The Adelaide Crows have reaffirmed their status as the AFL’s top dogs with a 65-point smashing of the Essendon Bombers on Saturday night.
Final score
Adelaide Crows 153
Essendon Bombers 88
The Essendon Bombers took a tough loss last weekend, but their task doesn’t get any easier over the Easter weekend as they travel west to face the Adelaide Crows. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:40pm (AEST).
While the Bombers may have taken a step back last weekend, the Crows are flying to begin 2017. They started with strong wins over the Giants and Hawks, before prevailing in a hard-fought showdown last weekend by 17 points.
Rory Sloane has been their star in the first three weeks and his current form has pundits speculating as to whether there may be a Brownlow in the future.
Adelaide will want to show they can back up from the showdown, but they have been forced into one change that will change the look of the forward line. Mitch McGovern went down with a nasty looking hamstring injury and with Josh Jenkins still not over the knock to the ribs he copped against the Hawks, Troy Menzel will reclaim his spot in the side.
This may force the Crows to play a little smaller in the forward half, as Tex Walker and Tom Lynch look to be the only consistent tall targets inside 50.
The Bombers started the season well, downing the Hawks and Lions, but the early season excitement may have caught up with them, as they dropped a shocker to the Blues.
Albeit in atrocious conditions, the Bombers only managed to generate 12 scoring shots against the Blues and that kind of output won’t get it done against the scoring power of the Crows.
Essendon have made two changes for this clash, with goal-sneak Josh Green added alongside Conor McKenna. Heath Hocking and Martin Gleeson are the men to be omitted, which would point towards the Bombers wanting a more attacking mindset.
Prediction
The question here is which Bombers outfit shows up. The Crows have shown over the first few weeks that they’re going to bring a fairly consistent performance, so it’s up to the Bombers to play to that level.
Having said that, Adelaide should get the points at home.
Adelaide by 42.
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Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
VOTES 3. Eddie Betts 2. Rory Sloane 1. Brodie Smith
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
The Adelaide Crows have used a huge first half to thump the Bombers by 65-points at the Adelaide Oval. It was an efficient start for the Crows, as Taylor Walker kicked four of their nine first quarter goals as they led by 36 at the first break. The Bombers actually won more of the footy in the first quarter, but the Crows kicked a goal for every 10 disposals in the first quarter, and that efficiency would continue in the second quarter. The second quarter saw the Crows build their lead to 52 points. Eddie Betts got himself into the game, kicking five goals to half time to go with his captain's bag of five. The Crows did lose promising young defender Jake Kelly at the half after copping an errant hand to the face from Cale Hooker. He was sent to hospital to do some tests on his eye. The third quarter did change the momentum of the game, as the Bombers came out of the half-time dressing sheds fired up. However, they were their own worst enemy, as their efficient 9.2 quickly turned into 9.9 with seven straight misses. The Bombers had nine-straight scoring shots at one stage, and the Crows may have had more worries if they'd managed to kick straight in that quarter. It was back to normal programming in the last quarter, as the Crows kicked away to the eventual 65-point margin. Charlie Cameron suffered a late blow, as he was seen with an ice-pack around the groin towards the end of the match.
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
FULL TIME A massive win for the Crows, who maintain top spot on the ladder with their fourth win to start the season. Eddie Betts was the star with 6 goals, while Tex chipped in with 5 in the first quarter and a bit. The Bombers will take some positives out of a very good third quarter, but at the end of the day, they just weren't good enough for long periods. Game wrap to come STATS Disposals: Bombers 457-412 Free Kicks: Crows 18-15 Clearances: Tie 39-39 Inside 50: Crows 63-47 Contested Possessions: Crows 160-143 Tackles: Crows 59-48 Hit Outs: Bombers 45-39 GOAL KICKERS Crows: Betts 6, Walker 5, Lynch 2, Otten 2, Atkins 2, Sloane 2, Smith, Laird, Cameron, Menzel, Douglas Bombers: McDonald-Tipungwuti 4, Colyer 3, Langford 2, Daniher 2, Fantasia, Zaharakis AFL FANTASY TOP 5 1. Rory Sloane 139 2. Zach Merrett 131 3. Travis Colyer 124 4. Taylor Walker 121 5. Eddie Betts 114
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
0' One more raid for the Crows, but Zaharakis marks Mackay's entry kick. That'll take us to the siren. FINAL SIREN Crows 24.9 153 Bombers 13.10 88
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL CROWS 1' Brodie Smith marks 55 from home, and he's going to have a go. He's a massive kick of the footy, and this one is on line the whole way!! Crows 24.9 153 Bombers 13.10 88
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
1' Brodie Smith goes to the pocket, but no mark down there from Tex or Menzel. The stings been out of this game for a good long while now. Crows 23.9 147 Bombers 13.10 88
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Roar Guru
BEHIND CROWS 2' James Kelly punches it through out of a big pack of players. Crows 23.9 147 Bombers 13.10 88
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Roar Guru
3' Tex with good body work against Ambrose, but he didn't have good position for the mark. Eddie's lurking in the pocket again, but this one gets out of bounds. Parish tackled well by Jacobs off the throw in, so we'll get a ball up. Crows 23.8 146 Bombers 13.10 88
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
4' Stanton overcommits against Hartigan, and now the Crows are out. It all finishes with Tom Lynch marking in the pocket, and his set shot is there. Crows 23.8 146 Bombers 13.10 88
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Roar Guru
GOAL CROWS 5' Richard Douglas caps off a nice night with a very nice goal out of congestion. Crows 22.8 140 Bombers 13.10 88
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Roar Guru
6' Quick clearance for the Bombers, but Parish puts Watson under immense pressure with the handball. The Crows are away down the wing now, as Mackay finds Walker. He can't mark though, and McGrath cleans up the mess. Crows 21.8 134 Bombers 13.10 88
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL BOMBERS 7' Free kick to Jobe Watson at half forward, and he comes sideways to Goddard. The bombers are going sideways to go forward, but there's no way in at the moment. Eventually Parish marks inside 50, before finding McDonald Tipungwuti. Good mark against the bigger man Brown there. He'll kick his fourth. Crows 21.8 134 Bombers 13.10 88
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL CROWS 7' Rory Laird from a standing start, and he nails it from 45! Crows 21.8 134 Bombers 12.10 82
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
9' Umpire just rubbing in the fact that Daniher fell over in the ruck. He'll win the subsequent throw in, and the Bombers are away. Zaka finds McKenna through the middle, but he has a fumble. He now crashes into Riley Knight, and he could be in some trouble for that. High contact with the shoulder. Crows 20.8 128 Bombers 12.10 82
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
10' Atkins and Baguley with a good contest at half forward, and Atkins manages to win out. The ball will be thrown in in the pocket for the Crows, and Douglas might have a chance. It eventually finds its way back to Laird who sends it inside. Betts is lurking around the pocket again, but he won't get the footy this time. Andrew McGrath manages to win a free kick. Crows 20.8 128 Bombers 12.10 82
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL BOMBERS 11' That got the crowd buzzing again. He was going hard towards the boundary line, and got the perfect bend to curl it through. Brown is deep in defence for the Bombers, and now Merrett can run through the wing. Colyer couldn't mark down load, so he'll send a chaos ball inside 50. Green will find McDonald Tipungwuti all by himself in the goal square, and the Bombers get an instant response. Crows 20.8 128 Bombers 12.10 82
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL CROWS 12' Brodie Smith sends it inside 50, and Eddie Betts is lurking in the pocket. He slams it on the right boot, and it's another Eddie classic!!! That was never going to miss!! Crows 20.8 128 Bombers 11.10 76
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
GOAL CROWS 12' Tex is going to have a go from 70 out, but he doesn't have the distance. It won't matter though, as Sloane flies high for a classic mark!! It's called play on, but he'll just casually snap over the shoulder for the goal. Crows 19.8 122 Bombers 11.10 76
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
13' Betts gets a little throw away to Cameron, but the turnover comes at half forward. Zaharakis can send it inside 50. Hooker came hard from the goalsquare, and now Daniher is over the footy. Laird has too much time, and he finds Knight with a dart. Crows 18.8 116 Bombers 11.10 76
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
BEHIND CROWS 14' The Crows' fans are getting a little uneasy here. There's no chance of a comeback you'd think, but their side has been pretty ordinary this second half. Eddie Betts has a fly from outside 50, but it's off to the right. Crows 18.8 116 Bombers 11.10 76