The Adelaide Crows have silenced some doubters and broken the GWS Giants’ winning streak, recording a 22-point victory over the AFL’s newest side on Saturday night at Adelaide Oval.
REPORT: CROWS STAKE TOP EIGHT CLAIM
Final score:
Adelaide Crows 15.17.107
GWS Giants 13.7.85
Two of the best AFL teams so far this season go head-to-head as the Adelaide Crows and GWS Giants go to battle at Adelaide Oval. Join The Roar from 7:40pm (AEST) for live coverage.
The Crows are in the midst of a form slump having won just two from their last five matches and will be eager to lift themselves from eighth on the ladder.
A victim of the Crows’ poor performance in recent weeks has been Eddie Betts.
The 2015 All-Australian had a brilliant start to 2016 however, in the last three weeks he has kicked just two goals. He will be pivotal if Adelaide are to be any chance of defeating the Giants.
Betts will come up against Heath Shaw who was impressive last week against the Western Bulldogs with a total of 38 possessions.
Along with Nathan Wilson and Zac Williams, Shaw has helped lead the Giants’ revival which sees them sitting inside the top four after nine rounds.
Shane Mumford will be looking to continue his strong form against Adelaide ruckman Sam Jacobs while Callan Ward will also be critical for the Giants.
Last week’s 15.8.98 – 10.13.73 win over the Western Bulldogs at Homebush has seen Leon Cameron’s men lauded as a premiership heavyweight with GWS having already broken a host of records in 2016 as they aim for their first ever finals appearance.
In six meetings between these two clubs since the Giants’ inauguration in 2012, Adelaide have dominated encounters winning five matches.
GWS’ only win came last year in Round 8 when the trumped the Crows 16.12.108 – 12.12.84.
Prediction
This will be one of the closest matches of the round. With the Giant steps GWS have taken forward in recent weeks, they will just get home in Adelaide.
Giants by 11.
Join The Roar from 7:40pm (AEST) for live score updates and debate in our live blog.
justinr
Guest
This match was virtually identical to the game these two clubs played last year (with the roles reversed, obviously): http://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/2015/012120150523.html
anon
Guest
Second youngest team in the league and they're sitting 7-3 with impressive wins over Geelong, Hawthorn and the Bulldogs. If they haven't been one of the most impressive teams so far then who has?
Cat
Roar Guru
They could very well do as you say, but it will show all this talk of a dynasty is way too premature.
fairsuckofthesav
Guest
Wrong. Crows win and would have won by a lot more if they had kicked straight.
anon
Guest
The Giants were horrible and never really got going, yet were still close. I penciled them in as a loss a few weeks ago before the Geelong-Adelaide game, but backed GWS this week. I don't think this was a bad loss. They'll learn a lot from this. Even if they lose the next 2 away against Geelong and against Sydney they're still in a great position to make the top 4.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Important win by the Crows - set up in the first three quarters. And good to see big Tex Walker back in some goal scoring form. Pretty even performance but I thought Talia stood out down back as well as Walker and Eddie Betts up front. Like the efforts of Charlie Cameron. GWS are still an impressive team and a good chance of a top 4 finish.
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Click here for the full match report from the game That concludes The Roar's coverage of Adelaide Crows vs GWS Giants. Be sure to join us over the remainder of the round, with live coverage of all three games tomorrow live right here on The Roar starting with Shannon Russell taking you through Carlton Blues vs Geelong Cats from 1:10pm (AEST). Also, don't forget to check out The Roar's live coverage of the French Open to follow the progress of Samantha Stosur and some of the world's top players including Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Andy Murray, et al. Thanks for following along.
justinr
Guest
This was the reality check the Giants needed after the hype of the last three weeks. That said, you have to ask where the big men were for the Scully set shot. That goes through then it's 10 points with 2 minutes remaining...
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
MVP Nominations 3 - Rory Atkins 2 - Taylor Walker 1 - Eddie Betts Adelaide Crows 15.17.107 GWS Giants 13.7.85
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
FULL-TIME Disposals: 370 - 389 Kicks: 241 - 216 Handballs: 129 - 173 Free Kicks: 23 - 19 Clearances: 38 - 27 Inside 50: 62 - 52 Marks in 50: 18 - 11 Contested Possessions: 155 - 145 Tackles: 56 - 44 Hit-Outs: 31 - 37 Interchange: 87 - 89 Adelaide Crows 15.17.107 GWS Giants 13.7.85
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
FULL-TIME The pendulum was in full swing as the Crows climbed to a 22-point victory over the GWS Giants. The momentum shifted each quarter akin to a see-saw as Eddie Betts' marvel helped Adelaide to unseat one of the AFL's best teams so far in 2016. The Adelaide Crows came racing out of the blocks with skipper Taylor Walker leading the way with two goals in the space of two minutes. It was all one-way traffic to the home side for most of the first quarter until the Giants arrived through Toby Greene in the 20th minute with Jeremy Cameron scoring off a free kick just a minute later. Jarryd Lyons hit back for the Crows before Taylor Walker got his third to put the Crows in front by 17 points at the end of the first quarter. The second term began with Josh Kelly scoring for the Giants before Wayne Milera followed for the Crows. Adam Tomlinson, Jack Steele, Dylan Shiel and Jacob Hooper all scored before the break interrupted only by Eddie Betts with the Giants managing to close the gap to just two points at half-time. Tex Walker opened the second half in style with the Crows dominating after goals to Rory Sloane and Eddie Betts. The goals just kept on coming with Betts kicking another before Shiel followed up. Betts got his third of the half with Taylor Walker, Josh Jenkins and Mitch McGovern all scoring in the space of only a couple of minutes as the Crows stretched their lead to a massive 46 points. The Crows were silenced in the final term as the Giants looked to march back from a heavy deficit. Rory Lobb got on the board early on for the Giants before Scully and Greene both kicked two goals each in the dying stages. Then, with just seconds remaining Eddie Betts kicked his fifth goal in a miraculous effort which secured the win for the Crows. Don Pyke will be happy with the Crows' effort as they come away with an impressive 22-point victory over the Giants. The Crows held off a late charge from the Giants in the end for a 22 point victory. Adelaide Crows 15.17.107 GWS Giants 13.7.85
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
FULL-TIME Eddie seals the deal and the Crows are home! Adelaide Crows 15.18.107 GWS Giants 13.7.85
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
34' Kennedy rattled in the contest, taken from the field with concussion Adelaide Crows 14.17.101 GWS Giants 13.7.85
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
30' Score review sees Scully's set shot hit the post for a behind. Adelaide Crows 14.17.101 GWS Giants 13.7.85
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
GOAL! TOBY GREENE 25' Through the legs, its a Greene special Adelaide Crows 14.17.101 GWS Giants 13.6.84
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
20' Walker with the set shot from deep in the pocket, behind Adelaide Crows 14.13.99 GWS Giants 12.5.77
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
GOAL! TOM SCULLY 18' Scully through the centre sticks as the Giants continue to dominate scoring in the fourth quarter Adelaide Crows 14.13.97 GWS Giants 12.5.77
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
GOAL! TOBY GREENE 16' Space opens for Greene, he punts it through Adelaide Crows 14.13.97 GWS Giants 11.5.71
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
10' Kelly can't get it, goes for a behind Adelaide Crows 14.13.97 GWS Giants 10.5.65
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
GOAL! TOM SCULLY 6' Free kick to Scully, he kicks it from the goal square Adelaide Crows 14.13.97 GWS Giants 10.4.64