Pre Game
00:00
Melbourne won the post-clearance groundball-get count by 29 last week against Brisbane, its best differential in any match across the last two seasons.
Quarter 1
00:00
Q1 is now underway.
01:45
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Ben Brown)
03:44
Jack Viney has the first two centre bounce clearances of the match. Last week he led the Demons with four centre bounce clearances, as part of his eight total clearances for the match.
04:20
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Christian Petracca)
05:41
Both of Melbourne's goals so far have come via intercept possessions launched from its defensive midfield zone. The Demons average 15 points per game from defensive midfield possession gains, ranked ninth.
06:50
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Mitch Brown)
08:13
Melbourne recorded the first seven inside 50s of the match, with Adelaide only now getting its first forward 50 entry courtesy of Ben Keays.
08:53
SCORE
GOAL - Crows (Ben Keays)
11:11
While they had their early issues with winning the football and gaining territory, the Crows have recorded three of the last four inside 50s of the match, kicking two goals form these entries. Adelaide averages a goal form 22 per cent of its forward 50 entries this season, ranked 11th.
13:48
Crows Interchange - Darcy Fogarty off due to an injury.
15:10
SCORE
GOAL - Crows (Taylor Walker)
15:17
The Crows lead the post-clearance contested possession count by six and have kicked their third goal form just their fifth inside 50, a strike rate of 60 per cent. This season Melbourne has conceded a goal from just 19 per cent of its opposition's inside 50s, ranked No.1 defensively.
17:29
SCORE
GOAL - Crows (Taylor Walker)
18:08
Since the seven-minute mark of the term, Adelaide has dominated the inside 50 count eight to one and is plus-eight in contested possession, kicking 4.0.24 to nil over the time period. Three of these four goals have come via intercepts.
20:35
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (James Harmes)
26:14
Clayton Oliver enjoys playing against the Crows. In his last four games against Adelaide, the Melbourne midfielder has averaged 34 disposals, 20 contested possessions, 10 clearances and seven tackles per game. He has started in similar fashion today with nine disposals, five contested possessions and five tackles already just before quarter time.
29:36
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Christian Petracca)
29:48
Coming into today's game, Christian Petracca had kicked just nine goals from his last 40 shots at goal. He has two goals without a miss today and has had an excellent first quarter with nine disposals, six contested possessions and the two goals.
30:48
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
30:50
It was a game of runs in the opening quarter. Melbourne had the first seven inside 50s of the quarter and then the last two. In between, Adelaide registered 15 inside 50s to just three for the Demons. Melbourne were the more efficient side going inside 50, scoring a goal from 42 per cent of its entries compared to Adelaide's 27 per cent, albeit both percentages were above the AFL average of 23 per cent.
Quarter 2
00:00
Q2 is now underway.
06:07
Clayton Oliver already has another five contested possessions this quarter, giving him 11 for the match. Oliver's 14 disposals have also come at an efficiency of 100 per cent, with 12 coming via hand.
08:03
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
08:09
After trailing in the contested possession count by two at quarter time, Melbourne leads this area by nine in the second quarter. They also lead inside 50s five to nil this quarter, enjoying 78 per cent time in forward half.
08:50
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Clayton Oliver)
12:17
With Melbourne not having a recognised ruckman playing today, Reilly O'Brien is stamping his impact on the game with nine disposals, six contested possessions, nine hitouts-to-advantage and three intercept marks.
14:02
SCORE
BEHIND - Crows (Taylor Walker)
19:30
The pressure from both sides has been enormous this quarter with Adelaide narrowly leading the tackle count this term 17 to 14.
21:13
Steven May leads Melbourne with six intercept possessions. Three of these six intercepts have resulted in goals for the Demons.
22:39
Demons Interchange - Ben Brown off due to an injury.
22:48
SCORE
GOAL - Crows (Riley Thilthorpe)
23:00
Adelaide finally gets the first goal of the quarter through Riley Thilthorpe. It came via a Jordan Dawson inside 50. Dawson has been important for the Crows with 19 disposals at 79 per cent efficiency and 400 metres gained in the first half.
24:19
SCORE
GOAL - Crows (Wayne Milera)
25:18
Taylor Walker has five score involvements out of seven total scores for Adelaide.
25:52
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Christian Petracca)
27:35
SCORE
BEHIND - Crows (Darcy Fogarty)
27:47
Christian Petracca has three goals and one goal assist from his 17 total disposals. The Melbourne midfielder also has 10 contested possessions.
30:05
Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca have been dominant for the Demons this evening. Oliver has 22 disposals, 13 contested possessions and eight tackles at the half, while Petracca has 17 disposals, 10 contested possessions and three goals.
Quarter 3
00:00
Q3 is now underway.
02:47
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Ben Brown)
04:55
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
05:15
Demons Interchange - Michael Hibberd off due to an injury.
07:51
Melbourne average 11 more inside 50s per game than its opposition, ranked No.1 in the AFL. Tonight, Adelaide leads the inside 50 count by four.
09:02
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (James Harmes)
10:34
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Toby Bedford)
10:40
Melbourne kicks the opening goal of the third quarter. They have had the territorial advantage this term enjoying 65 per cent time in forward half for the term, including six of the last seven inside 50s.
12:14
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Mitch Brown)
12:40
Melbourne leads the marks inside 50 five to one this quarter, resulting in 2.2.14. For the match, the Demons have kicked 5.2.32 to 2.1.13 from marks.
15:07
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
16:20
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Ben Brown)
17:27
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
18:05
Melbourne has the last 11 inside 50s of the match, kicking 3.3.21 from these entries.
21:00
SCORE
BEHIND - Crows (Rory Laird)
22:09
Crows Interchange - Jordon Butts off due to an injury.
22:38
Sam Berry has recorded 13 tackles tonight, the third time in his 28 game career that he has recorded this many tackles.
24:55
Jordan Dawson continues to impress at his new club. Tonight he has totalled 28 disposals, which includes 24 kicks, seven inside 50s and over 600 metres gained.
26:58
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Charlie Spargo)
28:17
SCORE
BEHIND - Crows (Rushed)
28:42
Melbourne has taken 26 intercept marks to Adelaide's 13. This total equals the most that any team has taken in a game this season, equalling the 26 intercept marks that Adelaide took against the Bulldogs in Round 6. There is still a quarter to play, so expect this to be broken.
30:17
Adelaide continues to hang around in this contest, in part due to Melbourne's inaccuracy in the third quarter. The Demons kicked 3.6.24 from 15 entries, with 1.5.11 coming via intercepts.
Quarter 4
00:00
Q4 is now underway.
00:17
SCORE
GOAL - Crows (Rory Laird)
01:15
Rory Laird kicks the opening goal of the final quarter via a centre bounce clearance. The Crows lead centre bounce clearances 11 to eight and have outscored Melbourne 2.1.13 to 1.0.6 from this score source.
08:01
SCORE
GOAL - Crows (Ben Keays)
08:20
The Crows narrow the margin to five points through Ben Keays. Adelaide will be so pleased with its effort in two main areas, contested footy and inside 50s, leading both areas by one for the match. Melbourne are ranked No.1 in the competition in both of these areas.
10:46
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Ed Langdon)
12:13
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Jack Viney)
13:24
Melbourne has answered the Crow challenge with the last two goals of the match, both coming via clearances. Despite not having a recognised ruckman, the Demons have outscored the Crows 6.4.40 to 3.2.20 from stoppages tonight.
15:49
SCORE
GOAL - Crows (Josh Rachele)
16:51
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Tom Sparrow)
17:15
Melbourne has four centre bounce clearances this quarter for three inside 50s and two goals.
20:12
Adelaide leads the tackle count by 13 tonight which is another positive. This season the Crows rank 10th in the AFL for tackle differential.
20:18
SCORE
BEHIND - Demons (Christian Petracca)
21:00
Demons Interchange - Jake Lever off due to an injury.
23:40
Jake Lever, Steven May and Angus Brayshaw have recorded 35 intercepts between them tonight. 50 of Melbourne's 70 intercepts have been in their defensive half.
23:52
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
27:45
Melbourne's midifield quartet of Oliver, Petracca, Viney and Langdon have been fantastic again tonight. The foursome have a combined 127 disposals, 63 contested possessions, 21 clearances and five goals.
28:16
SCORE
BEHIND - Crows (Ben Keays)
30:13
SCORE
GOAL - Demons (Ben Brown)
30:16
Melbourne won the clearances by five for the match, outscoring Adelaide 7.5.47 to 4.2.26 from this source.