The worrying numbers and familiar failings of Adelaide’s loss on the road to Fremantle

As MATT TURNER writes, the circumstances of Adelaide’s defeat in Perth were all too familiar – but, maybe even more concerning, there were new problems, too. Are the Crows legit?

Parts of Adelaide’s loss to Fremantle on Friday night were a little unusual.

The circumstances of the defeat in Perth though were all too familiar.

Since the start of 2023 – their first year of finals contention under Matthew Nicks – the Crows have a 6-17 win-loss record (26.1 per cent) away from Adelaide Oval.

Half of those victories have been against teams that finished in the bottom three (West Coast and Hawthorn in 2023, North Melbourne last year).

Just one of the five before this season was against a side that played finals (eighth-placed Carlton in 2024).

Nicks’s team is now 1-2 on the road this year, losing to Gold Coast by one point, beating Essendon by 61 and going down to the Dockers by 18.

To have their credentials this season taken seriously, the Crows need to improve their lousy record away from Adelaide Oval.

Izak Rankine told The Advertiser the team recognised its road form was not good enough.

“We’ve challenged the group, asked the question and try to look within,” the Adelaide star said.

“The record’s not great at the moment and we want to learn to fix it up.

“We’re doing pretty well at Adelaide Oval, but we just need to get better. Plain and simple.”

The Crows lost again on the road on Friday night. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Friday night’s game was effectively lost in the first term.

Fremantle kicked its biggest first-quarter score of the season (6.2) and Adelaide recorded its equal-lowest (2.1) since round 2 last year.

The 25-point margin was built off supply – the Crows had just seven inside 50s, compared to the Dockers’ 17.

It meant arguably Adelaide’s most reliable weapon, its forward line, was blunted.

Veteran Taylor Walker, the returning Josh Rachele and hard-running Ben Keays each had just one disposal in the first quarter, none of which were kicks.

Emerging spearhead Riley Thilthorpe had zero disposals.

Swingman Dan Curtin registered two.

By half-time, it was Walker two disposals, Keays and Rachele three, Curtin and Thilthorpe four.

Inside 50s were 11-all during the second term and 36-35 Fremantle’s way after quarter-time.

Thilthorpe, who finished the match with three goals from nine touches, looked dangerous whenever the ball was inside the Crows’ attack.

But you are not going to win many games having 42 inside 50s.

Fremantle had that number to three-quarter time.

Adelaide had not had such a low inside 50 total since its 41 against Hawthorn in round 20 last season, a match that ended in a 66-point defeat.

Taylor Walker and the Adelaide forwards were kept in check early by the Dockers. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

On Friday night, a week after kicking 7.10 (52) in blustery, wet weather, the No. 1 scoring team in the league was held to 9.13 (67) in ideal conditions.

The Crows were goalless during the third term.

Reality was they were beaten in the contest and outgunned in the middle.

Clearances ended 38-30 to Fremantle, while centre clearances were 11-7 to the Dockers.

Pre-game, Adelaide had ranked fourth in the league for clearances and third for centre clearances.

Slow starts have been an issue during the Crows’ away struggles.

Of those 17 road defeats since the start of 2023, Adelaide has trailed at quarter-time in all bar three.

“Tonight was obviously disappointing,” Rankine said.

“We didn’t really bring it in that first quarter, so that let us down.

“When they exited, they exited strong and they beat us in the contest.

“That’s a major part of every game because when you lose it there, you’re on the back foot and we were from early on.

“We weren’t hard enough, we know that.”

Just as clearances and scoring had been strengths for the Crows this year until Friday night, so had their goalkicking.

Adelaide ranked second in the league for accuracy pre-round, nailing 56.3 per cent of its shots.

The Crows were also No. 1 for kicking above expected score at +90 through five games.

But they were -10.8 on Friday night, scoring 66 from an expected 76.8, compared to Fremantle’s 82 from 84.5

The visitors did not take their limited chances, booting 3.7 from set shots until nailing three of their last four.

Keays (0.1) and defender Luke Nankervis (0.2) missed very gettable opportunities.

Injured sharpshooter Darcy Fogarty’s absence was felt.

Fremantle took its chances, especially late in the first and third terms, in what would be a major frustration for the Crows’ coaches.

It was only two weeks ago that The Advertiser highlighted Adelaide conceding two goals during the last minute before half-time against Geelong as being a momentum-swinger in that Gather Round defeat.

Against the Dockers, the Crows coughed up two goals during the last 40 seconds of the first quarter to push what could have been a narrow Fremantle lead out to 25 points by the break.

Then Adelaide gave up another two majors during the final two minutes before three-quarter time, ensuring a five-goal deficit became seven.

“We chatted about that,” Rankine said.

“I think they kicked 4.2 in red time – that’s unacceptable and something we’ll look at.”

Adelaide would take some solace from curtailing the Dockers during the last term when it looked like the hosts might kick well over 100 points.

Fremantle managed just 0.5 during the last term as the Crows added 4.5.

Adelaide had now lost three of its past four matches, the other result being a gritty win over GWS last week.

Rankine said the group remained in a good spot mentally.

“We know when we bring it, we can match the top-four sides and win these close games.

But if Adelaide keeps losing these types of matches on the road, the more pressure it will be under to win at home to make finals.

Originally published as The worrying numbers and familiar failings of Adelaide’s loss on the road to Fremantle