Riley Thilthorpe leads Adelaide Crows to important finals-shaping win of the Bulldogs in AFL Round 18

There were question marks around the September legitimacy of both the Bulldogs and Crows leading into the finals-shaping clash – and one side answered them emphatically on Saturday

Tyler Lewis

@tmlew_

4 min read

July 12, 2025 - 6:58PM

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It’s a sense of déjà vu for ‘Bevo’s’ Bulldogs.

Western Bulldogs are again at risk of missing out on the top four and its attached double chance after failing against another contender on Saturday.

In a match destined to disperse congestion inside the eight, it was Adelaide which rose to the occasion.

The Crows played to the Marvel Stadium conditions perfectly – beating the Bulldogs at their own skilful game.

The win was more a death by a thousand cuts than a blitz as Adelaide resisted every Bulldogs surge and won three of the four quarters.

The 11-point triumph was symbolic of the Crows’ season, with the usual suspects in a dynamic midfield and irresistible forward line breaking the game open.

Riley Thilthorpe booted six goals for the Crows. Picture: Mark Stewart

The Bulldogs walk off Marvel Stadium after the loss. Picture: Mark Stewart

Spearhead Riley Thilthorpe kicked a career-best six goals against the lean Bulldogs’ backline and captain Jordan Dawson was at his brilliant best.

The Adelaide win was made all the more impressive by the injury carnage it faced throughout the match.

Important defender Jordan Butts will remain in Melbourne with a collapsed lung, while Brayden Cook was also concussed in a head clash with Bulldog Rory Lobb.

The win keeps Adelaide in the top four for another week with Gold Coast, Port Adelaide and Hawthorn at home to come.

For the Bulldogs, the possibility of missing out on another top four under premiership coach Luke Beveridge is in danger of becoming a familiar with reality.

Mark Keane took Sam Darcy after Jordon Butts was injured. Picture: Mark Stewart

COLLAPSED LUNG FOR KEY CROW

Butts will spend the night in hospital seeking specialist treatment for a collapsed lung.

He was substituted out of the game during the second quarter and taken to hospital after a fend off from star Bulldog Sam Darcy reduced his ability to breathe.

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks said Butts had been sent for specialist advice after being “in a bit of bother” in the rooms.

“(Butts) was shipped straight off to hospital to see the specialist we needed to get involved, it is a collapsed lung,” he said.

“(Butts) won’t travel with us now, he will spend the night here with the right people around him to make sure he gets what he needs from this point on.

“We won’t know any more information until the specialist comes in and checks him up further.

“I don’t know what the incident was, we got a message from downstairs saying, ‘Hey Jordon is in a bit of bother here’.

“We just have 100 per cent trust in our medicals and doctors and how they operate – they went to work.”

Butts has been a key player for the third-placed Crows, locking down on opposition’s most potent forward.

Nicks said the injury to Butts was “a big blow” to his side but backed the waiting reinforcements itching to get an opportunity.

“Yeah it’ll be a big blow for us but respectfully we have other guys who are knocking on the door and have been for a period of time,” he said.

“Nick Murray is playing in the SANFL at the moment (and) probably wants a little bit more footy to get his touch back, (he’s) feeling fantastic and coming back from injury.

“James Borlase as well is the other one who has been rock solid for us at SANFL, he’s unlucky not to be playing.

“Someone’s misfortune is another person’s opportunity.”

Brayden Cook after the head clash with Rory Lobb. Picture: Mark Stewart

Cook was concussed during a heavy collision with Bulldogs defender Rory Lobb during a combative third quarter.

Both Cook and Lobb came off sore after the head clash on centre wing but it was the Crow who was ruled out of the game.

Cook worked his way into the side in the early parts of the year and has played a career-high 15 matches this season.

“For Brayden … who’s just come into our side and probably shown some stuff,” Nicks said.

“He came up to me after the game and just said, ‘Can you believe it?’.

“He just wants to play footy but we’ll do what’s best there and make sure he gets his recovery right.”

THE BIGS GO BIG

It was a shootout reminiscent of the electric ‘80s.

Western Bulldogs and Adelaide key forwards went blow-for-blow under the roof of Marvel Stadium.

Aaron Naughton, Sam Darcy, Taylor Walker, Riley Thilthorpe and Darcy Fogarty combined for 18 goals.

Naughton kicked the Bulldogs’ first four goals of the game to finish with five while Thilthorpe soared to six courtesy of a four-goal second term.

RED-HOT RICHARDS

He took matters into his own hands.

Western Bulldogs gun Ed Richards dragged his side back from a then game-high deficit with an exceptional minute during the second quarter.

Adelaide had burst out to 19-point lead with three consecutive goals before Richards stamped his mark on the match with two sensational goals inside 60 seconds.

The first came after Richards bullied through a congested stoppage inside 50, and the second running hard to the boundary on the wrong side for a left-footer.

Richards finished the match as one of the Bulldogs’ best with 29 disposals and two goals.