ADELAIDE is casting an ominous shadow over the top eight, having asserted itself as a genuine premiership threat with an impressive 57-point win over West Coast at Adelaide Oval.
A massive crowd of 53,445 looked on as the Crows forged their finals credentials in steel – booting eight unanswered goals in an extraordinary opening term.
The 19.12 (126) to 10.9 (69) result keeps Adelaide in the hunt for a home final – it would have to beat Geelong next week and North Melbourne would have to beat Richmond.
West Coast now has to beat St Kilda at home next Saturday night to ensure a top-two finish.
Patrick Dangerfield (28 disposals, nine clearances, one goal) was, for the most part, unstoppable on the inside and combined well with Scott Thompson (29 disposals, seven tackles), Eddie Betts (two goals, four assists) and Josh Jenkins (six goals) were terrific up forward.
In defence, Daniel Talia held soon-to-be Coleman Medalist Josh Kennedy to a single goal.
Luke Shuey (25 disposals, seven clearances, three assists), Matt Priddis (22, 10 one) and Dom Sheed 27 touches, six inside 50s) were solid performers for the Eagles.
Free of the emotion that weighed so heavily the last time these sides met in round 15 – Adelaide's return after the tragic death of coach Phil Walsh – the Crows were irrepressible.
Stand-in coach Scott Camporeale said the team wanted to earn its appearance in rhe finals, not fall in because of other results.
"It's been a long haul for everyone at the footy club," he said.
"As a group we wanted to make sure we earned the right, not just fall in. Their attitude was first-class."
West Coast appeared void of intensity as the home side attacked at will, dominating uncontested possession (71-32) and launching 20 inside 50s to just six by quarter-time.
The switch flicked at the first break, though, as the Eagles lifted at the stoppages to take control of the midfield.
Priddis, Shuey, Andrew Gaff and Nic Naitanui fired in the second as West Coast slammed home five straight goals to bring the margin back to a manageable 26 points at half-time.
Despite the slightest of breezes favouring the cathedral end of Adelaide Oval, 14 of the game's 15 majors had been scored at the city end when Crow Rory Atkins swooped on a cleared ball deep in attack.
Blimey Charlie! The Crow snaps through his second #AFLCrowsEagles http://t.co/Hn1Dr1Ec8g
— AFL (@AFL) August 30, 2015Adelaide's pressure had returned and its delivery to the forward line left the likes of Jeremy McGovern, Tom Barrass and Brad Sheppard little chance of defending effectively.
The Eagles entered three-quarter time down by 50 points and hoping for a miracle in the final term.
It never came though and, if anything, West Coast's day got worse with key defender Jeremy McGovern subbed out with a shoulder issue.
Coach Adam Simpson said the result was a wake-up call for his side.
"We've been up for a long time, we've been for the most part pretty consistent with our effort [but] … if you don't turn up for the contest you'll get whacked," Simpson said.
"[The] season's still very much alive for us, this was a bad game, we're disappointed, we'll review it and give them a clip – but we're going for top-two next week.
ADELAIDE 8.3 9.6 14.8 19.12 (126)
WEST COAST 0.1 5.4 6.6 10.9 (69)
GOALS
Adelaide: Jenkins 6. Walker 3, Betts 2, Lynch 2, Cameron 2, Atkins, Sloane, Knight, Dangerfield
West Coast: Cripps 2, Le Cras 2, Hutchings, McGinnity, Sheed, Kennedy, Sinclair, Shuey
BEST
Adelaide: Dangerfield, Thompson, Smith, Jenkins, Talia, Laird, Betts
West Coast: Sheed, Cripps, Gaff, Priddis
INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil
West Coast: McGovern (shoulder)
SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: Jarryd Lyons replaced Matt Crouch in the final quarter
West Coast: Murray Newman replaced Jeremy McGovern in the final quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stevic, Chamberlain, Meredith
Official crowd: 53,445 at Adelaide Oval
