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Adelaide have sent an ominous warning to tomorrow’s preliminary finalists, dominating Geelong from just about start to finish in an emphatic 61-point victory.
In front of an Adelaide Oval-record crowd of 53,817, the Crows blew their opponents away with a six-goals-to-one effort in the first quarter before withstanding a second-quarter rally and kicking away in the last with seven goals to two.
Goals to Charlie Cameron and Eddie Betts in the first two minutes set the tone early and, while Nakia Cockatoo was able to put Geelong on the board, two goals to Tom Lynch, a second to Betts and a major to Sam Jacobs saw the home side up by 31 points at the first break.
The match looked over early in the second when Josh Jenkins’ opener was followed by two to Paul Seedsman, but Geelong were able to wrestle some momentum back.
Four of the next five goals went the way of the visitors – including two to ex-Crow Patrick Dangerfield – but a steadier from Andy Otten just before the siren saw Adelaide head into the main break up by 35.
The sides traded goals in the third quarter, with the margin not changing at the final break, before Adelaide went gangbusters in the last quarter to blow the deficit out to 61 points.
The Crouch brothers were superb, with Brad collecting 29 disposals, ten tackles and eight clearances, while Matt contributed 31 disposals, six clearances and a goal.
Rory Laird was lethal with the ball, racking up 32 disposals at 91 per cent effectiveness.
But it was the potent Adelaide forward line on full display, with Charlie Cameron (five goals), Josh Jenkins (four), Eddie Betts, Taylor Walker and Tom Lynch (two each) all proving too much to handle for their respective opponents.
Joel Selwood battled hard for Geelong with 34 disposals, ten tackles, seven clearances and a goal, while his partner in crime Dangerfield managed 24, nine tackles and two goals – although his kicking was sub-standard like the qualifying final.
The two sides got through the night unscathed on the injury front, although the Geelong loss saw the careers of Andrew Mackie and Tom Lonergan brought to a close.