Australian Football

Match Report

After two losses in a row, the Adelaide Crows have returned to form with a vengeance, crushing a hapless Brisbane Lions outfit by 80 points at the Gabba on Saturday night. The Lions were more than competitive for the first quarter and a half of the match, but fell away very quickly after that as Adelaide put the foot down and powered away. The Crows kicked seven goals to one in both the second and third quarters, and won in a canter as they wound down in the final term, kicking four goals to two, to maintain their hold on the ladder's top rung.

Both sides had early chances but neither could land a punch, each side scoring just two behinds in the first nine minutes of the match. Dayne Zorko finally broke the drought when he ran onto a loose ball and goaled and he then repeated the effort two minutes later to give the Lions a 12-point lead. The Crows hit back with a goal to Tom Lynch and then Taylor Walker's first major had Adelaide back within three points early in time on. Hugh McCluggage extended the Lions' lead to 10 points with his first goal but the Crows' own Hugh - Greenwood, playing his first AFL match - had the Crows back within three at quarter time when he kicked his first AFL goal just before the siren.

Adelaide came out strongly at the start of the second term, and a brace of goals to Eddie Betts had the Crows in front by 10 points after seven minutes. Brisbane then dominated the next 10 or so minutes but could manage only 1.3 in that period, the goal going to Jake Barrett, and the Crows took over during time on, charging away with five consecutive goals - including two more to Greenwood - to lead by 30 points at the half.

The 20-minute break didn't slow the Crows down, and Charlie Cameron and Taylor Walker combined to kick three goals in the first 10 minutes of the third quarter to race to a 49-point lead. Cameron made it 55 points with his third of the quarter before Matthew Hammelmann finally got the Lions on the board in the term with a goal at the 15-minute mark. Cameron replied with his fourth of the quarter, and Brad Crouch and Betts closed out the term with further majors, Adelaide taking a 69-point lead into the final term.

Taylor Walker, Andy Otten and Tom Lynch opened the final term with a goal each and the Crows looked headed for three-figure win. However, the Lions to their credit showed some pride in the final phase of the match, kicking two of the last three goals of the match, one each to Josh Walker in Barrett. Adelaide was very much in cruise mode by then, though, and the final margin of 80 points was a fair reflection of the gulf between the two sides.

Tom Lynch played an outstanding game for the Crows, kicking three goals and taking eight marks. For Brisbane, Dayne Beams was a great contributor, collecting 40 touches and taking seven marks. 

Next up for the ladder-leading Crows is a home game against Fremantle. The Dockers have been the surprise packet of the season, and are currently sitting in sixth place having won six of their nine matches. Brisbane, last on the ladder with just the one win, will travel to Melbourne on Sunday to take on Collingwood (13th, 3-6) at the MCG.

GOALS
Brisbane: Barrett, Zorko 2; Hammelmann, Walker, McCluggage
Adelaide: Cameron 4; Betts, Walker, Lynch, Greenwood 3; Otten 2; Milera, B.Crouch, Gallucci

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Brisbane: D Beams, Rich, Taylor, Zorko
Adelaide: Lynch, Laird, Sloane, Cameron, M.Crouch, Walker

BEST - BRISBANETIMES.COM.AU
Brisbane: D Beams, Zorko, Rich, Andrews
Adelaide: Lynch, Laird, Cameron, Atkins, Sloane, Betts

INJURIES
Brisbane: C.Beams (hamstring)
Adelaide: Hampton (ankle)

UMPIRES: Deboy, Kamolins, Harris

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Adam Papalia, Alastair Lynch, Tony Shaw, Brian Lake