Crows battle hard but now it’s all uphill

ADELAIDE’S finals destiny is no longer in its own hands after it was put to the sword by a nine-minute West Coast goal blitz in Perth yesterday.

Trailing by just a point eight minutes into the third term following a breakout game from 19-year-old key forward Darcy Fogarty, the brave Crows conceded four goals in nine minutes to slip 27 points behind before losing by 10 to fall out of the top eight with two home-and-away rounds left.

While 2017 No. 12 draft pick Fogarty was superb with a career-high five goals in just his 12th AFL game, Adelaide’s narrow defeat has left it likely having to win its last two minor-round matches against Collingwood at Adelaide Oval on Saturday and the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat on August 25 to have any chance of playing in September.

But even that might not be enough, with rival Port Adelaide sneaking into the top eight at the weekend.

Having unluckily lost cocaptain Rory Sloane early in the third quarter with blurred vision, the Crows — who trailed by just a point at halftime — were outpointed in the third quarter by the premier, which is chasing a top-two finish and an all-important home qualifying final.

Adelaide lost no admirers in throwing everything it had at the Eagles and it kept coming in the final term.

But it has now won just two of its seven matches since the Round 14 bye.

While the Crows’ endeavour could not be questioned and they saw signs of great things to come from Fogarty, who was playing j ust his second AFL game of the season after managing 10 in his debut season last year, they weren’t clean enough in the real pressure moments.

West Coast has now won seven of its past eight games and nine of 11 games at Perth Stadium this season.

Fogarty was magnificent for Adelaide, taking seven marks to go with his five majors, midfielders Matt Crouch (43 disposals) and his brother Brad (35) were terrific, key defender Daniel Talia held star Eagles goalkicker Josh Kennedy to just one major and veteran ruckman Sam Jacobs was strong in his first AFL game since Round 2.

For the Eagles, key forward Jack Darling was a difference maker with three goals and nine marks, small forward Willie Rioli was lively all day and midfielders Andrew Gaff, Dom Sheed and Elliot Yeo were influential.