AFL round 4: Adelaide Crows completely outclassed by Brisbane Lions
The Adelaide Crows’ horrific season has continued, with the wooden spoon favourites only able to muster two goals in the first half at Brisbane.
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The Adelaide Crows are currently sitting in bottom spot on the AFL ladder, and the struggling club seems destined to obtain the wooden spoon after another underwhelming performance.
The Crows could only muster two goals in the opening half of their clash against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba, eventually recording their fourth consecutive loss this season.
Adelaide can count themselves lucky the Lions didn’t execute more chances at goal — Brisbane only put away ten goals in their 33 scoring shots.
In comparison, the Crows had only nine inside 50s in the first half.
Although Adelaide showed considerable improvement in their defensive play to previous weeks, they were completely outclassed by the Lions on Sunday.
The Crows are setting the new bar for trash-tier football. I genuinely feel for their fans. https://t.co/APdVNOq0cp
— Alexander Grant (@AlexGrantOz) June 28, 2020
Crows' complete lack of any dynamism or willingness to try to move the ball quickly, obviously under instruction to "concentrate on defence", is going to result in extremely low scoring when it works or getting utterly thrashed when it doesn't #AFLLionsCrows
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) June 28, 2020
There is no way Adelaide are entitled to be this bad... Crouch, Smith, Laird, Lynch, Brown, Sloane, Walker, Kelly, Doedee, Talia... still a lot of guys that played above average AFL footy recently, yet anti-competitive and getting waxed repeatedly #AFLLionsCrows
— Corbin Middlemas (@CorbinMiddlemas) June 28, 2020
Brisbane lead the inside 50s by 36-9 😬 If they’re hungry, this could get ugly (uglier) for the Crows.
— Michael Whiting (@MichaelWhiting) June 28, 2020
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Lachie Neale (0.5) and Hugh McLuggage (1.5) managed 10 behinds between them to offset an inside-50 count more than double that of their rivals.
Brisbane captain Dayne Zorko was ruled out at halftime with a calf injury, ending his match. Zorko missed last week’s defeat of West Coast with a similar injury, and his return was short-lived, limping off to have his calf strapped as halftime loomed.
Rival skipper Rory Sloane looked to roll his ankle but completed the game, while second-gamer Will Hamill was a casualty with concussion and emerging forward Darcy Fogarty was a late scratching after hurting his shoulder at training.
During the main break, Brisbane led 7.10 (52) to 2.0 (12). However, Crows star Taylor Walker scored two consecutive goals after the main break to keep Adelaide’s hopes of a comeback alive.
The Crows would go on to put away another two goals in the third quarter, reducing the deficit to only 18 points.
“This is a different Adelaide team after halftime,” Fox Footy commentator Dwayne Russell said.
Credit to Crows there. Down 40 after back to back floggings and they taught Brisbane a lesson that quarter. Wanna see how Brisbane respond here. That was a rubbish effort in the third.
— Michael Whiting (@MichaelWhiting) June 28, 2020
Despite the valiant fightback, the Lions showed their class in the final 16 minutes, scoring three more goals to secure their third consecutive AFL victory. Brisbane small forward Charlie Cameron also executed an early contender for mark of the year.
As the final siren sounded, the scoreline read Lions 10.23 (83) to Crows 7.4 (46). The 8312-strong crowd rose to their feet and applauded the hosts after completing the comprehensive victory.
Record hidings have been followed by near-record lows for Adelaide, but all Brisbane coach Chris Fagan sees is a team full of class with a point to prove.
The Crows narrowly avoided their smallest AFL score in a Gold Coast drubbing last weekend, which followed their biggest Showdown loss a week earlier. Former captain and strike forward Taylor Walker narrowly avoided the axe to face the Lions but All-Australian teammate Matt Crouch wasn’t so lucky as coach Matthew Nicks searched for a response from his side.
The winless Crows were at long odds to open their account this weekend, but Fagan was cautious of their experienced squad.
“GWS were struggling weren’t they? And they came out and beat Collingwood,” Fagan said on Saturday.
“I look at Adelaide and I see a team full of All-Australian and best and fairest winners.
“Those guys are well-credentialed players, they’re obviously struggling a bit with their form but our expectation is that we’re going to play a really strong, committed Adelaide team.”
Sunday’s victory moves Brisbane (3-1) to equal second on the ladder behind the unbeaten Port Adelaide, who are relishing their Gold Coast hub experience.
— With AAP