Match

Adelaide Crows vs Melbourne

Commentary / 22 May 2021

Pre Game

00:00
Melbourne has allowed its opposition to retain possession from 38% of its inside 50s - ranked No.1 in the AFL and 10% below the AFL average.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
01:26
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Ed Langdon)
02:26
Jake Lever takes an early intercept mark against his former side. He has recorded 39 intercept marks this season - ranked second in the AFL.
04:34
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
05:39
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Riley Thilthorpe)
06:25
Both goals have come from turnovers early in the match. The Demons have had the control, leading the disposal count 23-9 and contested possessions 11-3.
11:16
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Max Gawn)
11:51
Averaging a career-high 2.4 contested marks heading into this round, Max Gawn has already taken two contested marks as he kicks Melbourne's second goal of the game.
17:11
Ranking No.1 in the competition for scoreboard impact, Taylor Walker kicks his first goal of the match. All four goals so far have come from turnovers.
19:15
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Shane McAdam)
20:52
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Tom McDonald)
21:21
The Demons have already taken six intercept marks. Leading into the round, they ranked No.1 in the AFL for intercept marks taking 18 more than any other side.
22:13
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Trent Rivers)
24:05
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Sam Weideman)
24:11
Melbourne has had the early ascendancy around the stoppages, leading the centre clearances 5-1 and the overall clearance count 7-3. It has scored 2.1 (13) via that source to Adelaide's 0 points.
25:46
SCORE GOAL - Crows (James Rowe)
27:49
SCORE GOAL - Crows (James Rowe)
29:55
The Crows have taken it right up to Melbourne so far, trailing the disposal count by six, clearances by two, and inside 50s by only three. Ben Keays has continued his recent strong form, gathering a game-high 12 disposals.
32:19
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Riley Thilthorpe)
32:23
The Demons' first term point tally of 31 was their highest in any opening quarter this season, with their previous best coming in Round 1 (28 points).

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:18
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
02:03
Bayley Fritsch is enjoying a career-best season with his impact on the scoreboard, averaging a career-high 2.6 goals. He becomes Melbourne's sixth individual goalkicker of the match with the first goal of the second term.
06:02
Paul Seedman's direct play continues to stand out, gaining a game-high 293 metres gained from his 13 disposals. Christian Petracca leads the way with 236 metres gained from 12 disposals for Melbourne.
06:05
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Lachlan Sholl)
06:45
SCORE GOAL - Crows (David Mackay)
08:01
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jake Melksham)
10:20
Adelaide has taken control of the second term, leading the disposals 47-29, uncontested possessions 37-14, and marks 12-10. It hits the lead after kicking four of the last five goals of the match.
13:50
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Tom McDonald)
15:04
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Clayton Oliver)
16:50
Melbourne's ball movement from the defensive midfield has been effective so far, launching an inside 50 from 73% of its chains originating in that zone, compared to just 50% for Adelaide.
19:05
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Riley Thilthorpe)
20:19
Since making his AFL debut in Round 6, Riley Thilthorpe leads the Crows for goals and scoreboard impact. He has now kicked two goals against the Demons from four kicks.
23:30
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Ben Keays)
24:42
Averaging 27 disposals already this season, Ben Keays has been the most prominent midfielder on the ground, collecting 21 disposals nearing half-time. Rory Laird has been just as good with 20 disposals of his own.
24:50
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Lachlan Sholl)
28:55
SCORE GOAL - Demons (James Harmes)
30:48
Adelaide has already scored 7.3 (45) from turnovers in the first half - its second-highest tally in any opening half in 2021. It has outscored the Demons by 14 points from that source.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
01:35
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Max Gawn)
03:28
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Shane McAdam)
04:53
Adelaide has denied the Demons the ball early in the third term, having 29 disposals compared to just nine for Melbourne. The Crows also lead the uncontested possessions 19-3.
05:05
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Ben Keays)
07:40
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Paul Seedsman)
08:51
Six of the last eight scores of the game have come from Adelaide as it opens up a 12-point lead. It has scored both of its goals from turnovers in the third term for a match tally of plus 24 points from that source.
09:27
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Sam Weideman)
12:55
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Alex Neal-Bullen)
14:00
Adelaide's work from the attacking midfield has been a key to its game today. It has recorded 4.1 (25) from that zone compare to Melbourne's 2.1 (13). It has also outscored Melbourne by 10 points (18-8) from forward 50 chains.
15:52
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Christian Petracca)
20:05
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
20:44
Kysaiah Pickett kicks his first goal of the match. It was also his first score involvement, ranking third in the AFL for score involvements (59) among general forwards in the opening nine rounds.
23:57
Clayton Oliver has imposed himself at stoppages all match. He has won a game-high eight first possessions, of which all have led to a Demons clearance.
25:29
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Sam Berry)
28:02
The pressure has been immense from both teams in the third term, with Adelaide recording a pressure factor of 202 compared to Melbourne's 207. The competition average is 180.
28:29
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Clayton Oliver)
30:56
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Clayton Oliver)
31:50
The Demons have had a great spread of goalkickers, with 10 players kicking at least one goal. They also had 10 individual goalkickers in Round 9. Clayton Oliver though is their only multiple goalkicker against the Crows with two goals.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
01:31
Crows Interchange - Ned McHenry off due to the blood rule.
03:25
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jake Melksham)
04:32
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
04:39
Jake Lever has repelled plenty of Adelaide thrusts into its forward 50, winning a game-high 14 intercept possessions - eight more than any other player on the ground. Lever has also grabbed four intercept marks.
05:00
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Charlie Spargo)
07:03
Since quarter time, Clayton Oliver has been the most dominant player on the ground, having 24 disposals, 18 contested possessions, and eight clearances. He has also kicked two goals and had one score assist.
08:36
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Shane McAdam)
13:16
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Rushed)
14:48
Adelaide has had all the play in its forward half in the final term for little reward. It leads time in forward half 63% to 37% - winning seven inside 50s to four - scoring 1.1.
17:44
Adelaide has matched Melbourne in the contest post-clearance, losing the contested possession differential by just five. However, it has lost the pre-clearance contested possession differential by 13.
17:47
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Ed Langdon)
19:23
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Clayton Oliver)
19:48
Demons Interchange - Jake Melksham off due to an injury.
21:11
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Taylor Walker)
21:17
Clayton Oliver has smashed his contested possession record (27) as he kicks his third goal of the game. He has also generated a game-high 12 clearances.
22:55
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Alex Neal-Bullen)
25:31
The Demons have been extremely effective from centre bounces all game, with 13 of its 16 centre clearances leading to an inside 50 entry. They have outscored the Crows 3.3 (21) to 1.1 (7) from that source.
26:01
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Darcy Fogarty)
31:05
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Taylor Walker)
31:47
The Crows have kicked the last three goals of the game to hit the front by just one point. Taylor Walker has now kicked a team-high three goals as he's one of five multiple goalkickers for the Crows.
33:29
The Demons were gallant in defeat as Clayton Oliver had a season-best match. Oliver won 38 disposals and generated 13 clearances to go with three goals. He also won a career-high 27 contested possessions.