West Coast has been left embarrassed following a 21.11 (137) to 5.8 (38) thrashing at the hands of Adelaide.
The Crows dominated the Eagles from the outset at Adelaide Oval in Sunday’s twilight match, rushing out to a 7.5 (46) to 0.2 (2) lead by quarter-time.
They led by 61 points at the main break and did not release the pressure in the third when they kicked 5.4 to 1.3.
The main interest in the final quarter was whether the Crows could extend their lead into triple figures, but they fall just short.
Crows captain Jordan Dawson was outstanding with 32 disposals and two goals.
Chayce Jones kicked three goals for the Crows, with teammates Taylor Walker, Darcy Fogarty, Josh Rachele, Brayden Cook and Ben Keays slotting two each.
Earlier, Max Gawn shrugged off an injury scare to lead Melbourne to a commanding 38-point win over St Kilda that has catapulted the Demons back into the top four.
Gawn passed a fitness test on a troublesome calf an hour before putting on a clinic in the Demons’ 14.16 (100) to 9.8 (62) victory at the MCG.
Hawthorn notched up a fifth straight victory over the Brisbane Lions to leave last year’s runner-up precariously placed in 13th position after 11 rounds.
The Hawks powered away early at Docklands, before withstanding a Lions comeback to win 15.10 (100) to 10.15 (75) for their fourth victory of the season.
Tap the tags on the left to find reports for each match or scroll back through our blog to re-live all the Sunday action.
ABC/AAP
Key events
That’s all for this weekend!
Righto, we’re going to wrap up here after what’s been another action-packed weekend of AFL action.
Thank you for joining us all weekend for all nine matches.
We’ll have live coverage again next week, which kicks off with a blockbuster on Thursday night when Port Adelaide hosts Carlton.
Catch you then!
Adelaide Crows 21.11 (137) def West Coast Eagles 5.8 (38)
Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson has triggered a Crows’ scoring avalanche in a 99-point belting of West Coast.
Dawson produced a masterly 32-disposal display in the Crows’ 21.11 (137) to 5.8 (38) triumph at Adelaide Oval in Sunday’s twilight fixture.
Adelaide amassed 7.4 to 0.2 in the first stanza with Dawson kicking two goals, setting up another, gathering 12 disposals and having five inside 50s in the term.
Dawson’s brilliance set a dominant tone for the Crows, who now hold 12th spot with four wins, a draw and six losses.
The Eagles (16th, three wins, eight losses) entered the match with three wins from their past six starts, but slumped to their biggest loss of the season.
Dawson finished with nine inside 50s and nine marks and was among 13 Adelaide goal scorers — winger Chayce Jones kicked three and Taylor Walker, Darcy Fogarty, Josh Rachele, Brayden Cook and Ben Keays slotted two each.
Adelaide winger Lachlan Sholl had a match-high 34 disposals, midfielders Matt Crouch (30) and Rory Laird (31) were busy, and coach Matthew Nicks had the luxury of resting young on-baller Jake Soligo, who was substituted at half-time with the result settled.
West Coast’s veteran defender Jeremy McGovern (25 disposals, seven marks) battled against the tide, Tim Kelly collected 23 disposals and number-one draft pick Harley Reid was largely subdued with just five disposals in the opening half and 14, plus a goal, for the match.
With Dawson in full flight early, the Crows recorded their highest-scoring first quarter since logging 7.5 against the Eagles in round 13 last year.
The Eagles could not manage a goal until the seventh minute of the second quarter when Jack Williams converted a set-shot.
And while the visitors scored three majors for the quarter, the Crows continued their scoring spree with another six goals to create a 61-point half-time lead, 13.5 to 3.4.
The Crows broke the 100-point barrier 24 minutes into the third term. They scored five goals to one in the quarter and took a whopping 86-point lead into three-quarter-time.
They then cruised to a percentage-boosting win with three goals to one in the final term.
AAP
Here’s how the top eight looks after Round 11
Round 11 is officially in the books after the Crows knocked off the Eagles so here’s how the top eight currently looks:
- 1.Sydney – 40 pts, 150.1%
- 2.Essendon – 34 pts, 104.4%
- 3.Port Adelaide – 32 pts, 117.4%
- 4.Melbourne – 28 pts, 116.9%
- 5.GWS Giants – 28 pts, 114.6%
- 6.Geelong – 28 pts, 110.7%
- 7.Collingwood – 28 pts, 107.1%
- 8.Carlton – 28 pts, 104.9%
Key Event
FT: Crows fall seconds short of 100-point win
Adelaide is beaten by the bell!
The Crows made one last ditch move into the forward line, with Brayden Cook one out just 20m out from the goals but the siren sounds just before he’s able to pounce on a loose ball, so it ends up a 99-point win for Adelaide.
Crows skipper Jordan Dawson says the team was aware of this being a “danger game”, and how well have they handled it?
Dawson says the Crows were keen to start well, given the even nature of the competition, and they set the game up perfectly with a seven-goal-to-none opening term.
A disappointing evening overall for the Eagles considering all their progress lately. Adam Simpson will be pretty keen to put that one behind him.
Lead up to 99 after another Crows goal
Chris Burgess gets in on the act after taking a mark inside 50 before he’s clobbered by Dom Sheed.
The umpires award a 50m penalty and Burgess slots it from inside the goalsquare.
Righto, the lead is 99 points with 2.20 left. Can the Crows do it?
Reid with a late hanger
The Eagles may be getting smashed out there, but Harley Reid isn’t too far away from a highlight reel play.
Reid skies over a pack of four with his body contorted mid-air to take a wonderful mark, but it unfortunately doesn’t result in a goal.
The teenager has run out of steam in the final quarter after a gigantic effort in the third.
Crows stars with monster games
A couple of Adelaide players have stacked up some HUGE numbers out there this evening.
Lachie Scholl leads the pack with 32 touches, four clearances, a goal and 504m gained.
Skipper Jordan Dawson has been outstanding and has 30 disposals to go along with two goals and a whopping 646m gained.
Crows closing in on 100-point lead
A goal from Josh Rachele and another point from Reilly O’Brien has the Crows within striking distance of the magical mark.
Just under eight minutes left on the clock.
ROB slots a rare goal in final quarter
Reilly O’Brien gets in on the act!
The big Crows ruckman finds himself up forward and takes a wonderful contested mark and then goes back and slots the set shot.
Will the Crows lead get up to the triple-figure mark?
Teams going through the motions
The sting has definitely gone out of this game through the first five minutes of the final quarter.
Adelaide’s percentage currently sitting at 110.7, wonder how much they’ll push the envelope, given they’ve also got a draw in their back pockets already.
It might prove crucial if they can get a run together in the back half of the year.
Both teams looking like they’re playing to avoid getting injured at this point.
Key Event
3QT: Crows in control despite Reid’s brilliant quarter
Well, there’s been a little bit of a game within the game developing here.
A goal after the siren from Tex Walker puts Adelaide up by 86 points at the final change.
The Crows have been absolutely awesome through the first three quarters, and West Coast has looked largely listless.
Harley Reid did his best to inspire his teammates in that quarter, tallying eight touches and a goal to go along with four clearances for the match.
Unfortunately, there haven’t been may other Eagles look likely tonight.
Key Event
Boos ring around as Reid hits the scoreboard
Harley Reid is doing his very best to inspire West Coast right now.
The youngster comes charging through a stoppage deep in the Eagles’ attacking 50.
After just five disposals at half-time, Reid has picked up six touches so far in this quarter.
“There’s an aura around him, you can feel it,” says Dwayne Russell on commentary.
Fogarty continues dream outing
Darcy Fogarty with a running goal, he’s been everywhere this evening.
He’s got two and Adelaide’s lead is now 87 points.
Unbelievable disposal disparity continues
It is so rare to see a gulf in the amount of time each team has had the ball like this.
Adelaide currently has 252 disposals to West Coast’s 144, a whopping 108-disposal disparity.
Only five West Coast players have over 10 disposals, something unheard of for this stage of a game.
Just complete dominance from the Crows this evening.
Adelaide’s lead is out to 75 points after Chayce Jones’ second goal of the night.
“It’s inexplicable how low their energy levels are,” says Healy on commentary.
Melbourne 14.16 (100) def St Kilda 9.8 (62)
Max Gawn has shrugged off an injury scare to lead Melbourne to a commanding 38-point win over St Kilda that has catapulted the Demons back into the AFL’s top four.
Gawn passed a fitness test on a troublesome calf an hour before putting on a clinic in the Demons’ 14.16 (100) to 9.8 (62) victory at the MCG.
He racked up 27 disposals, 10 clearances, seven marks and a goal as Melbourne (7-4) leapt from ninth position at the start of the day up to fourth on percentage.
But the win came at a cost, with versatile tall Harrison Petty substituted out with a foot injury.
Gawn gave his midfielders silver service, as Alex Neal-Bullen (27 disposals), Clayton Oliver (24), Christian Petracca (24) and Christian Salem (32) all took advantage.
Jacob van Rooyen (three), Bayley Fritsch, Jack Viney and Petracca (two each) all kicked multiple goals.
Adam Tomlinson stepped up as a replacement for injured defender Jake Lever and was outstanding alongside Steven May, the pair combining for 23 intercepts.
Tom McDonald also stood up in the Demons’ brick wall of a defence, which restricted St Kilda to just five goals in the first three quarters.
Jack Steele (33 touches) and Jack Sinclair (30) fought hard in the midfield, but the Saints had few winners.
Key forward Max King (three) kicked multiple goals for just the second time in six weeks under close watch from May, and Jack Higgins booted two on return from suspension.
Melbourne dominated the opening quarter and Lachie Hunter marked his first game of the season with an early goal.
The inaccurate Demons did not take full toll, leading 4.7 to 1.0 at the first break, but were in total control at that point.
With Gawn giving them first use, Melbourne’s midfield generated a 22-8 advantage in forward entries and they claimed eight marks inside 50m before quarter-time.
St Kilda wrestled its way back into the contest in the second term, and two goals from King helped cut the deficit to 12 points at the main break.
But Gawn reasserted his authority at the start of the third term with a contested mark against direct opponent Rowan Marshall and a goal to kickstart his side.
It was the first of four in a row for Melbourne in a six-goals-to-one quarter that effectively ended the contest early.
Melbourne next takes on finals hopefuls Fremantle in Alice Springs, while St Kilda faces a long trip to take on West Coast in Perth.
AAP
Key Event
Eagles ‘witches hats’ in third quarter
Some harsh truths being delivered West Coast’s way by a couple of AFL greats here in the third quarter.
“It looks like witches hats out there. They just haven’t come out in the third quarter at all,” says ex-Crows skipper Mark Ricciuto, who is roaming the boundary for Fox Footy.
“This would be Adam Simpson’s most disappointing day for the year. He’d be gutted by this,” 1988 Brownlow Medal winner Gerard Healy adds.
“They’ve got a pretty good side out there … but they’ve fallen right away.”
Adelaide’s lead currently sitting at 69 points, and the Eagles have shown very little resistance.
Keays adds to West Coast’s pain
Ben Keays’ second goal is one of the easiest he’ll ever score as he runs into an open goal.
Eagles struggling to get the ball out of their back half at the moment, Crows defending the ground nicely.
Adelaide with the first five clearances of this half.
Soligo subbed off by Crows at half-time
A half-time change from Matthew Nicks.
Star midfielder Jake Soligo has been subbed off and will be replaced by the sub Sam Berry.
Soligo racked up 14 touches and a goal in the first half.
Fox Footy’s Mark Ricciuto says there’s no injury concerns for Soligo, he’s simply been managed by the Crows with the game in the bag.
Cats duo suspended by MRO
The news gets worse for Geelong after a gut-wrenching loss to the Giants yesterday.
Both Mark Blicavs and Jhye Clark have been handed one-match bans over separate incidents.
It’ll be interesting to see whether the Cats opt to challenge either of the bans.
Key Event
FT: Demons cruise to comfortable win over struggling Saints
A terrific bounceback performance from Melbourne after a disappointing loss to West Coast last week.
The Saints loomed as a bit of a tricky match-up, and after being briefly challenged, the Demons showed their class in the third quarter.
A few late goals made the scoreboard look a little more respectable from a Saints perspective, but this was a result that wasn’t in doubt for large parts of the second half.
Melbourne captain Max Gawn the best on ground after finishing with 27 disposals, 34 hitouts, 10 clearances and a goal.
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