Match

West Coast Eagles vs Adelaide Crows

Commentary / 26 Aug 2023

Pre Game

00:00

After reaching 100 points in its first game at Optus Stadium this season – West Coast has dropped below 80 in every other game – averaging 60 across all matches.

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

00:21

Adelaide wins the first centre bounce clearance of the match. Although the Crows average sixth in the AFL for centre clearances, they average fewer centre clearances than their opponent each game - ranked thirteenth. Conversely, the Eagles rank last for centre bounce clearances and differential.

01:07

SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Brodie Smith)

02:01

SCORE GOAL - Crows (Taylor Walker)

02:33

Taylor Walker scores the first goal of the match as he contests for the Coleman Medal, with his goal sourcing from a forward 50 stoppage. In their last three games, the Crows have scored 11.7 points on average from this source - ranked fourth in this time period.

03:18

SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Luke Pedlar)

06:06

SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Taylor Walker)

06:54

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Oscar Allen)

06:59

Oscar Allen converts West Coast's first goal of the match-up, with his goal sourcing from a turnover. Last week against the Bulldogs, the Eagles scored 53 points from this source - their second-best return for the year for scores from turnover.

08:57

SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Rushed)

10:04

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jack Darling)

11:33

Jack Darling gifts West Coast the lead, with his goal being launched from the Eagle's defensive 50. From rounds 19-21, the Eagles launched 29 points on average from this zone - their most in a three-week interval for the year and ranked first in the AFL in this time period.

12:28

SCORE GOAL - Crows (Josh Rachele)

13:35

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Luke Shuey)

14:37

In his final game for the Eagles, Luke Shuey bags the first goal launched from a centre bounce tonight. The last time they played the Crows, the Eagles only scored two points from this source.

15:18

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Rushed)

16:35

After the Crows had the run of play to start, amassing four of the first five clearances and inside 50s, as well as having the ball in their forward half for 89%, the Eagles have turned the game on its head. The Eagles have had four of the last five inside 50s and clearances, as well as having the time in forward half for 53% of the last 10 minutes.

16:53

SCORE GOAL - Crows (Taylor Walker)

19:57

Luke Shuey has been electric in the opening quarter, having seven disposals with an efficiency of 86%, three clearances, five contested possessions and chipping in with a goal.

22:55

Adelaide has been strong in gaining territory from their intercepts, gaining 54 metres from possession gains in comparison the the Eagle's 35. On average, the Crows gain 46.5 metres from their intercepts - ranked fourth-last in the competition.

25:02

SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Taylor Walker)

26:42

The Crows have a clear motive to move the ball by hand, registering a kick-to-handball ratio of 0.92. They normally register 1.51 - the fifth highest in the AFL. They have also had 27 more handball receives in comparison to the Eagles.

30:17

SCORE GOAL - Crows (Josh Rachele)

32:01

The Crows have been hungry to win the ball and continue to prove why they are the fifth-best team at intercepting in their forward half, already having 12 forward-half intercepts when they normally average 23.7 for the entire match. On the flip side, the Eagles have only had two forward-half intercepts.

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

00:43

The Eagles have only won a single game from the 15 they have been trailing at quarter time this season. On the other hand, the Crows have won eight of the 12 games they have been leading at the first change.

01:16

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jack Darling)

02:18

Jack Darling closes the margin back down to four points, with his goal sourcing from the attacking midfield. In their last two games, the Eagles have scored 29.5 points from this zone on average - ranked equal-fifth in the AFL in the last two weeks.

05:47

The pressure from the Eagles is something that hasn't been their strength this year, but it is certainly prominent tonight as they record a pressure factor of 191 - well above their season average of 181. On the flip side, the Crows are only registering a pressure factor of 182 - below their season average of 186 where they rank first in the AFL.

07:08

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Oscar Allen)

08:44

SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Lachlan Gollant)

10:03

Although their pressure has been prominent around the ground, the Eagles have been unable to apply effective pressure in their forward 50, having one tackle and registering a pressure factor of 135 in this zone. Comparatively, Adelaide has laid 13 tackles and is registering a pressure factor of 200 in their forward 50.

12:33

SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Rushed)

12:52

SCORE GOAL - Crows (Jake Soligo)

14:33

Adelaide's forward 50 pressure is rewarded with Jake Soligo's goal sourcing from a forward 50 turnover. In the last three weeks, the Crows have scored 12.3 points from this source on average - ranked third in this time period.

14:38

SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Darcy Fogarty)

16:53

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Tom Cole)

17:13

West Coast bites back with a forward 50 turnover goal of their own through Tom Cole. The Eagles have been the worst team to score from this source this season - averaging just three points each game.

18:43

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Oscar Allen)

20:14

Oscar Allen grasps the lead back to the Eagles. They have been much more efficient in front of goal, scoring 7.2 (44) in comparison to 5.8 (38) from the Crows. The Crows have also had eight shots that didn't register a score, whereas West Coast has only had three.

21:16

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Oscar Allen)

23:54

Tim Kelly continues to have an influence, collecting game-highs of 18 disposals, of which nine were won in a contested manner, five clearances, seven inside 50s and 435 metres gained.

25:17

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Bailey J. Williams)

26:58

SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Taylor Walker)

30:35

SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Reilly O'Brien)

30:37

Set shot accuracy has been the dividing factor in this contest, with Adelaide struggling from set shots as they have only converted 2.5 (17) to West Coast's 6.1 (37). The Eagles rank eighth for set shot accuracy this season, whereas the Crows are fifth-last in this category this season.

31:09

The Eagles lead at the main break by 12 points. Although West Coast are trailing the repeat inside 50 count 5-12, they have scored three goals from repeat inside 50s in comparison to Adelaide's one.

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

00:25

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jack Darling)

00:49

Jack Darling goes bang with another centre-bounce goal for the Eagles. They have now amassed three goals from this source - their equal most since Round 16, against Saint Kilda.

03:18

The Eagles have won three of the four games they have been ahead at the main break. Adelaide has not won a game from the seven games this season where they have been trailing at half time.

03:31

SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Jake Soligo)

04:47

SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Harry Schoenberg)

05:06

SCORE GOAL - Crows (Ben Keays)

05:44

Ben Keays straightens up at kicks it through the big sticks, bringing the margin back to nine points. Adelaide has only scored a goal from 18% of their inside 50s in comparison to the West Coast's 38%.

07:13

SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Rushed)

09:00

SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Izak Rankine)

09:33

Reilly O'Brien has been on top in the rucking contest against Bailey J. Williams, winning the hitouts 17-11, hitouts-to-advantage 5-4 and Adelaide are leading the clearances 18-13. Despite this, West Coast has kicked three goals from stoppage to Adelaide's zero when these two have been rucking opponents.

10:27

SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Izak Rankine)

12:10

SCORE GOAL - Crows (Taylor Walker)

13:18

Taylor Walker kicks his third, taking his total for the season up to 70. In his fifteenth season, this becomes the first time he has kicked 70 goals in a year.

13:22

SCORE GOAL - Crows (Taylor Walker)

15:28

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jamie Cripps)

17:09

Adelaide's has been astronomical in generating ball movement from their defensive 50, generating an inside 50 from 47% of their defensive 50 chains in comparison to West Coast's 17%. Despite this, the Crows have not launched a goal from this zone.

17:26

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jack Petruccelle)

20:07

SCORE GOAL - Crows (Taylor Walker)

22:46

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Jamaine Jones)

22:50

Jamaine Jones kicks a goal from stoppage right after coming on as the substitute. The Eagles have been strong in the contest, winning the last six clearances of this match. Normally, they average 6.5 fewer clearances than their opponent this season - ranked last in the AFL.

24:13

SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Jake Soligo)

25:11

SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Josh Rachele)

27:04

Before three-quarter time, the Crows have already scored their most behinds in a game this season with 17, highlighting their inaccuracy in front of goal tonight (their previous most was 16 for the entire game in Round 20 against the Power).

28:38

SCORE GOAL - Eagles (Oscar Allen)

31:35

SCORE GOAL - Crows (Lachlan Gollant)

32:44

Taylor Walker has been the most targeted player inside 50, being targeted six times tonight for a return of 5.3 (33) on the scoreboard. He has been Adelaide's most targeted player on average this year - averaging 6.4 inside 50 targets each game.

33:49

SCORE GOAL - Crows (Darcy Fogarty)

35:30

The Crows played a forward half-game in the third quarter, having 63% of the quarter played in this zone as well as having nine more inside 50s. They lead by seven at the final break.

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

00:57

SCORE GOAL - Crows (Taylor Walker)

01:15

Crows Interchange - Harry Schoenberg and is possibly out for the game.

02:09

Of the 14 games they have been in front at the final break, Adelaide has won 10 of them. From West Coast's perspective, they have won one game from 19 where they have been trailing at three-quarter time.

03:20

SCORE GOAL - Crows (Taylor Walker)

05:04

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Jack Darling)

05:07

Eagles Interchange - Tom Cole off due to an injury.

07:09

Adelaide has been powerful once the ball has left the stoppage area, winning 10 more post-clearance contested possessions than the Eagles. The Crows have a post-clearance contested possessions differential of 1.7 this season - ranked sixth.

07:41

SCORE GOAL - Crows (Josh Rachele)

10:50

SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Lachlan Gollant)

12:10

The Eagles have been weak in the air, allowing Adelaide to win 32% of all 1v1 marking contests. The AFL average is 28.5%. The Eagles are yet to record a defensive 1v1 contest tonight.

15:31

SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Luke Pedlar)

17:05

Jake Soligo has put together an impressive performance, having 21 disposals, as well as recording 10 score involvements for the first time in his career (his previous best was seven).

17:47

SCORE GOAL - Crows (Taylor Walker)

19:11

Taylor Walker slots his eighth, levelling the tally for the Coleman Medal with Charlie Curnow. He has put together another virtuoso performance, scoring eight goals, 12 score involvements, seven contested possessions and nine marks.

20:32

SCORE GOAL - Crows (Jake Soligo)

22:50

SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Luke Pedlar)

23:25

The Crows have been strong on the inside, winning the contested possession count 130-114, as well as on the outside, winning the uncontested possession count 248-212. Adelaide has won eight of their 10 games this season where they have led both of these ledgers - the equal most this season.

25:10

SCORE GOAL - Crows (Taylor Walker)

26:59

SCORE BEHIND - Crows (Taylor Walker)

29:49

SCORE BEHIND - Eagles (Bailey J. Williams)

29:53

The Crows finish the season on a high, with Taylor Walker kicking nine goals to put him on 76 goals for the year - a career-best. Another impressive game built on the back of playing in the forward half, with Adelaide generating 39 points from their attacking midfield - their most since Round 20.