ADELAIDE has stunned the Western Bulldogs, beating the 2021 AFL grand finalists by a point in Ballarat to kick its AFL resurgence up another level.
Taylor Walker’s late goal ultimately proved the difference after the Crows fought through multiple Bulldogs surges and their own inaccuracy to prevail 8.15 (63) to 9.8 (62).
In claiming back-to-back wins for the first time since rounds three and four last season, Adelaide evened their win-loss ledger at 3-3 while condemning the Dogs to 2-4, their worst start since 2019.
Billy Frampton (26 disposals, nine marks) marshalled the Crows’ defence with aplomb while Tom Doedee put the clamps on Marcus Bontempelli.
Ben Keays (33 disposals, eight clearances) and Rory Laird (30 disposals, eight clearances, 11 tackles) were typically busy while ruckman Reilly O’Brien had the better of Bulldogs 200-gamer Stefan Martin.
Midfielders Josh Dunkley (28 disposals), Tom Liberatore (33 disposals, 10 clearances) Bailey Smith and Jack Macrae led the charge for the Dogs.
Adelaide’s frantic pressure put the Bulldogs on the back foot early and they booted the first two goals of the game.
But Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Adam Treloar and Aaron Naughton struck to give the home side a seven-point lead at quarter time.
Laird could come under scrutiny after coming in late and high on Dunkley after the Bulldog took an intercept mark late in the opening term.
The second quarter proved a dour affair, with Walker outbodying Tim O’Brien for the only goal, with scores level at the main break.
Adelaide dominated the third quarter and led by 10 late in the term courtesy of goals to McAdam and Lachlan Gollant, but really should have got ahead by several goals.
A remarkable Josh Schache snap cut the Crows’ lead to three points and gave the Bulldogs a sniff at the final change.
Walker slotted the first goal of the final term, and the 500th of his career, to put Adelaide in the box seat.
From there, Treloar and McHenry traded goals, before Schache soccered through one effort, then Dunkley snapped another, to put the Dogs in front.
But the Crows weren’t done yet.
Josh Rachele levelled scores with a behind, then Ned McHenry put them in front with another.
But when Caleb Daniel made an uncharacteristic error from the kick-out, Lachlan Gollant picked out Walker to give the Crows a seven-point lead.
Bontempelli goaled with seven seconds left but it proved too little, too late.
(C) AAP 2022
