ADEALIDE has suffered another Telstra Dome heartbreak, going down in thriller by three points to the Western Bulldogs.
Just like last season’s elimination final, it was so near yet so far for the Crows in the dramatic 19.12 (126) to 18.15 (123) loss.
The match was in the balance right up until the final siren with Nathan Bock missing a set shot from 35 m out on a tight angle with just three seconds on the clock.
The siren sounded before any further play was possible ending the Crows charge.
In Brad Johnson’s 300th game, the Dogs looked to be in trouble nine points down late in the last quarter, but the skipper kicked three of his five goals in the last four minutes of game time to propel his side to a stunning win.
Brett Burton was outstanding for the Crows with five goals with Jason Porplyzia (25 touches) and Simon Goodwin (22 disposals, two goals) nearly driving them to a thrilling victory.
Adam Cooney was the leading possession winner on the ground with 31 with Daniel Giansiracusa also important with three majors.
Burton opened the scoring with a goal from a free kick in the second minute but, perhaps buoyed by the occasion, it was the Bulldogs who opened with the greater intensity.
Former Crow Scott Welsh endeared himself to his new set of fans with two goals in the first quarter with Giansiracusa also bagging a couple as the Dogs skipped away.
With a dazed Ken McGregor sidelined after a head clash, Burton was Adelaide’s only effective forward early, but he struggled to get good service as the Crows’ movement into the forward 50 was stifled by the pressure of the Bulldogs.
Despite Burton’s second goal, Nathan Eagleton put the Dogs up by 21 points at the first change.
But the game was turned on its head as the second term got underway. Adelaide’s midfielders, led by Brent Reilly, started to get more of the football and move it quicker allowing their forwards to compete one-on-one.
For all their good work, however, the margin was still 20 points nine minutes in, but the Crows finished the half full of running to take a five-point lead into the main break.
Burton’s third goal sparked the surge with McGregor and Andrew McLeod goaling to slice the deficit and Richard Douglas converting after some excellent set-up work in defence from Graham Johncock.
Adelaide continued to press home their advantage around the stoppages early in the third term with Douglas and Edwards both adding their second majors. But Cameron Wight soon scrambled through a reply for the Bulldogs and when Mitch Hahn bombed through his first goal soon after and the Dogs were back in business.
Debutant Kurt Tippett booted his first goal in AFL football, but the Bulldogs surged to the last break with a four-goal blast, including a spectacular volley from Giansiracusa, to take a two-point lead into the final term.
Jason Akermanis had been important in the Bulldogs revival and he put his side further in front with the first goal of the last quarter. The high-quality spectacle was building toward a thrilling finale with the Crows looking home when Goodwin booted his second of the quarter 25 minutes in to put his side nine points up.
But in a finish that couldn’t have been scripted better for Johnson, the 300-gamer slammed through three goals in succession to give the Dogs what appeared to be an unassailable lead.
Scott Stevens goaled directly after the restart to set up Bock’s fateful attempt on goal which he pulled to the left as time ran out.
Western Bulldogs 5.4 6.9 13.9 19.12 (126)
Adelaide 2.1 7.8 12.13 18.15 (123)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Johnson 5, Welsh 4, Giansiracusa 3, Hill, Wight, Hahn, Eagleton, Murphy, Akermanis, Gilbee
Adelaide: Burton 5, Edwards 2, Douglas 2, Tippett 2, McGregor 2, Goodwin 2, McLeod, Reilly, Stevens.
BEST:
Western Bulldogs: Cooney, Eagleton, West, Akermanis, Welsh, Johnson, Hill, Griffen.
Adelaide: Burton, Reilly, Porplyzia, Goodwin, Stevens, Symes, Edwards.
Injuries:
Western Bulldogs: Eagleton (ankle)
Adelaide: B Reilly (wrist)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: J Schmitt D Sully S Wenn
Official crowd: 24,835 at Telstra Dome
