Australian Football

Match Report

It's now time for some Sunday afternoon footy to finish off and we're going to league HQ at the Adelaide Oval where the Bloods took on the Crows. It wasn't a complete four-quarter effort when they last met back in Round 8 at Richmond, but the Bloods outran a wayward Crows outfit to win by 20 points. They led at every change, but were made to withstand Adelaide's fightbacks in the second and final terms. The Bloods' third term was their game-breaker, kicking five goals to one while Adelaide peppered their sticks for some poor returns, they got to within a couple of kicks in the last period before Westies put the finishing touch on for victory. The Bloods' finals chances went from a rope to a thread after their loss to South last weekend, while the Crows push for an Elimination Final berth got another shot in the arm after their win at Woodville. The Crows began with a wasteful opening quarter, they kicked the opening major then added just three minor scores as the Bloods overtook them to lead by 15 points at quarter-time with their four goals without a miss. But then it wall went seriously pear-shaped for the red & blacks from there as the Crows began their ascent. Westies' sixth goal for the game deep into second quarter added time would prove to be their last, despite going into the long break with the lead it was back to just three points after Adelaide kicked four goals to two. The Bloods added two behinds when play resumed and then it was all Adelaide from there, booting 5.1 to skip off to a 26-point three quarter-time lead. The gulf in class was well visible now and the Bloods' finals hopes were burnt to a crisp, Adelaide ramming through a further seven goals to none in the final term as they ran out 68-point winners and making fifth spot officially a three-way dance, only percentage keeping the Eagles where they are. Lachlan Gollant kicked eight goals, but the best on ground was Charlie Edwards with 31 disposals, nine tackles and six marks. Brady Searle was the Bloods' standout with 24 disposals, 11 tackles and six marks.