Australian Football

Match Report

Adelaide may have cost itself a chance of finishing at the top of the 2012 ladder with a shock loss to lowly Brisbane. In a game that went to script for the first 30 minutes, the Crows started off like the top-four side that they are, putting Brisbane to the sword. With Callinan scoring two goals, along with singles to Jenkins, Vince, Walker and Johncock, the Crows led 41-3 at the first change, seemingly on track for a big percentage boost. But after quarter-time, the Lions gradually worked their way back into the match and when Jonathan Brown registered his first goal at the 25-minute mark of the second term, Adelaide's lead was suddenly back to just two goals.

An expected third-quarter surge from the Crows did not eventuate and after a Petrenko goal at the 11-minute mark gave the Crows a 14-point buffer, the Lions kicked the next four goals to take a two goal lead. A late goal to Taylor Walker reduced that margin to six points at the final change. Brisbane dominated much of the last quarter but turnovers allowed Walker and Callinan to get goals for the Crows and, with a couple of minutes remaining, it appeared the Crows might escape with a last-gasp win. But Tom Rockliff's long goal sealed the deal and the Lions deservedly walked off the ground with a 10-point win. Brisbane now has eight wins for the season, four more than their 2011 total, and have two very winnable games remaining. Despite the fact that they will not play finals footy, it is hard to argue against the notion that the Lions have made significant gains in 2012.

The winners were well served by Jack Redden, who in his fourth season is a now vital part of the Brisbane line-up, Pearce Hanley and veteran Simon Black. Black's cool head was particularly crucial in the dying minutes when the game was there for the taking. Walker and Callinan kicked four each for the Crows, while Thomson was his usual busy self, gathering 32 touches. Patrick Dangerfield also had 30 touches but was perhaps not as potent as he has been in recent weeks.

The Crows could finish anywhere between first and fifth on the ladder but with games against Melbourne and Gold Coast to come, will still be eying a top-two place.

GOALS
Brisbane: Bewick 3; Rich, Brown 2; Black, Hudson, Lisle, Polkinghorne, Raines, Rockliff
Adelaide: Walker, Callinan 4; Jenkins, Johncock, Petrenko, Vince

BEST - AAP
Brisbane: Redden, Black, Rockliff, Hudson, Raines
Adelaide: Thompson, Callinan, Walker, Dangerfield

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Brisbane: Redden, Black, Adcock, Zorko, Hanley, Rich
Adelaide: Thompson, Walker, Dangerfield, Shaw, Callinan

COACHES' COMMENTS
Michael Voss (Bris): To come from 41 points down against a team that is in really good form, that's validation for the guys to know they can actually sustain the effort.

Brenton Sanderson (Adel): We lost our method around the ball. They looked a bit more desperate and had a bit more run.

Umpires: Kamolins, Wenn, Ryan