Adelaide have heaped distress on Sydney, pulling off a hard-earned 16-point win in a wet-weather scrap on the SCG.
With the scores degree at 10.8 (68) apiece within the fourth quarter, a determined Luke Nankervis launched the Crows forward en path to a 13.9 (87) to 10.11 (71) victory on Friday night time.
Adelaide stamped their premiership credentials whereas dealing a blow to fellow flag fancies Sydney, condemning the second-placed Swans (13-5) to their first defeat on the SCG this season.
Final 12 months’s minor premiers, the Crows (12-6) can end the spherical as excessive as third after claiming a 3rd straight win.
Darcy Fogarty kicked 4 objectives for Adelaide, however the star ahead is bound to attract scrutiny after his excessive deal with on Harry Cunningham within the second quarter left his Swans opponent concussed.
Izak Rankine performed an important function within the Adelaide engine room with one objective, 30 disposals and eight clearances.
He was nicely supported by James Peatling, whereas Mark Keane and Nankervis stood agency in defence.
Sydney have now misplaced their previous three matches towards top-six sides, following dismal defeats to Brisbane and Fremantle.
They continue to be second (13-5), with a four-point buffer towards Adelaide.
Isaac Heeney shook off a lower-back problem to guide the house facet with 29 disposals and 4 clearances.
The midfield celebrity had despatched a scare by way of the Swans camp within the third quarter, hobbling off sore after a contest for the ball with Crows ahead Riley Thilthorpe.
Tom Papley additionally bagged 4 objectives in his second sport again from a calf damage, whereas Braeden Campbell kicked a serious in his first AFL sport of the 12 months after a pre-season shin stress fracture.
Sydney began brightly with the primary two objectives, however it was all Adelaide within the opening time period.
With 32 uncontested marks to Sydney’s seven, the Crows punished the house facet from turnovers to slam by way of 5 unanswered objectives and take a 21-point lead at quarter-time.
Swans celebrity Chad Warner bought on the again of Nankervis to deliver down a superb mark, solely to cough up possession with a shoddy kick to Adelaide defender Keane.
Warner made amends after the break by hitting the scoreboard, earlier than livewire Papley fired off back-to-back objectives to assist Sydney eat into Adelaide’s game-high 27-point lead.
With eight factors the distinction at halftime, midfielder James Rowbottom mimicked Papley with two straight objectives to offer Sydney a six-point lead on the ultimate break.
However it was Fogarty’s flip to bag a double to kick off the ultimate quarter, organising a tense end on the SCG
AAP
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