Crows’ second time period sinks Blues in Gather Round opener | UNW

Adelaide have crushed Carlton in the second term to break their three-game losing streak and open the AFL Gather Round with a 28-point win.

While the Blues are now on a three-game losing skid after the 17.12 (114) to 12.14 (86) loss on Thursday night at Adelaide Oval, they were within three goals midway through the last quarter.

As the pressure increases on coach Michael Voss, it was a more competitive effort from his team.

Josh Rachele sparked the Crows with four goals in the first half and midfielder Sam Berry racked up 29 possessions.

The spotlight has also been on the form of Carlton captain Patrick Cripps and he was better, with 29 disposals and seven clearances.

Indeed, some of Adelaide’s second-term surge came when he was off the ground.

Carlton kicked four goals from centre clearances in a pulsating first quarter, which featured 13 goals.

Ollie Hollands can expect match review scrutiny after his late challenge in a marking contest felled Taylor Walker, gifting the Crows veteran a 50m penalty and a goal.

The Blues led by 14 points late in the quarter after successive goals from Mitch McGovern.

But Rachele’s third goal for the quarter meant Adelaide only trailed by seven at the first break.

Star Carlton midfielder Sam Walsh had 15 possessions and four inside 50s and comfortably was best afield in the first term.

But by three-quarter time, in a major win for the Crows midfield, he had only managed five more possessions.

Carlton’s quarter-time advantage quickly became a four-goal lead to the Crows as the fadeouts that have bedevilled the Blues this season arrived early.

Rather than dropping away after halftime, the Blues were outscored six goals to one in the second term and they were in dire straits as the Crows jumped to a four-goal lead.

Adelaide started the second term with eight clearances to nil.

Heavy rain arrived during the long break and guaranteed the free scoring that marked the first half would dry up. After a 20-goal first half, only three were kicked in the third term.

Adelaide defender Mitch Hinge limped off at halftime with a hamstring injury and was subbed out of the game.

After Alex Neal-Bullen kicked a superb goal from the boundary, Adelaide led by a game-high 30 points at three-quarter time.

That was extended to 36 early in the last before Carlton hit back to keep the contest interesting. But late goals to Jake Soligo and Izak Rankine confirmed the Crows win.