Match

Melbourne vs Adelaide Crows

Commentary / 21 Jul 2023

Pre Game

00:00
Adelaide has won just one of its last 12 games in Victoria and has lost its last seven games at the MCG starting with the 2017 Grand Final.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
00:12
Melbourne is ranked No.1 in the first ten minutes of games this season and kicked the opening four goals of the game in this period last week. Adelaide is ranked third during this period and has only been outscored four times in the first ten minutes of games this season.
02:15
The Demons are the No.1 ranked team for contested possessions this season and have an early 9-4 lead in this count including 5-0 in hard ball gets.
03:02
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Max Gawn)
03:09
The first goal of the game to Melbourne came from a forward half stoppage. The Demons average 15.4 points per game from this source, but scored a season-high 38 points last week from these chains.
05:34
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
05:44
Melbourne has generated the first six inside 50 entries of the game due to a 3-1 clearance count, a 5-2 lead in midfield intercepts, and a contested possession count of 14-6.
09:18
Adelaide is the No.1 ranked team for kicking efficiency differential this season but has started today with a kicking efficiency of only 50 percent.
09:55
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Shane McAdam)
11:11
The Crows have been forced to defend a lot early and as a result, lead 16-3 in the tackle count with a pressure rating of over 200.
14:39
Adelaide is ranked No.1 this season for winning crumbs but trails 0-7 in this count today.
16:18
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Izak Rankine)
17:19
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Izak Rankine)
17:30
A terrific piece of play from Izak Rankine has provided the Crows with their first goal of the game and it followed a forward half intercept. Adelaide averages 29.3 points per game from this source.
20:02
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
21:35
After Melbourne had the first six inside 50 entries of the game, Adelaide has had 10 of the last 14 and managed to break even in contested possessions during this period.
21:45
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Luke Pedlar)
23:15
Crows Interchange - Lachlan Murphy off due to an injury.
24:27
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jacob van Rooyen)
24:40
The goal to Jacob van Rooyen was launched with an intercept in the defensive 50. Melbourne averages 10.3 points per game from these chains this season, but in the last month has averaged only 5.5 points from this source.
26:24
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Reilly O'Brien)
28:04
Adelaide leads 11-4 in forward half intercepts including the last six, with this contributing to the Crows now leading 15-13 in the inside 50 count.
28:55
Melbourne led Adelaide in the first quarter in both clearances (10-5) and post-clearance contested possessions (29-25), but after a shaky start, the Crows applied strong pressure (tackles 21-10) and edged the Demons for territory through forward half intercepts (11-4).

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:07
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Kade Chandler)
01:36
Trent Rivers has a game-high four score involvements with all of these being score launches (three from intercepts and one from a clearance) including launching the last goal to Kade Chandler.
02:29
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Izak Rankine)
03:01
Kysaiah Pickett averages 10.9 disposals per game but already has a team-high nine disposals, and his three score involvements include two score assists.
05:02
The Demons have conceded a score from just 39.1 percent of opposition inside 50 entries this season (ranked No.1), while the Crows are ranked No.1 in scores per inside 50. Adelaide has six scores from 16 entries today but only one goal.
06:36
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Max Gawn)
08:10
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jacob van Rooyen)
08:18
Melbourne has a 5-3 edge in forward 50 marks but leads 20-3 in points scored from the set shots at goal that have followed these marks.
09:48
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Kade Chandler)
09:57
The Demons have now scored 3.1 from shots at goal in the 30-50 metre range, while the Crows have a return of 1.5 from their shots at goal from an equivalent range.
11:22
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jake Melksham)
11:42
The Demons are now starting to turn their clearance dominance into a scoreboard advantage with the last two goals coming from stoppages. Melbourne leads 15-7 in clearances and 20-1 in points scored from this source.
12:55
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jake Melksham)
13:07
Five goals in a row to the Demons and three goals from their last three inside 50 entries. Melbourne leads 26-2 in points scored from defensive half chains including the last goal to Jake Melksham.
15:00
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Nick Murray)
16:29
The contested possession advantage of the Demons (57-49) is being driven by an 11-2 lead in crumbs. Adelaide leads 5-0 in contested marks and 4-0 in spoils this quarter, but Melbourne has the edge when the ball hits the ground.
17:09
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Lachlan Murphy)
18:27
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Brayden Cook)
19:45
The current score for the Crows of 2.8.20 equals their half-time score when they last played at the MCG against Collingwood. Adelaide has kicked 1.7 from set shots at goal today.
21:36
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Luke Pedlar)
22:17
Adelaide now leads forward half intercepts (16-6) and also has a 15-2 advantage in points scored from this source. The Crows have had the last five scores in the game for a return of 1.4.10.
25:42
The Crows lead 7-2 in intercept marks this quarter with three of these taken by Nick Murray. These marks have contributed to the 19-6 forward half intercept advantage.
27:53
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Izak Rankine)
28:22
Adelaide leads 31-14 in forward 50 disposals with Izak Rankine (5) leading all players in this area. The Crows also lead 11-1 in forward 50 tackles and 14-10 in shots at goal (including misses).
30:52
The accuracy of Melbourne has separated these teams in the first half. Adelaide has scored 0.6 from shots at goal in the 30-50 metre range and Melbourne has scored 4.1 from equivalent shots at goal.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:21
Returning Crow Matt Crouch was the No.1 ranked player on the ground in the first half for both pressure points (42) and score involvements (6).
01:22
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jack Viney)
01:42
Melbourne has again started the quarter with an early goal and it was its third to come from a defensive 50 intercept. This is the first time since Round 7 that the Demons have kicked three such goals.
04:37
Christian Petracca has kicked four goals in each of its last two games and averages 8.5 score involvements per game (ranked second in the AFL). The Demon star has had just one score involvement so far today and is yet to score.
05:40
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Harry Schoenberg)
06:49
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
07:02
Kysaiah Pickett continues to cause problems for the Crows with a team-high seven score involvements from his 14 disposals. His last goal came from a kick-in chain which is the first such goal for the Demons since Round 7.
09:40
In the first seven games this season, Melbourne averaged 21.4 points per game from defensive 50 chains (ranked second). Since then the Demons have averaged only 8.2 points from these chains (ranked second-last). Today Melbourne has kicked four goals from defensive 50 chains.
10:50
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Christian Petracca)
12:34
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
12:55
Melbourne now leads 39-4 in points scored from defensive half chains with Adelaide relying heavily on forward half scoring so far today.
14:01
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
14:07
A game-high nine score involvements now for Kysaiah Pickett that includes two assists and the last two goals in the game. This is the most score involvements this season for Pickett since having 11 in each of his first two games.
16:47
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Izak Rankine)
16:57
Once again Izak Rankine has kicked a crucial goal for the Crows, this time following a classy crumb. It was the first goal of the game for Adelaide to come from a defensive half chain, and all five score involvements for Rankine have been scores (3.2).
18:44
Melbourne has now kicked 8.3 from set shots at goal and Adelaide has scored 1.7. The Demons have also scored 7.4 from beyond 30 metres and the Crows have scored 1.9 from the same range.
21:12
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Chayce Jones)
21:37
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Lachlan Murphy)
21:47
Melbourne is ranked No.1 at generating forward half intercepts (28.5 per game) but trails 10-22 in this measure today and Adelaide also leads 21-3 in points scored from these chains following the last goal to Lachlan Murphy.
23:31
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Darcy Fogarty)
23:58
Consecutive goals from forward half intercepts for the Crows who are once again finishing a quarter strongly after the Demons held the early ascendancy. Adelaide has not kicked a goal in the first 15 minutes of any quarter today, while Melbourne has kicked eight goals during these periods.
25:29
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Darcy Fogarty)
27:13
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Max Gawn)
27:28
The Demons lead forward 50 marks 12-8 and have scored 9.3 from the resulting set shots at goal compared to the Crows who have scored only 1.7 from set shots following a forward 50 mark.
29:24
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Izak Rankine)
31:47
Crows Interchange - Nick Murray and is possibly out for the game.
32:03
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
32:08
Melbourne kicked four of its five goals in the third quarter from defensive 50 chains. The Demons lead 57-12 in points scored from the defensive half, while the Crows lead 36-10 in points scored from the forward half.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
00:21
The Crows have recorded a tackle efficiency of 67.9 percent this season (ranked No.1). Today Adelaide has stuck 72 percent of its tackles compared to Melbourne which has a tackle efficiency of only 57 percent.
01:43
For the first time today, Adelaide has kicked the first goal of a quarter and the accurate set shot from Shane McAdam capped a chain starting in the defensive 50. This was the first such goal for the Crows today.
02:55
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Ben Keays)
03:16
Two quick goals for the Crows with both following a defensive half intercept. Adelaide has kicked four of the last five goals.
04:43
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Ben Keays)
05:26
The biggest three-quarter time deficit that Adelaide has come from against Melbourne to win is 22 points which was at this ground in the 2002 Semi Final.
07:41
A brilliant hard ball win and goal from Taylor Walker levels the score with three of the four Crow goals this quarter coming from defensive half intercepts with the game opening up.
09:15
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Joel Smith)
10:06
Melbourne leads 12-7 in points scored from centre bounce clearances following the last goal to Joel Smith. The Demons rank No.1 for scoring differential from centre bounces this season.
13:27
Adam Tomlinson has won a game-high and equal career-high ten intercept possessions today for Melbourne. Two of these intercepts have launched scores and the versatile Demon has also contributed a team-high five spoils with Adelaide trying to avoid Jake Lever and Steven May.
13:37
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Joel Smith)
14:24
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Angus Brayshaw)
15:31
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Taj Woewodin)
15:52
The Demons have now kicked 11.3 from set shots at goal compared to the Crows who have a return of only 4.9.
17:28
Melbourne has had the last six inside 50 entries and scored 3.2.20 during this period of ascendancy after Adelaide kicked the first four goals of the quarter.
19:38
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Taylor Walker)
19:52
An excellent long-range left-foot goal from Taylor Walker caps another defensive half chain for the Crows. Adelaide has now scored 4.12 from shots at goal beyond 30 metres out.
21:39
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Ed Langdon)
23:06
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Christian Petracca)
23:52
Melbourne leads the contested possession count 32-18 this quarter and 144-117 overall with a major 29-12 dominance in crumbs contributing heavily.
26:25
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Brodie Smith)
26:32
Brodie Smith has recorded 532.8 metres gained per game this season (ranked third in the AFL) and leads all players today with 558 metres gained including the last 50-metre goal.
28:25
Angus Brayshaw leads all players today for clearances (8) and contested possessions (16) while also applying a team-high seven tackles in a central midfield role.
29:43
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Darcy Fogarty)
29:44
Crows Interchange - Izak Rankine and is possibly out for the game.
30:03
Izak Rankine has left the field injured and has been the No.1 ranked Crow today. His 20 disposals include a team-high nine score involvements, three goals, three assists, and a game-high eight forward 50 disposals.
31:16
SCORE GOAL - Crows (Taylor Walker)
31:42
Taylor Walker kicked five second-half goals in his last game at the MCG and has kicked three final-quarter goals today to give Adelaide a late chance in this game.
32:22
SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Rushed)
33:50
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
34:05
Melbourne has managed to hang on against a surging Adelaide with a return of 12.5 from set shots at goal for the Demons compared to 5.10 for the Crows proving crucial. Melbourne scored 66 points from the back half, which is its best return since Round 1.