Crows in AFL Finals
1993
Adelaide played finals for the first time in its third season in the AFL but fell frustratingly short of making the grand final.
Elimination final, September 5
Adelaide 16.14 (110) d Hawthorn 13.17 (95) at the MCG (crowd: 55,287)
Adelaide’s first finals appearance was a stunning success.
The Crows secured a spot in the final six with a win over Collingwood at Football Park in the last minor round but then were matched against the finals hardened Hawthorn at the MCG in the first elimination final.
Winning away from home had been a big issue for Adelaide in the early years but more than 20,000 Crows fans travelled to Melbourne, even though the team was given little chance against a Hawks side which had qualified for its 12th consecutive finals series.
Adelaide settled quickly, booting the first three goals before Hawthorn levelled the scores by quarter-time. The Crows then broke the game open in the second term, kicking seven goals to three to lead by 24 points at half-time.
Hawthorn lifted again after the break, reducing the gap to seven points when Jason Dunstall kicked his fifth goal on the siren and then taking the leading early in the final term. A series of misses kept the Crows in the game, however, and then Matthew Liptak’s third goal, Nigel Smart’s third and fourth goals – split by a 60m bomb by Stuart Wigney – secured the win.
This first final success put the Crows within one win of their first grand final.
Goals: Smart 4, Liptak, Wigney 3, Modra, Bone 2, Weidemann, Bickley
Best: Liptak, McDermott, McGuinness, Bickley, Rehn, Anderson, Weidemann
Second semi-final, September 11
Adelaide 8.20 (68) lost to Carlton 13.8 (86) at Waverley Park (crowd: 59,233)
Adelaide’s first chance to advance to a grand final was wrecked by a wave of wasted opportunities.
Adelaide led by seven points at the first break but then squandered a series of plays near goal in the second and third quarters.
The Crows dominated the third term with the breeze but added 3.7 (and a couple of shots out on the full), while Carlton made the most of limited forward entries to kick 4.0 and lead by nine points.
Carlton champion Craig Badley’s fourth and fifth goals at the start of the final quarter widened the gap and his side was on the way to the grand final.
Adelaide’s best was 18-year-old Mark Ricciuto with 26 disposals at half-back.
Goals: Wigney, Modra, Tasker 2, Rehn, Liptak.
Best: Ricciuto, McGuinness, Tregenza, Anderson, Rehn, McDermott, Maynard
Preliminary final, September 18
Adelaide 14.16 (100) lost to Essendon 17.9 (111) at the MCG (crowd: 76,380)
Adelaide was poised to play in its first grand final when it led Essendon by seven goals at half-time.
But the Crows kicked only two more goals in the second half as hot favourite Essendon dragged itself back into the game, regained the lead and advanced to the 1993 decider.
Adelaide had taken over the contest in the second term, Tony Modra kicking five goals in the first half as the Crows doubled Essendon’s score.
Essendon started its charge with the first four goals of the third quarter and by the last break was only 12 points behind. Then three quick goals early in the final term gave it the lead, Adelaide responded with Modra’s sixth goal, and the Bombers led by a goal deep into time-on. Adelaide had possession in the middle of the ground but Essendon forced a turnover and Tim Watson kicked the match-sealing goal with 50 seconds remaining.
A week later Essendon won the premiership, defeating Carlton by 44 points.
Goals: Modra 6, Smart, Brown 2, Wigney, Anderson, Hodges, Liptak
Best: Rehn, McDermott, Modra, McGuinness, Jarman, Smart, Tregenza
1997
Under new coach Malcolm Blight, Adelaide returned to the finals (in fourth spot) and won four consecutive games to win its first AFL premiership.
First qualifying final, September 7
Adelaide 14.15 (99) d West Coast 9.12 (66) at Football Park (crowd: 43,831)
Adelaide’s ability to kick goals against a strong breeze proved the difference in the Club’s first ever home final.
Mark Ricciuto was a late out (and would soon have surgery to repair two hernias) but the Crows started well against the wind, leading by nine points.
West Coast limited the scoreboard damage in the second term but trailed by 16 points at half-time. Three consecutive goals to the Eagles cut the gap to only eight points late in the third quarter before Tony Modra kicked the last two goals of the term. Adelaide went on to win by 33 points, with captain Mark Bickley best on ground.
The match had been rescheduled from Saturday evening to Sunday afternoon to avoid a clash with the televised funeral of Princess Diana.
Goals: Modra 3, Bond, Rintoul 2, Koster, Smart, Robran, Connell, Johnson, Vardy, Hart
Best: Bickley, Hart, Johnson, Rehn, Jarman, McLeod
Second semi-final, September 13
Adelaide 11.10 (76) d Geelong 9.14 (68) at Football Park (crowd: 46,319)
Adelaide advanced to a preliminary final with some moments of class central to its eight-point win against Geelong.
It was a dour struggle for most of the night but a couple of patches of brilliance were enough to swing the game.
Geelong started well to lead by 20 points at quarter-time before Shaun Rehn and Darren Jarman sparked a six-goal second term response from the Crows.
The Cats were unable to make the most of their chances in the third quarter, despite holding Adelaide goalless. Their eight-point lead then disappeared as the Crows kicked four of the last five goals of the match. Sadly, Peter Vardy broke a collarbone seconds before snapping one of these goals.
Goals: Bond 3, Robran 2, Jarman, Koster, McLeod, Sampson, Vardy, Rehn
Best: Rehn, Koster, McLeod, Robran, Jarman, Bond
Preliminary final, September 20
Adelaide 12.21 (93) d Western Bulldogs 13.13 (91) at the MCG (crowd: 70,088)
It was the half of football that changed Adelaide’s destiny more than any other.
Adelaide’s exciting finals run appeared over when the Western Bulldogs led by 31 points at half-time and then 22 points at the last change. But the only four goals of the last quarter were kicked by the Crows and the sensational two-point win sent the young Club into its first grand final.
Coleman Medallist Tony Modra’s season ended late in the first quarter with a serious knee injury and seven consecutive behinds in this period added to the despair. But the Bulldogs failed to lock the game away after half-time and key Crows started to dominate, including ruckman Shaun Rehn who took off his knee brace at half-time.
Darren Jarman started the Crows comeback 14 minutes into the last quarter. Nigel Smart and Simon Goodwin were next, cutting the gap to four points. And then Kane Johnson’s perfect pass to Jarman allowed him to kick his third goal to give the Crows the lead with under two minutes to play.
Goals: Jarman 3, Smart, Jameson 2, McLeod, Sampson, Goodwin, Rintoul, Rehn.
Best: Rehn, Smart, McLeod, Hart, Connell, Johnson, Jarman
Adelaide won its first flag with a devastating 14-goal second half that in many ways copied the flow of the previous week’s preliminary final win against the Western Bulldogs.
St Kilda led by 13 points at half-time but Adelaide dominated the key moments to kick 14.1 in the second half and charge to a 31-point win.
Andrew McLeod won the Norm Smith Medal, Darren Jarman booted six goals, including five in the final quarter, and Shane Ellen kicked five goals after starting at full forward.
Goals: Jarman 6, Ellen 5, Bond 4, Smart, Goodwin, Rintoul, Caven
Best: McLeod, Jarman, Ellen, Pittman, Bond, Rehn
1998
Adelaide won its second AFL premiership despite playing all four finals on the road.
First qualifying final, September 5
Adelaide 9.13 (67) lost to Melbourne 17.13 (115) at the MCG (crowd: 60, 817)
Adelaide’s September campaign stalled at the MCG, an eight-goal loss leaving the Crows relying on other results to progress to the next week.
Fourth-placed Melbourne dominated the contest, rushing to a 34-point lead by half-time and then kicking away with a seven-goal third term.
Matthew Liptak strained a hamstring to add to the Crows’ woes and coach Malcolm Blight put the players on notice. It was the last Crows game for Tony Modra, who kicked 1.2 and was dropped to the SANFL.
Goals: Edwards, Vardy, Smart 2, Jarman, Modra, Caven
Best: Smart, Bickley, Jarman, Goodwin, Hart
Second semi-final, September 12
Adelaide 14.10 (94) d Sydney 10.7 (67) at the SCG (crowd: 37,498)
Adelaide found its way back on to the road to consecutive flags with a 27-point win over Sydney, on a waterlogged SCG.
One of the heroes was Peter Vardy, who missed the 1997 premiership because of a broken collarbone and then had his 1998 series threatened by a bruised heel. On a night when most players struggled to kick the ball accurately over any distance, Vardy’s six goals from 19 disposals (and a game-high seven clearances) lifted Adelaide into a preliminary final.
Starting on a wing, Vardy kicked the opening goal and then another in the second term before a burst of three goals in five minutes midway through the third term stretched Adelaide’s lead from 13 to 32 points. His sixth goal early in the last quarter closed down any hope of a late Swans charge.
Goals: Vardy 6, McLeod, James 3, Ricciuto, Rehn
Best: Vardy, Smart, Hart, McLeod, Ricciuto, Rehn, Caven
Preliminary final, September 19
Adelaide 24.17 (161) d Western Bulldogs 13.15 (93) at the MCG (crowd: 67,557)
Adelaide booked another grand final appearance with a resounding 68-point win.
The Western Bulldogs had no answer to the Crows after a hectic second term when they challenged but then watched Adelaide kick three quick goals before half-time to lead by 34 points. The Crows then finished the third term with a five-goal burst.
Matthew Robran was a powerhouse at centre half forward, kicking 6.3, but was outdone on the scoresheet by Andrew McLeod with seven goals straight.
Goals: McLeod 7, Robran 6, Edwards, James, Ellen, Vardy 2, Jarman, Connell, Johnson.
Best: McLeod, Robran, Rehn, Caven, Hart, Smart, Goodwin
Grand final, September 26
Adelaide 15.15 (105) d North Melbourne 8.22 (70) at the MCG (crowd: 94,431)
Adelaide became the first AFL club to win the flag from fifth, charging to a 35-point win over minor premiers North Melbourne.
The Crows trailed by 24 points at half-time but stunned the Roos in the second half to win by 35 points.
Andrew McLeod won a second Norm Smith Medal as best on ground, Darren Jarman starred with five goals and Peter Caven finished on top in a crucial match-up with North Melbourne champion Wayne Carey.
Goals: Jarman 5, Smart 3, Vardy 2, James, Pittman, Johnson, Thiessen, Ricciuto
Best: McLeod, Jarman, Johnson, Rehn, Hart, Caven
2001
A last round loss to lowly Fremantle cost Adelaide a home final after it finished the minor round in eighth spot.
First elimination final, September 8
Adelaide 6.14 (50) lost to Carlton 17.16 (118) at the MCG (crowd: 53,982)
Adelaide was no match for fourth-placed Carlton, going down by 68 points.
Carlton sprinted to a 44-point lead at half-time, with Matthew Lappin kicking four of his five goals in this period and Anthony Koutoufides unstoppable in the midfield. A month earlier the Crows had thumped Carlton by 53 points at Football Park but this time they were unable to launch any challenge in disappointing return to the finals stage.
It was the last AFL game for two-time premiership Crows, Darren Jarman and Matthew Robran.
Goals: Jarman 2, Welsh 2, McLeod, M Stevens
Best: Bassett, Johnson, Ricciuto, McLeod, Bickley
2002
Adelaide finished third at the end of the minor round but stayed on the road for the finals series.
Second qualifying final, September 7
Adelaide 5.14 (44) lost to Brisbane 17.13 (115) at the Gabba (crowd: 31,854)
Ruthless Brisbane dismissed Adelaide with an emphatic 71-point win.
Adelaide had won seven of its previous eight games but was on the back foot early and could only kick two goals in the first half to trail by 40 points.
There was no response in the third term, the Crows held goalless as Brisbane kicked away.
Goals: Bassett, Burton, Crowell, Ricciuto, Smart
Best: Ricciuto, Johnson, Massie, Ladhams, McGregor.
Second semi-final, September 14
Adelaide 20.10 (130) d Melbourne 17.16 (118) at the MCG (crowd: 51,533)
One of the biggest rollercoaster rides in finals history ended with Adelaide finishing on a high against Melbourne.
Forced to play at the MCG instead of at home, Adelaide stunned the Demons with an eight-goal first term but in a remarkable turnaround Melbourne fought back to lead by 29 points late in the third quarter.
Adelaide was not finished, however, and stormed home to progress to the preliminary final.
The Crows, celebrating milestone games for Nigel Smart (250) and Tyson Edwards (150), were outstanding early and led by 40 points when Bryan Beinke snapped the last goal of the opening term.
Former Crow, 1998 premiership forward Peter Vardy, helped spark Melbourne’s revival with three goals and when Travis Johnstone kicked a brace of goals early in the third term the Demons hit the front for the first time.
They kept surging ahead before Edwards cut the margin to 22 points at the last change. It was the first of five consecutive goals to Adelaide, with Andrew McLeod converting from a free to regain the lead.
Mark Stevens then booted his fourth goal, Melbourne hit back to cut the margin to two points but Adelaide secured an amazing win when Brett Burton ran onto a bouncing ball in the goalsquare.
Goals: M. Stevens 4, Edwards, McGregor, McLeod, Burton, Beinke, Goodwin 2, Ladhams, Johnson, Welsh, Bode
Best: Edwards, Johnson, Stenglein, Clarke, Johncock, Goodwin, M. Stevens
First preliminary final, September 21
Adelaide 9.9. (63) lost to Collingwood 13.13 (91) at the MCG (crowd: 88,960)
Adelaide looked on track to advance to the 2002 grand final before Collingwood took command of the match.
The Crows led by 18 points late in the second term but Collingwood then kicked eight of the next nine goals to be 25 points clear at the last change.
Goals to Scott Welsh and teenager Graham Johncock cut the gap to 13 points with 11 minutes left in the last term but Adelaide did not score again.
The Crows had limited bench options after Tyson Edwards was knocked out in the first quarter and Andrew McLeod was carried off with a leg injury in the third term.
Goals: Bassett 3, Welsh 2, Johncock, Ricciuto, Crowell, McLeod
Best: Ricciuto, Clarke, Goodwin, Massie, Hart
2003
Three consecutive losses to complete the minor round cost Adelaide a top four spot.
Second elimination final, September 6
Adelaide 16.17 (113) d West Coast 8.9 (57) at Football Park (crowd: 38,641)
A week after losing a Showdown, Adelaide found some form to enjoy its first final at West Lakes since 1997.
The Crows were 26 points clear at half-time and kicked away in the second half to crush West Coast by 56 points.
Ben Hart returned to the side and held Phil Matera goalless, Robert Shirley restricted Eagles star Chris Judd and Adelaide’s midfield had more impact through Tyson Edwards, Mark Bickley, Mark Ricciuto and Andrew McLeod.
Goals: Massie, Edwards, M. Stevens 2, Carey, Burns, Bode, Shirley, Welsh, McLeod, Burton, Ricciuto, Reilly, Goodwin.
Best: Edwards, Hart, Shirley, Burns, Carey, Massie, Bickley
Second semi-final, September 12
Adelaide 12.10 (82) lost to Brisbane 18.16 (124) at the Gabba (crowd: 32,432)
Adelaide suffered its biggest loss of the 2003 season after being blitzed by Brisbane in the last quarter.
Mark Stevens kicked the first three goals for Adelaide to take an early break but inspired by captain Michael Voss, the home side lifted to lead by 17 points at half-time. Although Adelaide regained the lead twice in the third quarter, Brisbane led by 11 points at the last break and powered to a 42-point win with seven goals in the fourth term. The Lions were on the way to a third consecutive premiership.
Brett Burton was Adelaide’s best, starting well on the wing and then going forward to kick four goals in the second half.
Crows Premiership captain Mark Bickley played the last of his 272 AFL games.
Goals: Burton, M Stevens 4, McLeod 2, Shirley, Bode
Best: Burton, Burns, M. Stevens, Biglands, Ricciuto, Shirley
2005
Adelaide rose from 12th to minor premiers (17 wins, five losses) under Neil Craig but lost two of its three finals.
First qualifying final, September 3
Adelaide 8.9 (57) lost to St Kilda 10.5 (65) at AAMI Stadium (crowd: 48,768)
One week after securing the minor premiership, Adelaide’s ten-game winning streak was broken by fourth-placed St Kilda.
St Kilda trailed by 15 points at quarter-time after Ken McGregor kicked Adelaide’s first three goals but the Saints lifted their intensity and took control with a five-goal second term.
By the last change the margin was out to 20 points. Adelaide, however, kicked the next three goals to level the scores. After several frantic minutes Saints star Robert Harvey broke the deadlock and St Kilda held on for an eight-point win.
Goals: McGregor 4, Johncock, Goodwin, Welsh, Shirley
Best: Rutten, McGregor, Bassett, Johncock, Goodwin
First semi-final, September 10
Adelaide 18.15 (123) d Port Adelaide 5.10 (40) at AAMI Stadium (crowd: 50,521)
After a massive build-up to the first AFL final between the two South Australian rivals, Adelaide’s stunning second half was one of the club’s finest moments.
The Crows piled on eight goals in the third quarter and another six in the final term to kick away to win by 83 points.
The first half had been tight and low scoring. Port trailed by only 13 minutes seven minutes into the third term but by the last break Adelaide was 51 points clear.
Simon Goodwin starred with 22 disposals and three goals, Mark Ricciuto returned from suspension and broke free of heavy tagging in the second half, forward Scott Welsh booted four goals and full back Ben Rutten held Port champion Warren Tredrea goalless.
Goals: Welsh 4, Goodwin, Perrie 3, McGregor 2, Rutten, Edwards, McLeod, Hentschel, Ricciuto, Shirley.
Best: Rutten, Goodwin, Welsh, Edwards, Clarke, McLeod, Bassett, Ricciuto
Second preliminary final, September 17
Adelaide 11.11 (77) lost to West Coast 14.9 (93) at Subiaco Oval (crowd: 43,009)
Adelaide returned to Perth for a preliminary final but this time it was the end of the road for the 2005 campaign.
The margin was only five points at half-time but West Coast then led by 32 points at the last change and held off Adelaide’s late push to win by 16 points.
The Crows kicked four consecutive goals in ten minutes late in the final term to cut the gap to nine points but West Coast responded to secure a grand final spot.
Goals: McGregor 3, Hentschel, Welsh 2, Goodwin, Burton, Perrie, Edwards.
Best: Edwards, McGregor, Rutten, Clarke, Goodwin, Bock
2006
Another promising season ended with a preliminary final loss, this time at home.
Second qualifying final, September 9
Adelaide 10.16 (76) d Fremantle 7.4 (46) at Football Park (crowd: 42,208)
Fremantle travelled to Adelaide for the first week of finals searching for its tenth consecutive win and appeared on track when it kicked the first four goals of the qualifying final.
But the Crows – missing stars including Mark Ricciuto, Andrew McLeod, Ben Hart and Brett Burton – slowly fought back into the contest and trailed by four points at the last break after a brace of Bock goals. From there, Adelaide kicked five goals and held the Dockers scoreless to win by 30 points.
Goals: Bock, Biglands, Torney 2, Clarke, Perrie, Reilly, Welsh
Best: Bassett, Stevens, Johncock, Torney, Reilly, Bock, Porplyzia, Bode, Thompson
Second preliminary final, September 23
Adelaide 11.9 (75) lost to West Coast 11.19 (85) at AAMI Stadium (crowd: 50,514)
Adelaide’s premiership dream turned into a nightmare in a devastating second half.
The Crows made a bright start against West Coast to lead by 17 points at quarter-time and then 22 points at the main break.
But the game turned sharply as West Coast took over the midfield through Ben Cousins, Dean Cox, Daniel Kerr and Chris Judd. The margin was eight points in Adelaide’s favour at the last break but West Coast dominated the next 15 minutes, hit the front for the first time and was 16 points clear before the Crows could reply.
Just when it seemed over, Adelaide made a late surge. Bock goaled twice, his second difficult kick from wide in the outer forward pocket cutting the gap to four points. But West Coast won a free at the next centre bounce, held possession and kicked a goal after the siren.
A week later the Eagles won the 2006 AFL Premiership with a one-point win over Sydney.
Goals: Bock 3, Burton, Bode 2, Clarke, Edwards, Welsh, McLeod
Best: Johncock, Burton, Bock, Bode, Edwards, Rutten, Goodwin
2007
Three consecutive wins to finish the minor round lifted Adelaide into eighth spot.
First elimination final, September 8
Adelaide 15.12 (102) lost to Hawthorn 15.15 (105) at Docklands (crowd: 36,534)
Lance Franklin’s seventh goal with only seven seconds left eliminated Adelaide in the first week of the 2007 finals.
Adelaide started well, booting the first three goals. Fifth-placed Hawthorn steadied but another three-goal burst late in the opening term gave the Crows a 19-point break.
When Ken McGregor kicked his fourth goal midway through the second term Adelaide was 31 points clear. But it was then young Hawthorn forward Lance Franklin’s turn to shine, kicking three goals in five minutes.
Adelaide regained the lead with two minutes left when Jason Torney goaled on the run from 50 metres but Franklin’s seventh goal gave Hawthorn a three-point win. It was a heartbreaking finish to Mark Ricciuto’s 312-game AFL career.
Goals: McGregor, Welsh 4, Porplyzia 2, Gill, van Berlo, Edwards, Torney, Knights
Best: Edwards, Knights, Welsh, McGregor, Johncock, Hudson, Stevens.
2008
Adelaide secured a home final by finishing fifth.
First elimination final, September 6
Adelaide 14.10 (94) lost to Collingwood 19.11 (125) at AAMI Stadium (crowd: 37,685)
Adelaide was the first team eliminated from the finals race in a disappointing 31-point loss at home.
Collingwood made an early break but seven goals to Adelaide in the second quarter forged a 24-point lead before Dane Swan kicked two late goals. The Magpies dominated the third quarter to lead by 20 points but Adelaide surged again to trail by just seven points with ten minutes to play, only for Collingwood to kick the last four goals.
Scott Stevens kicked a career-best six goals and Nathan Bassett was among the best Crows in his last AFL game.
Goals: S. Stevens 6, McLeod 2, Edwards, Mackay, Bassett, Maric, Gill, Johncock
Best: Stevens, Bock, Bassett, Mackay, McLeod
2009
Fourteen wins was enough to finish fifth and start the finals at home.
First elimination final, September 4
Adelaide 26.10 (166) d Essendon 10.10 (70) at AAMI Stadium (crowd: 50,393)
Adelaide stunned Essendon with an eight-goal second term on the way to a record 96-point win at home.
Bernie Vince and Andrew McLeod led the way in the midfield for the Crows, who had plenty of scoring options including small forward Jason Porplyzia.
The Crows led by only six points at quarter-time but dominated the rest of the contest.
Goals: Porplyzia 5, Tippett 4, Knights, Burton 3, Dangerfield, Douglas 2, Vince, Edwards, Maric, Thompson, Hentschel, Mackay, Sellar
Best: Vince, McLeod, Tippett, Porplyzia, Goodwin, Maric, Otten, Edwards
First semi-final, September 12
Adelaide 11.12 (78) lost to Collingwood 12.11 (83) at the MCG (crowd: 62,184)
Adelaide suffered a heartbreaking end to its season, losing to Collingwood in the last minute of a classic contest at the MCG.
A brilliant start saw the Crows lead by 29 points at quarter-time and then 32 points late in the second term. But Collingwood had slowed Adelaide down and the match suddenly changed direction when it added six unanswered goals in the third quarter to be ten points clear at the last break.
Adelaide finally responded with the first three goals of the last term, Collingwood regained the lead with the next two majors, and then Kurt Tippett’s third goal of the term gave the Crows a one-point lead deep in time on.
The shattering finish came after Andy Otten appeared to take a game-saving defensive mark. But a free kick had been given against Ben Rutten to Collingwood’s Jack Anthony and he goaled from 40 metres.
Goals: Tippett 4, Dangerfield, Thompson 2, Burton, Knights, Hentschel
Best: Vince, Johncock, Goodwin, Tippett, Shirley, Mackay, Stevens, Thompson
2012
Adelaide made a rapid rise under new coach Brenton Sanderson, finishing the minor round in second place with 17 wins from 22 games.
Second qualifying final, September 8
Adelaide 5.12 (42) lost to Sydney 11.5 (71) at AAMI Stadium (crowd: 44,849)
The excitement of returning to the finals faded when Adelaide kicked just five goals on home turf to lose to Sydney by 29 points.
Sydney jumped the Crows in the first half to lead by 25 points and Adelaide never threatened to get back into the game despite more inside-50 entries. The Crows kicked only one goal in each of the first three quarters and 2012 Rising Star winner Daniel Talia broke his arm.
Goals: Callinan, Johncock, Sloane, van Berlo, Walker
Best: Doughty, Mackay, Reilly, Smith, Rutten
Second semi-final, September 14
Adelaide 12.9 (81) d Fremantle 11.5 (71) at Football Park (crowd: 31,742)
Young forward Taylor Walker kicked five goals to help Adelaide recover from another slow start.
Fremantle led by 29 points midway through the second term but a goal to Patrick Dangerfield was followed by Walker’s post-siren goal from the boundary line. Walker also kicked the first two goals of the second half but the game was in the balance until the Crows booted four consecutive goals in the last quarter.
Defender Ben Rutten held Dockers star Matthew Pavlich to one goal.
Goals: Walker 5, Porplyzia 3, Dangerfield, Wright, Tippett, Vince
Best: Walker, Doughty, Rutten, Smith, Porplyzia, Reilly, van Berlo, Vince
Second preliminary final, September 21
Adelaide 14.8 (92) lost to Hawthorn 13.19 (97) at the MCG (crowd: 69,146)
Premiership favourites Hawthorn broke Adelaide’s hearts with a five-point win at the MCG.
The Crows led by seven points at quarter-time and by five points at half-time, after Taylor Walker kicked a 55-metre goal after the siren. Hawthorn opened a 22-point lead late in the third quarter but Adelaide persisted with a run of goals to Brodie Smith, Kurt Tippett and Jason Porplyzia.
Sub Graham Johncock then gave the Crows a one-point lead with a goal with five minutes left in the last quarter but Hawthorn hit back quickly with goals to Cyril Rioli and Lance Franklin. Walker’s fourth goal came with only 16 seconds left but Hawthorn won the next centre clearance and advanced to the grand final.
Tippett kicked four goals and took 11 marks in his last game for the Crows.
Goals: Tippett, Walker 4, Henderson, Sloane, Smith, van Berlo, Porplyzia, Johncock
Best: Tippett, van Berlo, Vince, Henderson, Jacobs, Porplyzia, Walker, Thompson
2015
Two months after the death of coach Phil Walsh, Adelaide was back in the finals in seventh spot.
Second elimination final, September 12
Adelaide 16.13 (109) d Western Bulldogs 14.18 (102) at the MCG (crowd: 60,872)
Adelaide’s courageous 2015 journey continued after the Crows outlasted Western Bulldogs to win by seven points at the MCG.
Adelaide took an 11-point lead into three-quarter time after leading narrowly from late in the opening term, but the Bulldogs looked set to record a fairytale win when they kicked four of the opening five goals of the final term to jump to an eight-point advantage.
The Crows dug deep once again, however, to kick the final two goals and seal a thrilling win.
Eddie Betts starred with five goals and Taylor Walker was the match-winner, nailing a 50m set shot at the 17-minute mark of the final term to bring the Crows back to within one point. The captain then set up Charlie Cameron’s late sealer when he took two bounces along the wing and hit the small forward with a pin-point pass.
Goals: Betts 5, Walker 3, Knight, Cameron 2, Henderson, Lynch, Sloane, Thompson
Best: Betts, Thompson, Walker, Henderson, Laird, Sloane, Dangerfield
Second semi-final, September 18
Adelaide 8.13 (61) lost to Hawthorn 21.9 (135) at the MCG (crowd: 70,879)
Hawthorn put the Crows to the sword with an electrifying eight-goal first quarter and cruised to a 74-point victory.
The fast start handed the Hawks an early break of 38 points and then they were 50 points clear early in the second term.
In his last game for the Crows, Patrick Dangerfield was one of the best, finishing with 29 possessions, 10 clearances and a freakish banana goal from the boundary in the first quarter.
Rory Laird (30 possessions) battled his heart out in defence, as did Scott Thompson (28 possessions and eight clearances) through the midfield. Josh Jenkins kicked four goals,
Goals: Jenkins 4, Lynch 2, Dangerfield, Walker
Best: Dangerfield, Talia, Laird, Jenkins, Lynch, Jacobs, Thompson
2016
Adelaide finished fifth (16 wins, six losses) but a last round loss to West Coast cost the side a top four spot.
First elimination final, September 10
Adelaide 21.15 (141) d North Melbourne 12.7 (79) at Adelaide Oval (crowd 49,007)
Adelaide crushed North Melbourne in its first ever final at Adelaide Oval.
After leading by only 12 points at half-time, the Crows kicked 15 goals in the second half to surge to a 62-point win.
An eight-goal third quarter shut the door on North Melbourne’s season, with Eddie Betts kicking three of his six goals in the term. Tom Lynch kicked four goals, dashing Brodie Smith finished a strong game with two goals from outside 50, and Daniel Talia led the defence.
Goals: Betts 6, Lynch 4, Jenkins, Walker Smith 2, Cameron, Lever, M. Crouch, Sloane, Lyons.
Best: Betts, Smith, Lynch, Talia, M. Crouch
First semi-final, September 17
Adelaide 12.10 (82) lost to Sydney 18.10 (118) at the SCG (crowd 38,136)
Adelaide’s high-scoring season stumbled at another semi-final appearance, this time under first-year coach Don Pyke.
Sydney set up its six-goal victory with a blistering seven-goal first quarter, and despite some third-quarter improvement from the Crows, was never seriously troubled.
Adelaide trailed by 24 points at the last break but the Swans quickly regained momentum and were 49 points clear before the Crows kicked three late goals.
Goals: Betts 3, Cameron, Lynch, Walker, McGovern 2, Thompson
Best: M. Crouch, Laird, Sloane, Atkins, Thompson
2017
Top spot guaranteed Adelaide two home finals before the grand final, its first decider since 1998.
First qualifying final, September 7
Adelaide 12.12 (84) d GWS Giants 6.12 (48) at Adelaide Oval (crowd: 52,805)
Adelaide secured a home preliminary final by beating Greater Western Sydney by 36 points.
The Crows were without Rory Sloane (appendix) but star forward Eddie Betts (three goals) and All Australian midfielder Matt Crouch (31 disposals, seven tackles) helped establish a 44-point break by half-time.
The downside for the Crows was a season-ending knee injury to half-back flanker Brodie Smith, minutes after he kicked the first goal of the game.
Goals: Betts 3, Douglas 2, Smith, Seedsman, McGovern, Walker, Jenkins, Lynch, B. Crouch
Best: Betts, M. Crouch, Lynch, B. Crouch, Jacobs, Brown, Greenwood
First preliminary final, September 22
Adelaide 21.10 (136) d Geelong 10.15 (75) at Adelaide Oval (crowd: 53,817)
Adelaide advanced to its first grand final since 1998 after demolishing Geelong by 61 points.
The record crowd of 53,817 – at the time the largest for an AFL game at the venue – was buzzing from start to finish.
Leading by 48 points early in the second quarter, the Crows withstood a Cats fightback before running away with the game.
Lively forward Charlie Cameron was the hero with a career-high five-goal haul, providing the X-factor for the Crows in the absence of Mitch McGovern (hamstring),
Goals: Cameron 5, Jenkins 4, Walker, Betts, Lynch, Seedsman 2, Jacobs, Otten, M. Crouch, Knight
Best: Laird, Cameron, M. Crouch, Seedsman, B. Crouch, Talia.
Grand final, September 30
Adelaide 8.12 (60) lost to Richmond 16.12 (108) at the MCG (crowd: 100,021)
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 led by 11 points at quarter-time but kicked only 1.8 in the second and third terms as Richmond took over the contest.
Adelaide’s 8.12 was its lowest score of the season but the Crows had major issues all across the ground.
Goals: Sloane, Walker 2, Betts, Greenwood, B. Crouch, Cameron
Best: Jacobs, Laird, M. Crouch, Sloane