ADELAIDE 4.4 11.6 17.9 19.14 (128) RICHMOND 2.3 7.5 9.10 13.14 (92)
GOALS Adelaide: Betts 3, Douglas 3, Walker 3, Smith 2, Lyons 2, Sloane 2, Thompson 2, Jenkins, McGovern. Richmond: Lloyd 3, Rioli 2, Vickery 2, Riewoldt, Lambert, Edwards, Grigg, Hampson, Cotchin.
BEST Adelaide: Laird, Thompson, Smith, M Crouch, Sloane, Douglas, Betts. Richmond: Cotchin, B Ellis, Houli, Lloyd, Hampson.
Injuries: Adelaide: P Seedsman (concussion).
UMPIRES Hay, McInerney, Hosking.
CROWD 29,951 at Etihad Stadium.
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Relentless Crows punish Tigers
A six-goal third quarter has lifted Adelaide past Richmond in a fast-paced clash in Melbourne.
There are symbolic moments in many games, but they don't always stand out as baldly as did a period of no longer than a minute just before half-time at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Adelaide had dominated the second quarter against Richmond so comprehensively that the Crows were not only 39 points up, but looking like extending that margin very quickly indeed.
Seemingly out of nowhere, though, Richmond had found something. Skipper Trent Cotchin, under fire all week about his leadership, was showing plenty this week, his left foot snap giving the Tigers at least some hope.
In Richmond's next attack, a spear of a pass from Brandon Ellis found Ty Vickery on a lead, and the key forward brought the gap back under five goals.Â
The Tigers attacked again after a daring change of direction from Connor Menadue. From an impossible angle, Kane Lambert managed to bounce one through. Just 21 points now. Which made what happened next so deflating.
As Adelaide sought to clear the lines, Cotchin lifted again to get a critical intercept to what was going to be a clean Adelaide mark. Richmond made use of the turnover once more and Jack Riewoldt marked just 20 metres out, the Tiger fans roaring.
This was a clutch moment. And it was botched. Inexplicably, Riewoldt hit the post. From the resultant kick-in, Adelaide, as they had so effectively most of the half, spirited the ball from end to end in a flash.
In a footrace in which he had a fair headstart, Josh Jenkins won, racing into an open goal to restore the Crows' composure and take the wind out of the Tigers' sails. And as far as this game still being in dispute went, that was about that.
Adelaide's eventual 36-point victory was no quite as explosive, but not a lot less impressive than the Crows' demolition of Port Adelaide last week. Don Pyke's team is a sharp outfit indeed.
This was a game where the raw numbers for either side were roughly the same. It was in the use of the football that Adelaide and Richmond were poles apart. And so slick did the Crows look with it that the Tigers will be far from the only team this season they make look second-rate by comparison.
The gap was out to more than five goals again within a couple of minutes of the restart after the half-time break, following a goal to Rory Sloane. And then, sadly for the Tigers, there was almost an action replay of what had taken place just before half-time.
Vickey was the Richmond villain this time instead of Riewoldt. But again, a golden opportunity wasted. Again the post was hit. And again, Adelaide made the Tigers pay.
Indeed, the response this time was even sharper, brilliant defender Rory Laird, Paul Seedsman, already looming as a valuable pick-up, Jenkins and Taylor Walker combined to whisk the ball from goalfront to the other in literally seconds, the skipper cashing in with the resultant six-pointer.
Richmond had periods where it had the bulk of play, none the least the opening to the game, that short second-quarter burst, and again in the third term, even as they sank so far behind a revival was next to impossible.
But the Tigers would miss shots at goal, turn the ball over going inside 50, miss targets, and Adelaide repeatedly cashed in.
So much so that by 18 minutes into the third quarter, Richmond had nearly doubled the Crows' inside 50 tally for the term. The miserable net result of that for the Tigers was 1.5. Adelaide, from just half-a-dozen forward entries, had managed four goals.
The good players were everywhere, the Crows' defence, led by Laird and Brodie Smith, outstanding, Smith's booming last-quarter goal from well outside 50 wasn't so much a statement as massive smack around Richmond's chops.
Scott Thompson just did what he does most weeks, pick up a heap of touches, use them efficiently, and never stop running. Ditto Sloane. And with every game Matt Crouch plays, the name Dangerfield becomes less and less of a devastating loss.
Up forward, Adelaide barely missed a beat despite the pre-game withdrawal of Tom Lynch. That wasn't just the result of clean and quick delivery, but some sensational forward pressure applied by the likes of Eddie Betts, who had as many score assists as his three goals.
Richmond had the gut-busting efforts of Cotchin, the prolific Ellis, Bachar Houli, a monster leap and three goals at least from small forward Sam Lloyd, some promising signs from Daniel Rioli, and a pretty robust effort from often-maligned ruckman Shaun Hampson.
But Dustin Martin couldn't exert his usual influence, Riewoldt had a quiet one, and of course, once again there was no Brett Deledio.
It's been obvious for a while that Richmond need all their biggest stars firing as one to match it with the best in the competition. And the way Adelaide is looking at the moment, even that might not be enough for the Tigers.