Adelaide Crows add to Melbourne's misery with 68-point win at AAMI Stadium

SCOTT Thompson turned back the clock and Lewis Johnston put on a last-quarter clinic as Adelaide ended its AAMI Stadium chapter as it began.

SCOTT Thompson turned back the clock and Lewis Johnston put on a last-quarter clinic as Adelaide ended its AAMI Stadium chapter as it began - with a big win.

Twenty-three years after hammering Hawthorn by 86 points in their first game at the West Lakes venue, the Crows smashed Melbourne by 68 points in a fitting finale to the ground.

Veteran midfielder Thompson - out of contract and facing questions over his future - saved his best until last this season, producing a dazzling first-half performance to guarantee Adelaide farewelled the stadium in style.

Best pics from the Crows' farewell game

Thompson had a remarkable 22 disposals in the opening half to ignite the Crows after a less-than-inspiring start to its 280th and final match at the West Lakes venue.

The 30-year-old sparked a devastating four-goal burst in four minutes early in the second term which blew the game wide open after the tough-tackling Demons had threatened to spoil the party, battling their way to an eight-point lead.

The Crows kicked clear with a six-goal second term and added seven in the final term as Melbourne wilted.

In a promising sign, key forward Johnston kicked a career-best six goals, including four in the last quarter, as the match ended with the crowd of 34,653 celebrating with a Mexican wave.

History repeats in AAMI farewell

After briefly threatening the disposals record by a Crow at AAMI - held jointly by former captains Chris McDermott and Mark Bickley, with 44 in 1993 -  Thompson finished with a game-high 33 possessions, including 18 contested, and seven marks.

Dean Terlich

He was so effective that Melbourne coach Neil Craig had young gun Jack Viney sacrifice his own game to run with Thompson in the second half.

FULL SUPERCOACH POINTS, STATS AND MORE

Significantly the Crows’ dual club champion used the ball with outstanding efficiency when it counted, going at 100 per cent by foot and 91 per cent overall in the first half.

Thompson also had nine clearances, seven tackles, four inside-50s and a goal in a matchwinning cameo which ensured Adelaide ended its 23-year stay at AAMI on a successful note.

The Crows’ record at AAMI finished at 180 wins, 100 losses and no draws.

While Thompson, who has struggled physically and for form this year, showed he has at least another year of AFL left in him, a handful of Adelaide kids continued to take strides forward in their development.

Johnston kicked six majors in just his seventh AFL game, giving him 12 in six matches for the club.

First-year midfielder Brad Crouch was terrific with 31 disposals, Rising Star nominees Sam Kerridge (23) and Rory Laird (22) won plenty of the ball and four-game on-baller Mitch Grigg looked the goods with 21 touches and a long goal.

Defender Kyle Hartigan (19 disposals and nine marks) also did not look out of place in his second AFL game.

Rory Sloane, Luke Brown and Richard Douglas (two goals) also were effective while late call-up Richard Tambling did his chances of staying on the list no harm, gathering 25 touches.

The Crows, who will miss the finals just a year after finishing within a kick of a grand final, never hit peak form yesterday.

But class prevailed against the competition’s second-bottom team, coached by Adelaide’s longest-serving coach Craig.

While Melbourne fielded one of its better teams on paper and laid an impressive 69 tackles, it struggled to get the ball inside 50.

Rory Sloane

The Dees - well served by Lynden Dunn and Croweater Jimmy Toumpas - went into their attacking zone just 34 times compared to the Crows’ 54.

They were hurt by the loss of former Port Adelaide midfielder David Rodan 20 minutes into the game after he was subbed out with an ankle injury.

Neil Craig

But Adelaide was dealt an even bigger blow, losing its leading goalkicker Tom Lynch before the game with a foot injury.

He was replaced by Tambling.

With Lynch joining Adelaide’s other key focal points Taylor Walker (knee) and Josh Jenkins (ankle) on the sidelines, the Crows struggled to find a direct avenue to goal early.

But Johnston found space in the second half, particularly the last quarter, as the floodgates opened for the home side.

Adelaide will play its last game of the season against West Coast in Perth on Saturday night.

Dean Terlich

ADELAIDE 1.2 7.4 11.8 18.12 (120)
MELBOURNE 2.3 4.5 5.9 7.10 (52)

BEST
Adelaide: S. Thompson, Crouch, Johnston, Sloane, Laird, Jacobs, Grigg, Otten.
Melbourne: Jones, Dunn, Grimes, Toumpas, Watts.

GOALS
Adelaide: Johnston 6; Callinan, Douglas 2; Dangerfield, Grigg, Jacobs, Kerridge, Otten, Talia, S. Thompson, van Berlo.
Melbourne: Howe, Sylvia, Watts 2; Tapscott.

INJURIES
Adelaide: Talia (back), Lynch (foot, replaced by Tambing). Melbourne: Rodan (left ankle).

Umpires: C. Fleer, S. Hay, J. Armstrong.
Crowd: 34,653 at AAMI Stadium.