AFL Round 22 Adelaide vs. Western Bulldogs: All the news, fallout and analysis from the Crows’ 111-72 win

‘There is some positive stuff coming, it’s not far away’. Crows coach Matthew Nicks was pleased with what his young group was able to deliver on Sunday. Is it just the start?

Daniel Curtin of the Crows celebrates his first career goal

Fresh from upsetting the Western Bulldogs’ top-four chances, Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks quickly turned his attention to inflicting similar damage to Port Adelaide’s bid to claim a top-four finish.

The 15th-placed Crows bounced back from back-to-back losses to lead from start to finish at Adelaide Oval on Sunday to score a shock 39-point victory that halted the barnstorming Bulldogs’ run to the finals.

The result abruptly ended the Dogs’ run of wins at four, with Nicks intent on stopping the Power’s own four-game winning streak that has Ken Hinkley’s side sitting second on the ladder ahead of Saturday night’s Showdown.

Skippers Jordan Dawson and Marcus Bontempelli go head-to-head. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

“We’d really like to win next week because next week is that game that everyone looks forward to,” Nicks said.

“We get it twice a year and it’s a big one for us.

“We’re coming up against a team that are in really good nick, they’re setting themselves for finals and they’ll want to keep that momentum going, and we’ll be doing everything we can to keep our form.

“They’re so potent when they get their game going, we know that, so our challenge is to not allow that.

“And we’ve been able to do that the last few times, so I think we understand what’s needed.”

Adelaide has won the past three Showdowns to take a 28-27 lead in the storied local rivalry.

Nicks was delighted with the performance against the Dogs, with Darcy Fogarty kicking five goals in his 100th game milestone, Jordan Dawson influential around the ground, and Reilly O’Brien dominant in the ruck with 58 hitouts.

The Crows also clearly benefited from the inclusion of speedster Izak Rankine after serving his four-game suspension.

Dan Curtin booted two final-quarter goals. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

And Ben Keays had the home crowd of their seats, too. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos

“Some would say ‘What are we playing for?’ … we’re playing for each other,” Nicks said of his side’s motivation to finish an underwhelming season strongly.

“It’s disappointing not to be playing for finals, but we’re playing for each other so that in itself is a really positive sign.

“We were able to keep grinding, keep going, we’ve known we haven’t been that far away and tonight showed that … that first half was as good as it gets.

“It was brilliant and our members and supporters, who have stuck with us through a pretty tough season.

“Our guys brought their best so for us it shows that there is some positive stuff coming … it’s not far away.”

Taylor Walker was subbed out Sunday’s win in the third quarter with an eye injury after Tim English caught him high, but skipper Jordan Dawson was hopeful a trip to a specialist on Monday was just a precaution

“I think he’s okay, he’s seeing a specialist today... I’m not sure what that looks like but he was in pretty good spirits after the game, he obviously had a pretty bloodshot eye, it was a bit sore so I’m not too sure but hopefully he’s alright this week,” Dawson said on Monday.

“He’s seeing the specialist so there’s obviously a little bit of doubt but I think it might just be precautionary.”

Free-wheeling Crows shake up September with Dogs demolition

– Matt Turner

Adelaide returned to its freewheeling best in its 39-point home victory over the Western Bulldogs.

Last year, the Crows were the competition’s highest scoring side, averaging 13.9 goals per game.

Going into Sunday’s clash, they were ranked 13th for majors per match yet they finished with 17.9 (111) – their fourth-biggest score for the season.

Adelaide’s quarter-by-quarter tallies were: 5.2, 4.4, 5.1 and 3.2.

Matthew Nicks’s side kicked its fourth-highest first-term total of the year and its fifth-largest score (9.6) to halftime of 2024.

The Crows were rampant against the Bulldogs. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Fielding close to their best team and boosted by the return of the sparkplug Izak Rankine from a four-week suspension, Adelaide looked dangerous almost every time it went forward.

The Crows had fewer inside 50s than the visitors (59-43), but made them count.

While the Dogs wasted opportunities, kicking 1.4 then 3.6 across the opening two terms, and finishing with 9.18 for the match, Adelaide had five goals from their first eight inside 50s.

The hosts created havoc from the outset for an in-form Bulldogs defence, which had ranked second-best in the league for points against over the past five weeks, averaging 67 per game.

“It’s been a blistering start from the Crows,” Nick Dal Santo said on Fox Footy.

“Their energy in the front half is causing grief for the Dogs defenders.”

Adelaide took more marks inside 50 in the first half (11) than it had averaged across full games this year (10.7).

By the end of the match, the Crows had 18.

Darcy Fogarty (L) showed out in game 100. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

They booted four goals from kick-ins for only the second time in 10 years.

Adelaide was almost as damaging from centre bounces, booting six majors, its best return for five years.

Darcy Fogarty profited most from Adelaide’s dominance, kicking five goals in his 100th match.

Fogarty also had three score assists as the Crows’ forwards benefited from strong pressure up the field and slick ball use, not unlike last year when they narrowly missed the top eight.

“Their ball movement has been back to its best,” Mark Ricciuto said on Fox Footy.

“This has been one of their better performances for the year and no coincidence they’ve had their best side out on the park for the year.”

SCOREBOARD

CROWS 5.2 9.6 14.7 17.9 (111)

BULLDOGS 1.4 4.10 6.14 9.18 (72)

PHELAN’S BEST CROWS: Fogarty, Dawson, Keays, Sholl, Rankine, O’Brien, Crouch, Worrell, Bond. BULLDOGS: Bontempelli, Treloar, Liberatore, Bramble, Poulter, Darcy, McNeil.

GOALS CROWS: Fogarty 5, Keays 3, Thilthorpe 2, Rachele 2, Curtin 2, Walker, Rankine, Dawson. BULLDOGS: Bontempelli 2, Williams, Ugle-Hagan, Treloar, Richards, McNeil, English, Darcy.

INJURIES CROWS: Walker (eye). BULLDOGS: Nil.

UMPIRES Brown, Gavine, Haussen, Whetton

39,177 at ADELAIDE OVAL

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

JASON PHELAN’S VOTES

3 Fogarty (Adel)

2 Dawson (Adel)

1 Keays (Adel)

Originally published as AFL Round 22 Adelaide vs. Western Bulldogs: All the news, fallout and analysis from the Crows’ 111-72 win