ADELAIDEÂ Â Â Â Â 5.2 Â Â Â Â 11.7 Â Â Â Â 18.10 Â Â Â Â 22.11Â Â Â (143)
ESSENDON Â Â Â Â 2.3 Â Â Â Â 4.4 Â Â Â Â Â 5.6 Â Â Â Â Â 9.7 Â Â Â (61)
GOALS -Â Adelaide: Betts 5, Cameron 4, McGovern 4, Jenkins 2, Douglas 2, Seedsman 2, Lyons, Sloane, Hartigan.
Essendon: Â Daniher 4, Laverde 2, Fantasia, Cooney, Langford.
BEST -Â Adelaide: Laird, Sloane, Betts, Smith, M Crouch, Thompson.Â
Essendon: Daniher, Merrett, Leuenberger, Cooney, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Goddard.
INJURIES:Â Adelaide: Jacobs (ankle).
UMPIRES:Â Farmer, Edwards, Mollison.
CROWD:Â 44,264 at Adelaide Oval.
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AFL: Adelaide crunch Essendon
As expected, Adelaide crunched Essendon at Adelaide Oval grabbing much-needed percentage.
As expected, Adelaide crunched Essendon at Adelaide Oval last night to grab much-needed percentage, but there were few celebrations as they pondered life without Sam Jacobs in ruck in the run to the finals.
He damaged the lateral side of his left ankle landing from an uncontested mark just 42 seconds into the second quarter. Early assessment suggested he may miss one or two matches.
With Taylor Walker ruled out with an ankle injury, Adelaide coach Don Pyke was forced to keep Josh Jenkins in ruck leaving a relatively "pint-sized" forward structure headed by Eddie Betts, who once again delighted the home-town fans with his brilliance.
As they say, hindsight is a wonderful thing, and the Crows must surely lament not giving either 201cm Reilly O'Brien or 197cm forward/ruckman Harry Dear their first AFL game in place of Walker in the event of Jacobs being injured.
This was a great opportunity missed to plan or experiment for the Jacobs scenario. Adelaide were always going to win this contest, and it was very much about improving their lagging percentage compared with the other top-four hopefuls.
With Matthew Leuenberger continuing his excellent performance in ruck even before Jacobs was injured, and Essendon coach John Worsfold setting his men a one-on-one task, the Bombers made the task more difficult for Adelaide than perhaps many expected.
The Crows were more subdued in the first half, content to be patient rather than repeatedly going for the "slingshot" play – often kicking backwards and sideways to create a contrived shot at goal. It frustrated the fans, but it was vital in their finals preparation given the way Geelong smothered their style the previous week. Again, it would have been a far better fact-finding mission had the Crows been able to use this ploy with Jenkins playing his normal forward pocket role.
After half-time, it was a goal-fest with the Crows breaking the 100-point barrier 19 minutes into the third quarter with Essendon having scored just four goals.
There was so much to like about Adelaide, including the ever-progressive Mitch McGovern, who was given Walker's vacant full forward spot. The energy and excitement he continues to give this side has had a huge impact.
Beyond Betts, who dominated the scoreboard with five goals before three-quarter time and surpassed 450 career goals, were the usual brilliant performers headed by midfielder Rory Sloane and resilient defenders Rory Laird and Brodie Smith. Brad Crouch, who is so important to this side, worked hard to get the ball but many of his disposals were off-target.
Yet again, no one could question the Bombers' desperation, but their deficiency was nothing new – getting hammered outside of the stoppages and unable to stop their opponent's charge. As the game wore on, the cracks in their defence widened, and Adelaide went further on the rampage. With percentage crucial, their attack on the ball became relentless.
There were some magical goals too from McGovern, Betts and Essendon's Jayden Laverde in just his 14th game, but none earned more acknowledgement than the Kyle Hartigan's goal from 35 metres – thanks to a 50-metre penalty – his first goal in 45 AFL games and reinforced the belief that Adelaide's scoring potential runs incredibly deep.
The Crows next play the other two bottom sides – Brisbane Lions, again at home, and Fremantle at Domain Stadium. The run into the finals ends with Port Adelaide and West Coast Eagles at home.
Meanwhile, the Bombers play Geelong this week.