Comeback Crows' late surge sinks Brisbane in thriller

The Advertiser

06-06-2025

Adelaide have produced a stunning last-quarter comeback to sink reigning premiers Brisbane by five points in an AFL thriller.
Down 17 points at three-quarter time, the Crows then booted five goals to none for a 10.8 (68) to 8.15 (63) triumph at a rain-soaked Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
Adelaide retain a hold on third spot - they're just two premiership points behind the second-placed Lions.
Adelaide boast nine wins and four losses and appear certain to return to the finals for the first time since 2017.
"I know we're we're a good side; we have got a little bit still to do to become a great side," Crows coach Matthew Nicks said.
"But tonight is a step in the right direction. It backs up my belief in the group, there's no doubt about that."
Adelaide livewire Josh Rachele slotted three goals, as did Ben Keays (20 disposals, seven inside 50s) who was outstanding against his former club.
And their captain, Jordan Dawson, took a mark-of-the-year contender - and then goaled - during a final-term flourish which enhances the Crows' status as a genuine contender.
Brisbane duo Cam Rayner and Charlie Cameron kicked two goals each and Norm Smith medallist Will Ashcroft was superb with a game-high 31 disposals.
Ashcroft's midfield colleagues Hugh McCluggage (27 touches, one goal), Jarrod Berry (28 possessions) and Lachie Neal (22) also revelled in the wet.
In slippery conditions, it took until the 21st minute of the game for Brisbane's Rayner to score the opening goal.
Just 60 seconds later, the Lions struck again when Callum Ah Chee bounced through a major.
The visitors led 2.3 to 0.6 at the end of a first quarter which could land Crows recruit James Peatling in strife for a sling tackle on Neale.
The Lions champ wasn't hurt when his head hit the turf but Peatling was penalised for a dangerous tackle certain to attract match review scrutiny.
Brisbane scored three goals in nine minutes to create a 21-point advantage midway through the second term.
But Adelaide responded to the danger with Rachele threading a remarkable 45m set shot from outside a boundary line to help cut their deficit to eight points at halftime, 5.3 to 3.7.
That advantage was reduced to two points early in the third quarter when Rachele snapped his second goal - and 26 minutes into the term, the home side were still within four points.
But late strikes from Cameron and Kai Lohmann gave Brisbane a 17-point buffer at three-quarter time.
Adelaide then stormed to victory with five goals to none in less than 18 minutes.
Tall attacker Riley Thilthorpe triggered the spree with a classy goal on the run from an acute angle - Keays, Dawson - after his soaring mark - Rachele and Keays again followed with majors for an 11-point lead.
The Lions pressed late but could add only eight behinds in the final quarter - plus two attempts which sailed out-on-the-full.
"In the last quarter - 10 shots to five - and we lose. That was a game we should have won," Lions coach Chris Fagan said.
"We did so many things right and didn't win the game."
Adelaide have produced a stunning last-quarter comeback to sink reigning premiers Brisbane by five points in an AFL thriller.
Down 17 points at three-quarter time, the Crows then booted five goals to none for a 10.8 (68) to 8.15 (63) triumph at a rain-soaked Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
Adelaide retain a hold on third spot - they're just two premiership points behind the second-placed Lions.
Adelaide boast nine wins and four losses and appear certain to return to the finals for the first time since 2017.
"I know we're we're a good side; we have got a little bit still to do to become a great side," Crows coach Matthew Nicks said.
"But tonight is a step in the right direction. It backs up my belief in the group, there's no doubt about that."
Adelaide livewire Josh Rachele slotted three goals, as did Ben Keays (20 disposals, seven inside 50s) who was outstanding against his former club.
And their captain, Jordan Dawson, took a mark-of-the-year contender - and then goaled - during a final-term flourish which enhances the Crows' status as a genuine contender.
Brisbane duo Cam Rayner and Charlie Cameron kicked two goals each and Norm Smith medallist Will Ashcroft was superb with a game-high 31 disposals.
Ashcroft's midfield colleagues Hugh McCluggage (27 touches, one goal), Jarrod Berry (28 possessions) and Lachie Neal (22) also revelled in the wet.
In slippery conditions, it took until the 21st minute of the game for Brisbane's Rayner to score the opening goal.
Just 60 seconds later, the Lions struck again when Callum Ah Chee bounced through a major.
The visitors led 2.3 to 0.6 at the end of a first quarter which could land Crows recruit James Peatling in strife for a sling tackle on Neale.
The Lions champ wasn't hurt when his head hit the turf but Peatling was penalised for a dangerous tackle certain to attract match review scrutiny.
Brisbane scored three goals in nine minutes to create a 21-point advantage midway through the second term.
But Adelaide responded to the danger with Rachele threading a remarkable 45m set shot from outside a boundary line to help cut their deficit to eight points at halftime, 5.3 to 3.7.
That advantage was reduced to two points early in the third quarter when Rachele snapped his second goal - and 26 minutes into the term, the home side were still within four points.
But late strikes from Cameron and Kai Lohmann gave Brisbane a 17-point buffer at three-quarter time.
Adelaide then stormed to victory with five goals to none in less than 18 minutes.
Tall attacker Riley Thilthorpe triggered the spree with a classy goal on the run from an acute angle - Keays, Dawson - after his soaring mark - Rachele and Keays again followed with majors for an 11-point lead.
The Lions pressed late but could add only eight behinds in the final quarter - plus two attempts which sailed out-on-the-full.
"In the last quarter - 10 shots to five - and we lose. That was a game we should have won," Lions coach Chris Fagan said.
"We did so many things right and didn't win the game."
Adelaide have produced a stunning last-quarter comeback to sink reigning premiers Brisbane by five points in an AFL thriller.
Down 17 points at three-quarter time, the Crows then booted five goals to none for a 10.8 (68) to 8.15 (63) triumph at a rain-soaked Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
Adelaide retain a hold on third spot - they're just two premiership points behind the second-placed Lions.
Adelaide boast nine wins and four losses and appear certain to return to the finals for the first time since 2017.
"I know we're we're a good side; we have got a little bit still to do to become a great side," Crows coach Matthew Nicks said.
"But tonight is a step in the right direction. It backs up my belief in the group, there's no doubt about that."
Adelaide livewire Josh Rachele slotted three goals, as did Ben Keays (20 disposals, seven inside 50s) who was outstanding against his former club.
And their captain, Jordan Dawson, took a mark-of-the-year contender - and then goaled - during a final-term flourish which enhances the Crows' status as a genuine contender.
Brisbane duo Cam Rayner and Charlie Cameron kicked two goals each and Norm Smith medallist Will Ashcroft was superb with a game-high 31 disposals.
Ashcroft's midfield colleagues Hugh McCluggage (27 touches, one goal), Jarrod Berry (28 possessions) and Lachie Neal (22) also revelled in the wet.
In slippery conditions, it took until the 21st minute of the game for Brisbane's Rayner to score the opening goal.
Just 60 seconds later, the Lions struck again when Callum Ah Chee bounced through a major.
The visitors led 2.3 to 0.6 at the end of a first quarter which could land Crows recruit James Peatling in strife for a sling tackle on Neale.
The Lions champ wasn't hurt when his head hit the turf but Peatling was penalised for a dangerous tackle certain to attract match review scrutiny.
Brisbane scored three goals in nine minutes to create a 21-point advantage midway through the second term.
But Adelaide responded to the danger with Rachele threading a remarkable 45m set shot from outside a boundary line to help cut their deficit to eight points at halftime, 5.3 to 3.7.
That advantage was reduced to two points early in the third quarter when Rachele snapped his second goal - and 26 minutes into the term, the home side were still within four points.
But late strikes from Cameron and Kai Lohmann gave Brisbane a 17-point buffer at three-quarter time.
Adelaide then stormed to victory with five goals to none in less than 18 minutes.
Tall attacker Riley Thilthorpe triggered the spree with a classy goal on the run from an acute angle - Keays, Dawson - after his soaring mark - Rachele and Keays again followed with majors for an 11-point lead.
The Lions pressed late but could add only eight behinds in the final quarter - plus two attempts which sailed out-on-the-full.
"In the last quarter - 10 shots to five - and we lose. That was a game we should have won," Lions coach Chris Fagan said.
"We did so many things right and didn't win the game."