven-goals-to-one third quarter that set up the percentage-boosting result that improves their record to 7-4.

Dawson was outstanding throughout, finishing with a game-high 27 possessions, the skipper also laying nine tackles, winning eight clearances, and going inside 50 11 times.

With Taylor Walker (managed) a late out, Rachele led a potent attack that had 11 goalkickers with a game-high five majors.

The clash ended in spiteful fashion when Liam Baker took James Peatling high with just over two minutes remaining.

The former Tiger gave Peatling something to go on with while he had him pinned on the ground, which led to a heated push and shove.

NO EASY KILL

Adelaide fans eager to watch an easy kill against the last-placed Eagles were disappointed for much of the first half.

Coming off a drought-breaking first win of the season, West Coast took the fight up to the home side, exerting stifling pressure that forced costly turnovers, with the Eagles’ first two goals coming from Crows’ errors.

Jordan Dawson fired again at home. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

But while Adelaide’s ball movement sputtered early, its intercept marking game was humming, Mark Keane with three of his side’s eight intercept marks in the first quarter.

Adelaide led by a goal at the first break, and had to withstand a second-quarter onslaught.

At one stage, Andrew McQualter’s men led the inside 50 count 16-5 for the term, but couldn’t quite manage to get their noses in front.

EAT GRASS!

The wind was so strong in Rachele’s face as he lined up for goal late in the second quarter that the blades of grass he threw up in the air, Matthew Lloyd-style, appeared to get blown right back into his mouth.

The setback didn’t bother him too much, the young star absolutely flushing his kick from just outside 50 to make it back-to-back goals after Reilly O’Brien had drifted forward to mark strongly and boot a rare major in a strong performance by the ruckman.

Riley Thilthorpe was causing issues for the Eagles’ defenders and when he was impeded soon after, Adelaide booted three goals in a row to set up a 17-point lead at halftime.

SWIRLY STRUGGLES

“If anyone can kick the ball straight in this wind, it’s Darcy Fogarty,” Dwayne Russell said as the big Crow lined up a set shot from 25m out early in the third quarter.

Sure enough, Fogarty’s awkward-looking shot barely wobbled through for a behind.

It was an excellent indication of just how tricky the conditions were for both sides.

It made for a tough watch at times, but Izak Rankine’s goal from close range 11 minutes into the third term sparked the feeding frenzy the home fans had come to see.

Concerns for Jake Waterman as he exits the field of play with a suspected dislocation.

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WATERMAN WINGED

A tough second half for the visitors got worse when Jake Waterman suffered a serious shoulder injury midway through the final term.

The West Coast forward was competing for a mark when Josh Worrell crashed the pack to clear the danger.

Unfortunately for Waterman, his right shoulder was dislocated in the fierce collision.

SCOREBOARD

CROWS 4.2 8.5 15.12 19.14 (128)

EAGLES 3.2 5.6 6.9 8.14 (62)

PHELAN’S BEST CROWS: Dawson, O’Brien, Rachele, Berry, Rankine, Keane, Worrell, Thilthorpe. EAGLES: Graham, Reid, Waterman, Brock, Duggan, Brockman.

GOALS CROWS: Rachele 5, Thilthorpe 2, Pedlar 2, Dawson 2, Peatling 2, Rankine, O’Brien, Neal-Bullen, Keays, Fogarty, Berry. EAGLES: Waterman 3, Allen 2, Reid, Hough, Brockman.

INJURIES CROWS: Walker (managed – late withdrawal). EAGLES: Waterman (dislocated shoulder).

UMPIRES Adair, Deboy, Haussen, McGinness

39,271 at ADELAIDE OVAL

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

JASON PHELAN’S VOTES

3 Dawson (Adel)

2 O’Brien (Adel)

1 Rachele (Adel)

Originally published as AFL round 11 Adelaide v West Coast: All the news, fallout and analysis from the Crows’ 66-point win