1. Lynch bounces back from shocker
Crows forward Tom Lynch picked himself up from one of the misses of the season to be one of the Crows' key contributors. With the goal at his mercy in the opening quarter, Lynch missed everything from close range with no-one within touching distance. He bounced back to finish with 19 touches, seven marks and two goals.
Crows v Dockers: Full match coverage and stats
2. Dockers provide fight without Fyfe
For a team that had lost both its Brownlow medallist and first five games before the clash, the Dockers' ability to take the game up to the Crows in the first half was remarkable. In Nat Fyfe's absence, Lachie Neale had 40 touches, but his disposal was wanting, while Michael Walters and Michael Barlow were impressive. The Dockers are now 0-6 ahead of another tough clash with an improving Greater Western Sydney at Domain Stadium next Saturday. If there was any lingering doubt, Fremantle's finals aspirations are well and truly dusted now.
3. Crows breathe sigh of relief
Mitch McGovern and Jake Lever sent a scare through Adelaide fans when they went off the ground in the second quarter. McGovern limped off with a knee injury while Lever was carrying his shoulder after a big collision in a tackle. But both players were assessed at half-time and returned to the game in the third quarter. If Rory Laird recovers from a sore toe that hampered him late in the game, the Crows will be close to having a full list to choose from this week, with Brad Crouch and Wayne Milera returning through the SANFL this weekend.
Oh dear Tom Lynch... #AFLCrowsFreo https://t.co/5opzpVUtw8
— AFL (@AFL) April 30, 2016
4. Wasteful Dockers all over the shop
Just one goal from nine scoring shots in the second quarter from the Dockers let the Crows off the hook. Matthew Pavlich and Walters both hit the post while several other genuine opportunities to create scoreboard pressure went begging. Starting captain David Mundy as a loose man in defence was an astute move from Ross Lyon, but the Freo forwards couldn't capitalise. The Dockers improved their accuracy in the final quarter, but by then it was too late.
5. Crows snap Dockers hoodoo
Their first win over Fremantle since the 2012 finals series keeps the Crows within striking distance of the top eight and they face another big test against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium next Saturday night. Adelaide has emerged from a horror draw in the opening rounds in impressive fashion, with their only two losses coming against Hawthorn and North Melbourne, both away from home.