2017 AFL

Games Won 17

Ladder Position 2

Premiership position: 2nd (17 wins, 7 losses, one draw). Finished minor round 1st (15 wins, 6 losses, 1 draw)

Coach: Don Pyke

Captain: Taylor Walker

Adelaide’s best in 2017 was scintillating but the grand final failure underlined the lack of guarantees once teams reach the decider.

The Crows were AFL minor premiers and dominated their first two finals before the excitement surrounding their first AFL grand final appearance in 19 years evaporated during a flat performance against Richmond at the MCG.

Adelaide kicked its lowest score of the season (8.12) but was well beaten in most areas in the comprehensive 48-point loss.

The Club missed the chance to win two flags in 2017, six months after the remarkable triumph of the new Crows AFLW side.

For most of the season Adelaide’s AFL success was based around an improved midfield, solid defence across the ground and dangerous cluster of scoring options.

The Crows averaged a competition-high 110 points per game, were the best at creating turnovers and scoring from forward half turnovers, and defended aggressively.

Eddie Betts (55 goals), Taylor Walker (54), Josh Jenkins (45), Tom Lynch (31), Charlie Cameron (29) and Mitch McGovern (20) helped Adelaide kick winning scores. Midfielders Rory Sloane, Matt and Brad Crouch, Richard Douglas and former basketballer Hugh Greenwood enjoyed the ruck dominance of Sam Jacobs, while Rory Laird and Daniel Talia led the back half.

After finishing sixth in 2016, Adelaide pursued Carlton midfielder Bryce Gibbs in the trade period but couldn’t seal a deal with the Blues. It drafted Victorian midfielder-forward Jordan Gallucci (at No 15) with the first of five national draft picks and later claimed Ben Jarman – the son of Crows premiership star Darren – in the rookie draft.

Adelaide made a strong statement in its season-opener, thrashing Greater Western Sydney by 56 points at Adelaide Oval as Andy Otten played his first AFL game since injuring a knee late in the 2014 season.

It was the first of six consecutive wins, the Crows also reaching 100 points against Hawthorn, Port Adelaide, Essendon and Gold Coast before thumping Richmond by 76 points.

Lowly North Melbourne ended the run in stunning style, kicking ten unanswered goals in the first quarter on the way to a 59-point win in Hobart. Melbourne then recovered from a 28-point deficit midway through the second term to beat the Crows by 41 points at Adelaide Oval.

Adelaide revived its high-scoring ways with big wins against Brisbane and Fremantle but struggled against Geelong at Kardinia Park, losing by 22 points, and then led by three goals at half-time but lost to Hawthorn by 14 points in round 14.

Another powerful run of six consecutive wins and a draw lifted the Crows to top spot, where it stayed despite losing the last two minor round games.

The streak started with a tight win against Carlton at the MCG and gained momentum with a 59-point win over 2016 premiers Western Bulldogs and 46-point win against Melbourne in Darwin. The top two teams then met on a Friday night at Adelaide Oval, the Crows breaking away to lead Geelong by seven goals in the third term and winning by 21 points.

Forward Mitch McGovern took a spectacular pack mark and then after the final siren kicked his fourth goal to secure an unbelievable draw against Collingwood at the MCG in round 19.

Adelaide was smashed by the Magpies in the first half and trailed by 50 points early in the third term but cut the gap to 17 points at the last change and kept pressing.

Adelaide had drawn just one game in its history — against St Kilda at the defunct Waverley Park in 1994.

The following week Adelaide kicked 1.9 in the first term but still demolished fifth-placed Port Adelaide by a record 84 points, with Jacobs winning the Showdown Medal for the third time.

The Crows had the minor premiership secured before it lost the last minor round clash against West Coast, finishing with 15 wins, six losses and a draw.

Not everything went perfectly for Adelaide on the way to the grand final but its form at home was impeccable.

Missing Sloane, who was recovering from having his appendix removed, the Crows held GWS to one goal in the first half of the qualifying final and won by 36 points. But damaging half-back Brodie Smith wrecked a knee early in the game after kicking the opening goal from 60m and then McGovern strained a hamstring at training the following week.

Two goals in the first three minutes of the preliminary final to Betts and Cameron gave Adelaide another fast start and when Paul Seedsman kicked two goals early in the second term the scoreline was 57-9.

Geelong made a move to be 26 points down late in the second quarter but after an even third quarter the Crows again kicked away to win by 61 points. Cameron booted a career-best five goals as Adelaide broke a run of four preliminary final defeats, the last in 2012.

Richmond, which finished 13th in 2016, also entered the grand final in impressive form after wins against Geelong and GWS in its two finals at the MCG.

Adelaide started well, with Sloane and Betts celebrating goals in the first five minutes. Richmond responded before two late goals to Sloane and Greenwood gave the Crows an 11-point lead at quarter-time.

Betts and Lynch kicked behinds early in the second term but Richmond dominated the rest of the quarter, its speed and pressure hurting the Crows as it added four goals to lead by nine points at half-time.

Three more goals to the Tigers in the first ten minutes of the third term stretched the margin to 28 points and although Walker broke Adelaide’s goal drought, another four consecutive Richmond goals ended hopes of a Crows revival.

> More on 2017 AFL grand final

Season Gallery

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 26: Riley Knight of the Crows celebrates a goal during the 2017 AFL round 01 match between the Adelaide Crows and the GWS Giants at Adelaide Oval on March 26, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by AFL Media)

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 07: Matt de Boer of the Giants tackles Matt Crouch of the Crows during the 2017 AFL First Qualifying Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the GWS Giants at the Adelaide Oval on September 07, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Media)

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 26: during the 2017 AFL round 01 match between the Adelaide Crows and the GWS Giants at Adelaide Oval on March 26, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by AFL Media)

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 09: Rory Sloane of the Crows enters the field during the 2017 AFL round 12 match between the Adelaide Crows and the St Kilda Saints at the Adelaide Oval on June 09, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Media)

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 07: Taylor Walker of the Crows marks over Fletcher Roberts of the Bulldogs during the round 16 AFL match between the Adelaide Crows and the Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval on July 7, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images/AFL Media)

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 06: Taylor Walker of the Crows celebrates a goal as Hamish Hartlett of the Power looks on during the 2017 AFL round 20 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Port Adelaide Power at Adelaide Oval on August 06, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by AFL Media)

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 22: during the 2017 AFL First Preliminary Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Geelong Cats at Adelaide Oval on September 22, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by AFL Media)

DARWIN, AUSTRALIA – JULY 15: Eddie Betts of the Crows kicks the ball during the 2017 AFL round 17 match between the Melbourne Demons and the Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium on July 15, 2017 in Darwin, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media)

DARWIN, AUSTRALIA – JULY 15: Charlie Cameron of the Crows takes a spectacular mark during the 2017 AFL round 17 match between the Melbourne Demons and the Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium on July 15, 2017 in Darwin, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 30: Mitch McGovern of the Crows takes a mark in the dying seconds over Ben Reid (left) and Tyson Goldsack of the Magpies during the 2017 AFL round 19 match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Adelaide Crows at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 30, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media)

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – MAY 20: Hugh Greenwood of the Crows is congratulated by his teammates after kicking a goal during the round nine AFL match between the Brisbane Lions and the Adelaide Crows at The Gabba on May 20, 2017 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images/AFL Media)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 12: Taylor Walker of the Crows and Sam Jacobs of the Crows sing the song in the rooms after winning the 2017 AFL round 21 match between the Essendon Bombers and the Adelaide Crows at Etihad Stadium on August 12, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/AFL Media)

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 26: Rory Atkins of the Crows celebrates a goal with teammate Eddie Betts during the round one AFL match between the Adelaide Crows and the GWS Giants at Adelaide Oval on March 26, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Morne de Klerk/Getty Images)

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 26: Rory Atkins of the Crows celebrates a goal during the 2017 AFL round 01 match between the Adelaide Crows and the GWS Giants at Adelaide Oval on March 26, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Media)

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 09: Jonathon Beech of the Crows celebrates his first goal in AFL during the 2017 AFL round 12 match between the Adelaide Crows and the St Kilda Saints at the Adelaide Oval on June 09, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by AFL Media)

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 26: Eddie Betts of the Crows celebrates their win during the 2017 AFL round 01 match between the Adelaide Crows and the GWS Giants at Adelaide Oval on March 26, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Media)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 01: (L-R) Riley Knight, David Mackay and Mitch McGovern of the Crows celebrate during the 2017 AFL round 02 match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Adelaide Crows at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 01, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media)

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 08: Taylor Walker of the Crows celebrates after kicking a goal during the round three AFL match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Adelaide Crows at Adelaide Oval on April 8, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Morne de Klerk/Getty Images/AFL Media)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 15: Andy Otten of the Crows celebrates a goal during the 2017 AFL round 04 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Essendon Bombers at the Adelaide Oval on April 15, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Media)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Eddie Betts of the Crows kicks 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 Scott Barbour/AFL Media)

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Rory Sloane Crows looks dejected after defeat 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)

Young gun Matt Crouch won the Malcolm Blight Medal as Club Champion after putting together one of the best seasons by a Crow. He broke the League’s all-time record for the most possessions in a single season with 825, beating Collingwood champion Dane Swan’s 2010 campaign by five disposals.

Matt also earned All-Australian selection alongside Betts and first-timer Laird and received the 19th Man Award voted by Crows members.

Five other Crows – Walker, Sloane, Jacobs, Jake Lever and Lynch – made the 40-man All Australian squad.

Sloane’s brilliant start to the season – he polled 12 Brownlow Medal votes in five of the first six rounds – led to some heavy tagging in some games but he finished runner-up in the Club Champion votes. Laird and veterans Jacobs and Douglas – who won the Phil Walsh Best Team Man award – rounded out the top five. The new Players’ Trademark award was won by Brad Crouch.

After 308 AFL games, two-time Adelaide Club Champion Scott Thompson retired, aged 34. The reliable midfielder earned All Australian selection in 2012 and won back-to-back Crows Club Champion awards in 2011 and 2012. He finished top ten in the Malcolm Blight Medal in nine of his 13 seasons with Adelaide after starting his career with Melbourne, where he played 39 matches.

Thompson won Adelaide’s State League Club Champion award in his final season.

Adelaide’s SANFL side, coached by former Sydney champion Ryan O’Keefe, won seven of its 18 games to finish eighth.

Defender Tom Doedee was runner-up in the Club Champion voting and Harrison Wigg claimed third place for the second year in a row. Wigg’s consistent season was recognised with selection in the SANFL’s Team of the Year.

Adelaide had a slim chance of sneaking into the finals in the last minor round but lost to a fast-finishing South Adelaide by four points at Noarlunga.

It was Thompson’s final game as a Crow, a fact acknowledged by South players who joined the Crows to form a guard of honour as he left the ground.

Adelaide used 16 development players in 2017, including 13 who made their SANFL league debut. Lachlan Murphy was the only player from the Club’s development squad to play every game and he received the Dean Bailey Award.

Awards and Achievements

All Australians: Eddie Betts, Rory Laird, Matt Crouch

Phil Walsh Best Team Man: Richard Douglas

Players’ Trademark Award: Brad Crouch

19th Man Award: Matt Crouch

Leading goalkicker: Eddie Betts

Mark Bickley Emerging Talent Award: Wayne Milera jnr

Dr Brian Sando Award: Rory Sloane

Crows Children’s Foundation Community Leadership Award: Eddie Betts

Showdown Medals: Rory Sloane (round 3), Sam Jacobs (round 20)

State League Club Champion: Scott Thompson

Dean Bailey Award: Lachlan Murphy

AFC Life Membership: Dr Andrew Potter, Taylor Walker

Other news

Adelaide became the first club to win an AFLW premiership, completing the inaugural season with a six-point win over Brisbane in the grand final on March 25.
Adelaide champion Simon Goodwin was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame. The former captain was the sixth Crows premiership player to enter the Australian Football Hall of Fame following in the footsteps of Mark Bickley, Mark Ricciuto, Andrew McLeod, Darren Jarman and Ben Hart. Goodwin played 275 games for Adelaide between 1997 and 2010. Two-time Crows premiership coach Malcolm Blight was elevated to Legend status.
Inaugural Crows chairman Bob Hammond was honoured with the AFL’s John Kennedy lifetime achievement award, presented on grand final day.
Three-time All Australian Eddie Betts qualified for AFL Life Membership in Round 15 when he played his 300th game, including pre-season matches and five International Rules appearances for Australia.
Betts, Laird and Sloane represented Australia in the International Rules series against Ireland in November. Australia won the series 2-0.
The Adelaide Football Club reported a cash operating profit of $3,432,052 for the 2017 financial year.

List changes

In: Jordan Gallucci (Eastern U18), Myles Poholke (Dandenong U18), Mathew Signorello (Northern U18), Elliot Himmelberg (Redland), Ben Davis (NSW-ACT U18), Reilly O’Brien (rookie elevation). Rookie: Ben Jarman (North Adelaide, father-son selection)

Out: Nathan van Berlo, Jarryd Lyons (Gold Coast), Mitch Grigg, Ricky Henderson (Hawthorn), Matthew Jaensch, Luke Lowden, Keenan Ramsay, Sam Shaw

First game players

Curtly Hampton, v GWS at Adelaide Oval, 26/3/17 (debut order 210)

Troy Menzel, v GWS at Adelaide Oval, 26/3/17 (211)

Jordan Gallucci, v Brisbane at the Gabba, 20/5/17 (212)

Hugh Greenwood, v Brisbane at the Gabba, 20/5/17 (213)

Jono Beech, v St Kilda at Adelaide Oval, 9/6/17 (214)

Alex Keath, v Geelong at Adelaide Oval, 21/7/17 (215)

All Australians

Life Members

The 2017 squad

Back row (from left): Rory Laird (29), Riley Knight (3), Rory Atkins (21), Curtly Hampton (17), Kyle Cheney (25), Brodie Smith (33), Paul Seedsman (11), Tom Doedee (39), Brad Crouch (2), Troy Menzel (32), Wayne Milera (30), Charlie Cameron (23). Third row: Hugh Greenwood (20), Mitch McGovern (41), Kyle Hartigan (15), Harry Dear (38), Josh Jenkins (4), Reilly O’Brien (43), Sam Jacobs (24), Paul Hunter (37), Elliott Himmelberg (34), Alex Keath (42), Jake Lever (6), Andy Otten (22), Cam Ellis-Yolmen (28). Second row: Luke Brown (16), Matt Crouch (44), Scott Thompson (5), Daniel Talia (12), Taylor Walker (captain,13), Don Pyke (senior coach), Rory Sloane (9), Tom Lynch (27), Eddie Betts (18), David Mackay (14), Richard Douglas (26). Front row: Harrison Wigg (10), Dean Gore (36), Matthew Signorello (35), Jono Beech (1), Jake Kelly (8), Ben Davis (40), Myles Poholke (31), Jordan Gallucci (7), Ben Jarman (45).

2017 Jumpers

Another change of supplier (to ISC) and another different collar template, with gold added to the shoulders of the home jumper and blue to the white and yellow jumpers. Toyota had the option to use two different sponsorship badges on the back of the main guernsey, opting for the Toyota logo and C-HR, and Camry on the away. Adelaide wore its main jumper, with blue shorts, in all three finals.

Daniel Talia and Eddie Betts in the 2017 home jumper; Matt Crouch and Richard Douglas (white away); Brodie Smith (yellow away); Betts (Indigenous Round jumper); 2017 grand final edition.