Comeback Crows see off Bulldogs

Rory Sloane (right) celebrates kicking a last quarter goal with teammate Rory Laird. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Michael Klein / News Corp Australia

WESTERN Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney was preaching a message of team defence last week.

The Bulldogs produced their best football when every member of the team was contributing defensively, he said.

Coming up against a side that had kicked 41 goals in its past two matches, that seemed like the challenge that McCartney's men faced at Etihad Stadium against the Crows on Sunday.

But if there were any fears the match would be a defensive slog, they were quickly dispelled by the Bulldogs themselves.

Playing open and attacking footy, the Bulldogs kicked the first four goals of the game to get a scoreboard jump on the high-scoring Crows.

But it was an attacking start the Bulldogs were unable to sustain for the match.

They fell asleep for the next two quarters before a late, but ultimately unsuccessful, charge in a final-quarter shootout.

With the recalled Tom Campbell providing a strong forward target early, the Bulldogs dominated the early stages of the game to take a 26-10 quarter-time lead.

It took the Crows 25 minutes before they got their first major on the board when David Mackay goaled on the run.

Patrick Dangerfield was instrumental in helping the Crows get back into the game. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

But it didn't take the Crows long to get their scoring groove on once their midfield stars clicked into gear.

With Scott Thompson and Patrick Dangerfield winning the ball and providing the drive, and James Podsiadly coming into the game, the Crows outscored the Bulldogs four goals to two in the second quarter to slash the margin to four points at half-time.

Where the Bulldogs led the Crows in the contested possession count 39-31 in the first quarter, the Crows were now dominating in that area, in their favour 73-66 at the main break.

The Bulldogs, having scored their last goal at the eight-minute mark of the second quarter, managed just one behind in the third quarter as Adelaide piled on seven unanswered goals.

Koby Stevens was dangerous at times for the Bulldogs as they shot to an early lead. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

With little action forward, the Bulldogs moved Liam Jones into defence on Podsiadly, who brought up his third goal for the match, while Campbell was subbed out of the game.

Veteran Daniel Giansiracusa, who started on the ground rather than with the green vest, provided a spark for his team right on three-quarter time when he took down Dangerfield with a hip and shoulder on the Doug Hawkins wing.

The Crows remonstrated as Dangerfield got to his feet gingerly, but as the Crows went to the final break with a 16-point buffer, it was a clash that might have helped inject some fight into the Bulldogs' game.

The contest came to life in the final term, with the Bulldogs starting with an intensity that had been lacking for a quarter and a half.

Tom Campbell flies high for a mark. The Bulldog looked dangerous early before being subbed out. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

After Josh Jenkins scored his second goal for the game, the Bulldogs kicked three straight goals through Stewart Crameri, Luke Dahlhaus and Giansiracusa to cut the margin to five points as the final quarter turned into a shootout.

After just two goals in the previous two quarters, the Dogs outscored the Crows six goals to five in the final quarter.

The Dogs missed a couple more opportunities when Lachie Hunter and Dahlhaus both hit the post late in the term when the team trailed by just nine, and then eight, points.

Eddie Betts sealed the win for the Crows when he pounced on a ball coming out of the Dogs' kick-in.

Rory Sloane played an enormous last quarter to help the Crows get over the line. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

Dangerfield, who the Bulldogs gave the big assignment of playing on to Lin Jong, and Thompson, with 29 and 24 disposals respectively, led the midfield charge for the Crows, while their forwards all had an impact.

With Taylor Walker closing in on a return, Tom Lynch had two goals and 25 disposals and Jenkins and Podsiadly each had three for the match.

It was a case of too little, too late for the Dogs, who were led by Matthew Boyd (33 disposals), Jack Macrae (27 disposals), while Tory Dickson had three goals.

SCOREBOARD

Adelaide 13.14 (92) def Adelaide 12.11 (83)

BEST

Western Bulldogs: Boyd, Macrae, Cooney, Griffen, Dickson, Liberatore

Adelaide: Dangerfield, Lynch, Thompson, Podsiadly, Jenkins, Lynch, Sloane

VOTES

3. Dangerfield

2. Lynch

1. Thompson

A disappointed Bulldogs team walks off Etihad Stadium after going down to the Crows. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

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