AFL Round 22 Brisbane v Adelaide: All the news, action and fallout as Crows finals chances hang by a thread
With the Lions wobbling, Adelaide almost pulled off a remarkable come-from-behind victory. Instead, the Crows’ finals destiny is out of their hands. Here’s what the Gabba result means.
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Brisbane took a step closer to snaring a top-two berth and dealt Adelaide’s finals ambitions a major blow at the Gabba on Saturday, milestone man Hugh McCluggage starring in a heart-stopping six-point thriller.
The brave Crows kept coming at their more-fancied opponents, but Chris Fagan’s men held on to make it 10 wins at the Gabba this season and remain undefeated at home.
The visitors trailed by 22 points early in the final term, but slashed that margin to just six points with just under three minutes remaining.
The last minute of the pulsating contest played out in the Crows’ front half, but Joe Daniher took a clutch mark in the dying seconds to seal the win that improves his side’s record to 15-6.
Adelaide kept the pressure on all the way, but couldn’t add to their sole win outside South Australia this season, the club’s eighth interstate loss dropping its win-loss record to 10-11.
With McCluggage dominating through the middle in his 150th game, Charlie Cameron was front and centre in attack in a pivotal third-quarter surge by the Lions.
Kept goalless by Max Michalanney in the first half, King Charles booted three goals for the term and was involved in others.
The visitors looked wobbly as Brisbane piled on four unanswered goals, but did well to limit the damage to a 16-point deficit at the last change and set up the thrilling finale.
600 up for Tex
Taylor Walker equalled his best season tally of 63 goals with two in last week’s home win against Gold Coast and added another two to set a new career benchmark at the age of 33.
The star veteran passed another impressive milestone with his first goal of the match his 600th career major.
The club’s all-time leading goalkicker, Tony Modra is second with 440, was matched up against 205cm ruckman Oscar McInerney at a boundary throw-in in a forward pocket in the first quarter.
Walker led his opponent to the ball, took possession, and split the middle with a sublime snap on the run.
It put the switched-on visitors 18 points up, but McCluggage helped shake the Lions from their early lethargy with back-to-back goals spurring the home side to a three-point lead at the first break.
600 career goals for Tex! ðŸ‘
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) August 12, 2023
What an achievement!
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Gunston goes down
Fans had their hearts in their mouths at the sight of Jack Gunston going down in a strong tackle by Luke Nankervis in the second quarter.
The three-time Hawthorn premiership star, who started his decorated career with 14 games for the Crows, got his left leg caught under his opponent.
Nankervis’ full weight caused Gunston’s knee to buckle, the 31-year-old crumpling to the turf in agony.
Gunston was able to limp from the ground and appeared on the bench with his knee strapped, but was subbed out during the break.
Zac Bailey, Lachie Neale and McCluggage led the charge for the home side in an engrossing second term, but Adelaide’s inexperienced back line was able to hold firm in the face of Brisbane’s renewed intensity.
The Crows led by a point at half-time after a 50m penalty put Luke Pedlar on the goal line with just over a minute left in the half.
Finals formula
With two games remaining in the home-and-away season, Brisbane will take on Collingwood at Marvel Stadium on Friday night then host St Kilda at the Gabba in round 24 for a crack at a top-two finish.
The Crows must now defeat Sydney at Adelaide Oval, then West Coast in Perth, and hope other results go their way to play finals for the first time under Matthew Nicks.
Scoreboard
LIONS 4.4 7.6 14.8 15.9 (99)
CROWS 4.1 7.7 11.10 13.15 (93)
PHELAN’S BEST LIONS: McCluggage, Neale, Cameron, Zorko, Andrews, Bailey, McCarthy, Daniher. CROWS: Laird, Milera, Crouch, McAdam, Keays, Walker, Dawson, Keane.
GOALS LIONS: Cameron 3, Bailey 2, McCarthy 2, McCluggage 2, Wilmot, Rayner, Hipwood, Daniher, Andrews, Robertson. CROWS: McAdam 4, Walker 2, Pedlar 2, Keays 2, Rachele, Schoenberg, Thilthorpe.
INJURIES LIONS: Gunston (knee). CROWS: Nil.
UMPIRES Foot, Deboy, Toner, Broadbent.
THE GABBA
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
JASON PHELAN’S VOTES
3 McCluggage (Bris)
2 Laird (Adel)
1 Neale (Bris)
Originally published as AFL Round 22 Brisbane v Adelaide: All the news, action and fallout as Crows finals chances hang by a thread
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