Fremantle trailed by 32 points early in the third term, before a heroic rally saw them get within four points in the last term only to be denied - 12.16 (88) to 10.11 (71).
Andrew McLeod was simply brilliant for the Crows, amassing 34 possessions across half-back before being thrown forward late in the game to kick two goals.
Simon Goodwin and Brett Burton led the goalkicking for the Crows with three each, while Jeff Farmer was Fremantle's best with three, all in a brilliant third quarter.
First year player Rhys Palmer was simply outstanding all day for the visitors with 29 touches, while Peter Bell gained momentum during the course of his record-breaking 278th AFL game to gather 21 touches and be important in the comeback.
The exciting finale to the game was a sharp contrast to the start, which was largely scrappy and uninspiring.
The bright spots for Fremantle in the opening term were the ball-finding of Palmer (11 touches for the quarter) and the debut of Clayton Hinkley, 19, who potted the Dockers' only goal for the term after a fine mark.
The second quarter started more positively for Fremantle, with a goal from Michael Johnson drawing the visitors inside two goals of the Crows. The game tightened up during this spell, with Fremantle creating numerous chances, but unable to apply any scoreboard pressure.
The Crows weathered the mini-revival and then prospered, with the last three goals of the term taking them to a 25-point half-time lead. It was the home side’s young stars who shone during this period, with Kurt Tippett, Bernie Vince and Jason Porplyzia all instrumental in creating goals.
For Fremantle, Palmer continued to find the ball, while Marcus Drum and Roger Hayden held firm across half-back and provided plenty of run, but it was hard to find other big contributors.
The third quarter started ominously, with Porplyzia goaling to take the Crows out to the game-high 32 point lead, but the Dockers dug deep.
Farmer kicked his first for the term after some brilliant work from Palmer and captain Matthew Pavlich out of the middle, and when Scott Thornton kicked truly after receiving a pass from the increasingly busy Bell, the home fans started to get a little nervous.
A string of points to the Crows - seven for the quarter - aided the Fremantle cause, but when Goodwin finally put one through after 15 minutes the home side seemed to have steadied.
Fremantle simply would not go away and two late goals to Farmer – the first from a sensational Pavlich tackle and the second a patented shot on the run from 50 – saw the margin reduced to just 16 points at the last break.
Within a minute of the restart, Michael Johnson put Fremantle within 10 points of the Crows, goaling from 30 out, and when Dean Solomon received a free and goaled five minutes later the margin was suddenly back to four points. The home side was on the ropes.
A gripping arm-wrestle followed, broken by a steadying goal to Adelaide’s Scott Thompson from a doubtful free kick. The Crows then followed up with a brilliant McLeod snap and the game looked finally over as the Crows led by 18, but Fremantle as not to be denied.
Palmer broke free from the centre bounce to create a goal for Luke McPharlin, which was then answered by McLeod’s second, but then McPharlin replied again and it was still game on.
A frantic last five minutes saw the ball go from end to end, but it just wasn’t to be for Fremantle.
Chris Mayne was a late withdrawal, replaced by Garrick Ibbotson.
Adelaide 3.4 6.6 8.13 12.16 (88)
Fremantle 1.1 2.5 6.9 10.11 (71)
GOALS
Adelaide: Goodwin 3, Burton 3, Porplyzia 2, McLeod 2, Tippett, Thompson
Fremantle: Farmer 3, Johnson 2, McPharlin 2, Hinkley, Thornton, Solomon
BEST
Adelaide: McLeod, Bock, Goodwin, Burton, Symes, Porplyzia
Fremantle: Palmer, Hayden, Dodd, Drum, Bell, Ibbotson
INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil
Fremantle: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McLaren, Head, Avon
Official crowd: 39,554 at AAMI Stadium
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
