Adelaide’s third AFL grand final started with great optimism but ended in despair.
There was no second prize for an outstanding 2017 season by the Crows, after Richmond mauled the minor premiers by 48 points before 100,021 fans at the MCG.
Adelaide started well in a hectic opening, kicking the first two goals of the game and then two more late in the first term to lead by 11 points.
But the Tigers sealed their 11th flag with a run of seven unanswered goals from early in the second quarter until ten minutes into the third term to lead by 28 points.
And when captain Taylor Walker finally broke Adelaide’s goal drought with a 40m set shot midway through the third term, the Tigers swiftly killed off any hopes of a Crows comeback, rattling on the next four goals to take an unassailable 45-point lead early in the final term.
Adelaide’s 8.12 was its lowest score of the season but the Crows had major issues all across the ground
They lost contested possessions by 30, ground ball gets by 35 and had their ball movement restricted. Richmond’s pressure forced turnovers and it was able to play most of the game in its forward half, particularly in the decisive third term.
Adelaide led 28-15 early in the second term after behinds to Eddie Betts and Tom Lynch but the Tigers lifted their intensity and booted 4.1 to 0.5 to set up a nine-point lead at half-time.
From there, Adelaide’s day worsened. Richmond dominated the contest in the third term and took advantage to add 5.4 while holding the Crows to 1.3.
Goals to Brad Crouch and Walker midway through the last quarter reduced the margin to 32 points but it was not long before Richmond was celebrating its first flag since 1980.
Crows ruckman Jacobs received the most Club Champion votes (12) in the grand final, followed by half-back Rory Laird (11), Matt Crouch and Sloane (both nine).
Coach Don Pyke said: “I’m very proud of the players and what they achieved but the reality is if we sit here content, we’re going nowhere. We came to win a premiership and came away empty-handed and that’s got to drive us to continue to improve.”
Crows line-up:
B: Rory Laird, Daniel Talia, Jake Lever
HB: Paul Seedsman, Kyle Hartigan, Luke Brown
C: David Mackay, Rory Sloane, Rory Atkins
HF: Tom Lynch, Taylor Walker, Richard Douglas
F: Eddie Betts, Josh Jenkins, Charlie Cameron
R: Sam Jacobs, Brad Crouch, Matt Crouch
Int: Riley Knight, Jake Kelly, Hugh Greenwood, Andy Otten
Emerg: Wayne Milera jnr, Alex Keath, Reilly O’Brien
BEST Adelaide: Jacobs, Laird, M. Crouch, Sloane, B. Crouch, Hartigan. Richmond: Martin, Rance, Houli, Astbury, Prestia, Edwards, Graham, Grimes
Grand final week gallery
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 27: Tom Lynch and Matt Crouch sign autographs for the fans at the end of an Adelaide Crows AFL Grand Final training session at Adelaide Oval on September 27, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images/AFL Media)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 28: Rory Sloane of the Crows poses for a photograph with fans as the Adelaide Crows arrive at Melbourne Airport ahead of the Grand Final against Richmond on September 28, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 28: Charlie Cameron of the Crows poses for a photograph with fans as the Adelaide Crows arrive at Melbourne Airport ahead of the Grand Final against Richmond on September 28, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 28: Tom Lynch (left) and Sam Jacobs of the Crows look on as the Adelaide Crows arrive at Melbourne Airport ahead of the Grand Final against Richmond on September 28, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 29: Taylor Walker of the Crows and Don Pyke, Senior Coach of the Crows ride in the motorcade during the Toyota AFL Grand Final parade on September 29, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 29: Erin Phillips of the Crows waves to fans during the Toyota AFL Grand Final parade on September 29, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 29: Eddie Betts of the Crows and family look on during the Toyota AFL Grand Final parade on September 29, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 29: Tom Lynch of the Crows waves to fans during the 2017 AFL Grand Final Parade on September 29, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images/AFL Media)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Bob Hammond and Mike Fitzpatrick appear at the AFL official function prior to the 2017 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Richmond Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 30, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri /AFL Media)
MELBOURNE, VICTORIA – SEPTEMBER 30: The Adelaide Crows warm-up before the 2017 AFL Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Richmond Tigers at Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 30, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/AFL Media/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Crows fans enjoy the atmosphere during the 2017 AFL Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Richmond Tigers at Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 30, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/AFL Media/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 30: The Crows logo is seen painted on the 50m line during the 2017 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Richmond Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 30, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 30: The Killers perfom during the 2017 AFL Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Richmond Tigers at Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 30, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/AFL Media/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Eddie Betts of the Crows looks on during the 2017 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Richmond Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 30, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Crows fans are seen before the 2017 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Richmond Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 30, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Crows players run onto the field during the 2017 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Richmond Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 30, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Crows players line up for the national anthem during the 2017 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Richmond Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 30, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Matt Crouch of the Crows (left) congratulates Rory Sloane of the Crows on a goal during the 2017 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Richmond Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 30, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Eddie Betts of the Crows celebrates a goal during the 2017 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Richmond Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 30, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Matt Crouch of the Crows in action during the 2017 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Richmond Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 30, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Rory Laird of the Crows competes for the ball during the 2017 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Richmond Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 30, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/AFL Media)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Dustin Martin of the Tigers and Luke Brown of the Crows compete for the ball during the 2017 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Richmond Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 30, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Josh Caddy of the Tigers punches the ball away during the 2017 AFL Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Richmond Tigers at Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 30, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/AFL Media/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Taylor Walker of the Crows celebrates a goal during the 2017 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Richmond Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 30, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/AFL Media)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Dejected Adelaide Crows players look on after the 2017 Toyota AFL Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Richmond Tigers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 30, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Media)
MELBOURNE, VICTORIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Sam Jacobs of the Crows looks dejected after defeat during the 2017 AFL Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Richmond Tigers at Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 30, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/AFL Media/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 30: The Crows are dejected after they were defeated by the Tigers during the 2017 AFL Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Richmond Tigers at Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 30, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/AFL Media/Getty Images)
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 1: Adelaide Crows players during the Adelaide Crows family day at Adelaide Oval on October 1, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by AFL Media)
