Australian Football

Match Report

Adelaide has again stamped itself as one of the teams to beat in  2017 with a comprehensive thrashing of Essendon at the Adelaide Oval. The Crows blew the Bombers away with a nine-goal first quarter, and withstood any challenges that came their way, ultimately defeating the Dons by 65 points to remain one of three unbeaten sides this season, along with Geelong and Richmond. The Crows' potent forward line was again on display, with Eddie Betts booting six goals and Taylor Walker five, as the team racked up its second score of over 140 for the season.

There were ominous signs for the Bombers almost as soon as the match started, with a snap from Andy Otten giving Adelaide the first goal after just 48 seconds. Captain Walker followed up with a mark and goal two minutes later, and the Crows were already 12 points ahead. Essendon fought back with two of the next three goals, but then a run of four in a row had Adelaide ahead by five goals 24 minutes into the quarter. Oarazio Fantasia pulled one back for the Dons, but further goals to Walker (his fourth) and Eddie Betts (his second) gave the Crows a commanding 36-point lead at quarter time. 

The Crows extended their lead to 44 points early in the second quarter, with a couple of behinds and Walker's fifth goal, but Essendon staged a fightback, and majors to Kyle Langford, David Zaharakis and Joe Daniher had the margin back to 26 points 10 minutes into the quarter. Eddie Betts then got the Crows back on track with his third and fourth goals, and when Rory Atkins marked and goaled as the term ticked into time on, the margin was back out to 45. The Crows added another two goals to one, with Betts kicking his fifth, and the half-time margin was a huge 52 points. 

Essendon produced its best football of the match in the third term, restricting the Crows to just two goals, while peppering its own goals. The Bombers added three goals for the term, two to Travis Colyer and one to Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, but also wasted several shots, with seven behinds also being added to their score. At the final break, the margin was back to 40 points but the Crows were still well in command. 

Any thought of a last-quarter comeback from the Dons was quickly put to bed when Toy Menzel marked and goaled in the second minute. Colyer added his third soon after but further Adelaide goals to Rory Sloane and Betts extended the margin back beyond 50 to snuff out any last hope of a miracle. The Crows the went on with the job, kicking four of the last six goals (McDonald-Tipungwuti kicking the Bombers' last two) to cruise to victory. 

Walker (five goals, 10 marks) and Betts (six goals, 22 possessions) were standouts for the Crows, while Colyer (24 touches and three goals) had an excellent game for Essendon.

Incredibly Adelaide lost top place on the ladder to Geelong despite the big win, but the Crows remain undefeated and will look to remain so against Gold Coast at Carrara on Saturday. Essendon (11th, 2-2) will look to return to the winners list against Collingwood in the traditional ANZAC Day clash next Tuesday. 

GOALS
Adelaide: Betts 6; Walker 5; Otten, Atkins, Sloane, Lynch 2; Cameron, Menzel, Laird, Douglas
Essendon: McDonald-Tipungwuti 4; Colyer 3; Langford, Daniher 2; Fantasia, Zaharakis

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Adelaide: Walker, Betts, Sloane, Laird, Jacobs, Smith
Essendon: Colyer, Merrett, Goddard, Kelly, Zaharakis, Daniher

BEST - HERALD SUN
Adelaide: Betts, Walker, Sloane, Laird, M. Crouch, Smith, Cameron
Essendon: Colyer, Merrett, Zaharakis, Leuenberger, Daniher

INJURIES
Adelaide: Kelly (eye)
Essendon: Nil

REPORTS: McKenna (head high contact)

UMPIRES: Deboy, Schmitt, Kamolins

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Basil Zempilas, Luke Darcy, Matthew Richardson, Mark Soderstrom