THE SYDNEY Swans have slipped to their fourth consecutive defeat, and put their finals chances on the line, after losing to Adelaide by 16 points at AAMI Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Swans suffered their 10th defeat in 11 games against the Crows, despite dominating in the first half, eventually losing 12.13 (85) to 10.9 (69).

In his 250th game, Barry Hall kicked four goals, but was reported after the three-quarter time siren for striking Ben Rutten, while teammate Jesse White was also reported for a hit on Bernie Vince.

Martin Mattner was the top possession for winner for the Swans with 30 disposals and was ably supported by Rhyce Shaw with 29 touches.

For Adelaide, Jason Porplyzia kicked four goals, making it nine in two games against the Swans, and Bernie Vince collected 28 possessions.

It was the visitors who were first out of the blocks, former Crow Mattner on the end of a slick Swans move to kick the first goal of the game, but the ever reliable Porplyzia matched his efforts soon after to get Adelaide back on terms.

The Swans were dominating around the ground, stifling the Crows forward line with an extra man back in defence to keep the home side to just one goal from 16 forward 50 entries.

At the other end, with just half as many forays, the Swans kicked their second through Hall after he out-marked Rutten to give the visitors a five-point quarter time advantage.

Hall booted his second early in the second term after winning a free kick, before the Swans moved out to a three goal lead when Kieren Jack turned and snapped for his first of the afternoon.

Hall soon had his third in a dominant display up forward and all the signs pointed to a potential upset, until Kurt Tippett stopped the rot for the Crows with a goal from an uncontested mark.

Ryan O’Keefe was seeing plenty of the ball with 11 touches for the quarter, while Rhyce Shaw was providing plenty of run off half-back.

Shaw bombed from 50 metres to restore the Swans’ four-goal lead before Porplyzia was able peg back the lead to 19 points with a late mark and goal.

Brett Kirk wasted no time in getting his team going in the third term with a clever finish, but Tippett squeezed home his second a minute later for the quick reply.

Tyson Edwards got himself on the scoresheet immediately afterwards for Adelaide’s second goal in a minute and when Scott Stevens found space to kick his first, the Crows had reduced the arrears to just seven points.

The home team had their fourth goal in 12 minutes when strong work from Patrick Dangerfield released Nathan van Berlo, and Adelaide hit the lead when Porplyzia won a turnover and drilled a running shot.

The instrumental small forward then uncharacteristically missed a simple chance and it proved costly, as the Swans moved the ball down the other end for Ryan Brabazon to kick the first goal of his AFL career.

Adam Goodes was keeping his side in contention with nine disposals for the quarter, but others around him were struggling to find the space they once had earlier in the game.

Andrew McLeod put forward his effort for goal of the season with a wonderful grubber from near the boundary as the Crows went into the final quarter leading by seven points.

Hall made amends for an earlier miss to kick his fourth goal, but Edwards responded to restore Adelaide’s buffer.

Porplyzia had goal number four after winning a free kick for holding the ball, before Dangerfield laid a fantastic smother to allow van Berlo to kick his second and wrap up the game for the Crows.

Jared Crouch kicked a late consolation, but the Swans had been overrun in the second half and now have plenty of work to do to make finals this year.

Adelaide  1.3  3.4  9.7  12.13 (85)
Sydney Swans 2.2  6.5  8.6  10.9 (69)

GOALS
Adelaide: Porplyzia 4, Tippett 2, Edwards 2, van Berlo 2, Stevens, McLeod
Sydney Swans: Hall 4, Mattner, Jack, Shaw, Kirk, Brabazon, Crouch

BEST
Adelaide: Porplyzia, Vince, Tippett, Thompson, Doughty, Moran, van Berlo, Dangerfield
Sydney Swans: Kirk, O’Keefe, Mattner, Goodes, Shaw, Hall

INJURIES
Adelaide: Maric (cut chin), Otten (cut head), Moran (jarred knee)
Sydney Swans: Nil

Reports: Barry Hall (Sydney Swans) for striking Ben Rutten (Adelaide), Jesse White (Sydney Swans) for rough conduct on Bernie Vince (Adelaide), Heath Grundy (Sydney Swans) for poking Nathan Bock (Adelaide) in the eye.

Umpires: Kennedy, McLaren, Nicholls
Official crowd: 38, 064 at AAMI Stadium

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or the clubs.