AFL Match Report: Crows soar over Giants

Adelaide enjoyed a 13.16 (94) to 12.6 (78) win against Greater Western Sydney  at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

Rankine’s sensational opening half gave the Crows the edge in their 13.16 (94) to 12.6 (78) triumph at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.

Rankine had half-time stats that would please most in a full game: 21 disposals, seven inside 50s, five clearances, seven score involvements and kicking 2.2.

His feats sparked a seven-goal second-term surge from the Crows in a 20-minute patch that turned a 12-point deficit into a 33-point lead.

Rankine finished with 27 touches, Darcy Fogarty kicked three goals and Taylor Walker, Ben Keays and Josh Rachele scored two each.

Captain Jordan Dawson (24 disposals, 10 marks) and defenders Mitch Hinge (31 disposals) and Mark Keane were also prominent as the Crows snapped a three-game losing streak. 

Adelaide’s Keays booted the first two goals of the game as the hosts took an early 15-0 lead.

The Giants then produced a four-goal burst – when Jesse Hogan strolled into an open goal seconds before quarter-time, he put the visitors 24-18 up.

Skipper Greene soon extended the scoring streak and GWS held a 5.0 to 2.6 lead before Adelaide suddenly clicked.

The Crows, with Rankine and ex-captain Walker seizing control, posted seven consecutive goals in their 20-minute spree.

Rankine, Walker and Fogarty all slotted two goals as the home side went from two goals down to 33 points up at half-time, 9.9 to 5.0.

The Crows created a match-high 37-point break midway through the third term before the visitors snuck within 23 points at three-quarter time.

GWS captain Greene and Hogan slotted goals to shrink Adelaide’s margin to 14 points with 13 minutes remaining.

But the Crows, with Fogarty converting his third and three-gamer Billy Dowling adding another, held on for a fifth win of the season.

SCOREBOARD

ADELAIDE                                2.6    9.9    10.14    13.16 (94)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY   4.0    5.0     8.3      12.6 (78)

GOALS
Adelaide: Fogarty 3, Walker 2, Rachele 2, Keays 2, Rankine 2, Sholl, Dowling
Greater Western Sydney: Greene 3, Ward 2, Riccardi 2, Kelly 2, Hogan 2, Cumming 

BEST
Adelaide: Rankine, Keays, Hinge, Dawson, Rachele, Fogarty
Greater Western Sydney: Whitfield, Kelly, Ward, Himmelberg, Green, Briggs

LATE CHANGE
Adelaide: Chayce Jones replaced in selected side by Zac Taylor

SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: Zac Taylor, replaced Brayden Cook at three-quarter time
Greater Western Sydney: Toby McMullin, replaced Max Gruzewski in the third quarter