Crows outrun Swans

Adelaide   54 defeated Sydney   47

Adelaide's top two aspirations are vastly spiraling from hope to reality after overcoming premiership-threat Sydney in a gutsy seven-point victory at AAMI Stadium this evening.

Despite being outscored in the first, second and final quarters, the Crows broke open the Swans' short-chipping game and dictated terms in the third quarter, booting five goals to one, as they recorded a gritty and low-scoring 8.6 (54) to 6.11 (47) win.

With four rounds remaining, Adelaide are almost certain to finish with a coveted top-two position, establishing a two-win buffer to the closest rivals - St Kilda and Sydney in third and fourth positions, both with 11 wins each.

As they have all season, Adelaide's defence proved to be the cornerstone in the win and difference between the sides. Statistically ranked as the best defence in the AFL this season, Ben Hart, Nathan Bassett and Ben Rutten stood firm, allowing only six goals through, despite the Swans entering their attacking 50 over ten more times than Adelaide.

Tyson Edwards (21 touches) and Simon Goodwin (15) provided the spark and winning edge from the centre, while Scott Welsh (15 possessions and three goals) reared his head in a third-quarter burst.

Adam Goodes (33 possessions) played one of his most sparkling games in his career, racking up touch-after-touch, whilst winning plenty of contested possession and providing numerous forward thrusts. Brett Kirk (27) and Ryan O'Keefe (21) also provided a physical presence.

Built up to be a stoppage-fest, Sydney failed to disappoint in the opening term. As the Swans continued with their highly critical yet effective stop-start brand of football, Adelaide failed to create any midfield urgency and forward drive, however, both sides failed to register heavily on the scoreboard.

Sydney booted the first two majors of the match through Ben Mathews and Michael O'Loughlin. Ken McGregor kicked the Crows one and only goal for the stanza as Sydney led by seven points at the first change.

In stark contrast to the first term, the Swans continued to control play, though in 15 minutes of containing possession and minor flooding in perfect conditions, they could only muster one goal through Amon Buchanan to lead by 14 points.

As Sydney ran out of legs and Adelaide's defence holding firm, the Crows hit back with two goals in five minutes - Mark Ricciuto booting a long bomb from 70, while Brett Burton snapped majestically from 35 on the boundary line.

However, as the home side drew the deficit back to one-point nearing half time, Nick Davis ensured his side would hold the lead at the main break, kicking truly from 35 as Sydney held a eight-point lead at half time.

In a rather physical and stagnant first half, one blink in the opening stages of the third quarter and Adelaide had completely blown Sydney out of the water with three goals in two minutes with two to Scott Welsh and one to Simon Goodwin.

Fifthteen minutes transpired before Graham Johncock added the home side's fourth consecutive goal, followed minutes later by Welsh's third goal for the quarter as the home side extended their lead to a healthy 24 points.

Michael O'Loughlin was able to break the burley Adelaide defence to boot Sydney's only goal for the stanza shortly before the final change, as the Crows led by 17 points at three quarter time.

In contrast to previous weeks, it became evident that the Crows were going to drop off the pace and they failed to let their analysts down. Sydney grew in confidence and gained all ascendancy, led by ruckman Adam Goodes.

Although the Swans were failing to apply any scoreboard pressure early, they were slowly persisting and picking away at the Adelaide defence, however, continued to pepper their chances at goal.

Sydney booted two behinds, before the home side replied with their only two scores for the quarter - both behinds - before the Swans eventually converted to draw the deficit back to 11 points when Goodes slotted his first from 40 out.

In time-on, Sydney became their own worst enemy, entering their forward fifty at will, but couldn't convert their attacking thrusts into major scores - booting five consecutive behinds as Adelaide held on.

Next week, the Crows have to secure second position when they face a depleted Melbourne unit at AAMI Stadium while Sydney's top-four aspirations can be strengthened if they overcome Essendon at Telstra Dome next Saturday night.

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