Australian Football

Match Report

The weekend's action would start with a single Saturday afternoon match up north at the X-Convenience Oval as the Bulldogs hosted the Crows in a post-lunch timeslot. The Doggies were unable to put one over the Crows in their two encounters last year, starting with a 25-point loss in Round 4 and a 55-point hiding in Round 18. The earlier match was closer than the final margin suggests, it was Centrals' final term fade out that cost them dearly. The Dogs were only one straight kick down at the final change, but despite an inaccurate final term the Crows ran away with it. The second game was close for about an hour, again the Dogs went wandering as they were out-goaled 12 to four in the second half. Prior to the Gather Round week off, both sides were victorious in Round 2 with the Dogs winning the Northern Derby and the Crows defeating Westies by six goals. Centrals had grit against the Roosters, it was just their ability to bag majors that was of concern in contrast to Adelaide's seemingly powerful forward line. It was to the amazement of those in attendance however that the Dogs did indeed come to play and the Crows were slow to respond. By the time they did, the Dogs had a 19-point lead half-way through the opening term. The Crows did eventually reel them back, but the home side would go into the first change with a five-point lead. Adelaide took the lead early in the second term, but a string of missed opportunities allowed the Dogs to stay in touch. But after Centrals bagged three goals on the trot, Adelaide did the same to close out the half. Altogether the Crows scored 4.3 to lead by four points at half-time. There was a bit of a melee as the players walked off. The match would become an absolute arm-wrestle from here and the result was probably one of the most intense matches so far this year. The Crows were still spurning several vital chances when play resumed but their defence was still putting up resistance as the Dogs kept testing them. Scores would be tied at 64 points each at the final change after the Bulldogs kicked 3.1 to Adelaide's 2.3. The Crows would control the ball for more than nine minutes to begin the final term, but a return of 2.3 would keep the local faithful's hopes alive... and they didn't disappoint. Adelaide's second goal would be their last as the Dogs mounted their assault. For the remaining time, they kept Adelaide to just two behinds and deep into time on were back to within a kick after scoring 2.3. Then for the Crows in the dying moments, the unthinkable. A high tackle and resulting free kick in the Bulldogs' attacking zone was the final nail as they got home by four points. Harry Grant was the Dogs' best afield, with 27 disposals, nine clearances and six tackles. For the Crows, you couldn't really go past Kieran Strachan who while only getting 16 disposals, he was the hit-out king with the bulk of Adelaide 53-14 tally.