Adelaide consigned to finals spectators after falling to 34-point loss against Western Bulldogs

A season which promised so much ended with another disappointing loss on Sunday for Adelaide as the Crows crashed to a 34-point defeat against the finals-bound Western Bulldogs.

Marcus Bontempelli had another day out against the Crows. Picture: AAP Image/Scott Barbour.

What was supposed to be a season of redemption, finished with a whimper after Adelaide sustained a 34-point loss to the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat in its final minor round match on Sunday.

During the week there was talk of calculators and percentage equations, but Adelaide went into the game with its finals chances effectively killed off by Hawthorn’s upset of West Coast the night before — and the Crows performed in stretches like a team with little to play for.

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Conversely, the Bulldogs knew a win would give them a top-eight spot and they attacked the contest with finals-like intensity Adelaide could not match — and have struggled to several times in the back half of the season.

There were bad signs for Adelaide from the first bounce when the Bulldogs won the clearance and kicking the opening goal in just 40 seconds to Bailey Dale.

It was the first of six consecutive majors to start the term.

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The Bulldogs’ pressure was relentless and their trademark quick handballing ensured they found players in space and were able to swarm forward and pile on inside 50s, while the Crows never really got going.

HOW IT HAPPENED: DISAPPOINTING CROWS BOW OUT

FINALS FIXTURE: HOW WILL WEEK ONE LOOK?

Adelaide was scoreless until the 28th minute when youngster Chayce Jones kicked a goal.

The Crows’ poor showing continued during the second term as the Bulldogs kicked the first two goals within six minutes — the second from an errant Luke Brown kick-in that hit Patrick Lipinski on the chest.

Brown’s kick was indicative of Adelaide’s day.

A very reliable player making an uncharacteristic and costly error — just like when a Wayne Milera turnover led to a goal deep in defence in the third term — while every Bulldogs miskick and tap-on to keep the ball moving seemed to land with a teammate.

After three majors apiece in the second term, it was six to three to the hosts in the third term and then looked like it might get really ugly during the fourth.

It never did, as the Crows fought it out to the end, but they were clearly second-best and the margin flattered them.

Save for an off-balance Brodie Smith checkside from the boundary line midway through the final quarter, there were few Adelaide highlights in the second half.

Matt Crouch finished with a whopping 47 touches and co-captain Taylor Walker slotted five goals but too many Crows players had minimal impact.

And Adelaide could not contain Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae or Bailey Dale.

The loss was the Crows’ seventh defeat from their past nine matches and third in a row.

For the Western Bulldogs, it was the ideal tune-up for the elimination final next week.

Western Bulldogs captain Easton Wood hugs retiring Adelaide champion Richard Douglas. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

FOND FAREWELLS

Just how many of the players who featured for Adelaide had their swan songs for the club?

Richard Douglas will definitely be one after the club’s announcement this week that he will not be getting a contract for 2020, while travelling emergency Andy Otten has retired.

But what about fan favourite Eddie Betts and evergreen ruckman Sam Jacobs, David Mackay and Alex Keath, Hugh Greenwood, Jake Kelly and Riley Knight?

All bar Betts are unsigned and Jacobs, Keath and Greenwood in particular have been linked to rival clubs.

There has also been speculation that Betts may depart, although he has hosed down those rumours.

Regardless, there is likely to be a very different looking Crows outfit to take to the field in round one next season.

Chayce Jones crashes a pack during Sunday’s clash in Ballarat. Picture: Michael Klein.

YOUTH MOVEMENT

Second-year forward Darcy Fogarty started well, plucking a couple of nice pack marks, but it was eighth-game small forward Chayce Jones who tried to give the Crows a spark in attack.

He kicked Adelaide’s first major with a neat set-shot finish from the pocket, then bobbed up again with a floating mark in the goalsquare and kicked truly.

Jones almost slotted a third when he hit the post from long range.

He continued to show some nice signs and had a stint in the midfield when the margin blew out.

There have been plenty of people calling for more opportunities for Fogarty but Jones also looms as a player who will get more opportunities and be one to watch in 2020.

TACKLES INSIDE 50

It is an area that has haunted the Crows several times this season and has reared its head again.

Adelaide finished with just two tackles inside 50, compared to 13 from the Bulldogs.

While the hosts were able to lock the ball in close to goals with their relentless pressure, the Crows could not stop the Bulldogs from launching attacking thrusts from its backline with ease.

Adelaide has made personnel changes at times this season in an attempt to address this issue but it is something it will need to look at again going into the 2020 campaign.

Marcus Bontempelli had another day out against the Crows. Picture: AAP Image/Scott Barbour.

BROWNLOW BONT?

Marcus Bontempelli did his Brownlow Medal chances no harm with a dominant midfield performance for the Bulldogs.

He was a catalyst for hosts’ impressive start and continued to set up forward forays for his side.

The midfielder finished with 31 disposals, 10 tackles and a goal, as the Crows struggled to contain him and Jack Macrae (36 disposals) particularly.

SCOREBOARD

Western Bulldogs 6.5 9.8 14.11 18.13 (121)

Adelaide 2.0 5.4 8.6 13.9 (87)

BEST — Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Macrae, Johannisen, Dale, Dunkley, Suckling, Smith,

Crows: M. Crouch, Smith, Laird, Jones, Walker, Sloane.

GOALS — Bulldogs: Dale 5, Schache, Lipinski, McLean, Lloyd 2; Naughton, Bontempelli, Macrae, English, West.

Crows: Walker 5, Knight, Jones, Lynch 2; M. Crouch, Smith.

INJURIES — Bulldogs: Nil

Adelaide: Keath (knee)

CROWD — 9560 at Mars Stadium, Ballarat

Originally published as Adelaide consigned to finals spectators after falling to 34-point loss against Western Bulldogs