Australian Football

Match Report

Adelaide's season is well and truly back on track after the Crows overcame a 28-point deficit and a late surge from the Western Bulldogs to prevail by nine points at Docklands stadium and record a third consecutive victory. After starting 2014 with three losses, the Crows are now "three and three" and out of the top eight on percentage only.

However, things did not look so bright for Adelaide in the early stages of Sunday's match. The Bulldogs got away to a flyer, kicking the first four goals of the match through Tom Campbell, Koby Stevens, Shaun Higgins and Tory Dickson, returning from a spell in the Dogs' VFL side. The Crows settled in the latter part of the first term, but could not find the big sticks, often enough, kicking 1.4 to round out the quarter.

Stevens and Dickson kicked the first two of the second ted, taking the Bulldogs out to a 28-point lead, and it looked as though Adelaide was in for a dirty day. But then almost as quickly as the Western Bulldogs had taken control of the match, they lost it. Big Crow forward James Podsiadly kicked two goals in two minute and another tall Tom Lynch added a third not long after to put the Crows back in the match. The Dogs began to second guess themselves and lose their grip on the match. Josh Jenkins kicked the fourth Crow goal of the second term at the 22-minute mark and by the long break Adelaide trailed by just four points and looked to have all the momentum.

Faced with a potential Adelaide onslaught, the Bulldogs produced probably their worst quarter of 2014 in the third term, failing to kick a goal and turning the ball over regularly with some very poor foot skills. But the Crows couldn't quite take full toll, kicking 3.3 for the quarter to the Dogs' solitary behind to lead by 16 points at the last change.

A rearguard action from the Dogs looked unlikely when Jenkins goaled for the Crows in the first minute of the final term but a goal to Stewart Crameri, the first for the home side in almost two full quarters, awoke the Dogs from their slumber. A fine tackle on Matthee Jaensch was rewarded with a goal to Luke Dahlhaus at the four minute mark and Dahlhaus followed up with another three minutes later to cut the margin to three points. Rory Sloane steadied the ship with a goal for Adelaide, but the Dogs, suddenly full of running, kicked the next two goals via Daniel Giansiracusa and Dickson to hit the lead by a point and look like unlikely winners.

But the tide turned once more and Adelaide kicked goals through Matthew Wright, Jenkins and Eddie Betts as the Crows showed more composure than their counterparts, with the Dogs left to rue a couple of costly errors. Jake Stringer kicked a goal to cut the margin to less than two goals but the Dogs, despite attacking incessantly in the closing minutes, couldn't find two more goals to snatch victory.

The loss leave the Dogs with a 2-4 record, in 15th spot on the ladder and gradually losing touch with the top eight. They face Essendon and Melbourne in their next two matches. The Crows are on a roll, having won three on end, and will be looking to build on that with a home win against Melbourne before enjoying a bye in round eight.

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Dickson 3; Stevens, Dahlhaus 2; Campbell, Higgins, Crameri, Giansiracusa, Stringer
Adelaide: Podsiadly, Jenkins 3; Lynch, Betts 2; Mackay, Sloane, Laird

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Western Bulldogs: Boyd, Dickson, Macrae, Liberatore, Cooney, Murphy
Adelaide: Lynch, Thompson, Podsiadly, Jenkins, Dangerfield, Crouch

BEST - SPORTAL.COM.AU
Western Bulldogs: Boyd, Macrae, Liberatore, Cooney
Adelaide: Dangerfield, Thompson, Podsiadly, Jenkins, Lynch, Betts, Hartigan

COACHES' COMMENTS
Brendan McCartney (WB): In the second quarter it [the issue] was our inability to compete around the ball, and we lost our ascendency. In the third quarter we got a bit of stage fright moving it [the ball]. We put a bit too much pressure on the bloke with the ball; there wasn't enough people moving in blue jumpers to give him an opportunity to move it and take the pressure off him.

Brenton Sanderson (Adel): That was really hard work. We didn't get away to a great start. The Dogs had four goals two before we'd even scored and we just looked a bit cautious and tentative early. Their pressure was incredible, they really brought the heat in the match today. Fortunately we were able to get on top in the second and third quarters and then grind out a win.

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Adelaide: Dangerfield (ribs), Shaw (leg)

SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Tom Campbell replaced by Lachie Hunter in the third quarter.
Adelaide: Sam Shaw replaced by Mitch Grigg in the fourth quarter.

UMPIRES: Bannister, Ryan, McInerney

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Dwayne Russell, Jason Dunstall, Danny Frawley, Barry Hall