First quarter: Melbourne 3.4 (22) to Adelaide Crows 3.1 (19)
There were shades of last year’s start against the Crows at Adelaide Oval, when Melbourne got off to a flyer, booting the opening three goals.
Ben Newton kicked the first goal of the match, before Nathan Jones and Jeff Garlett followed up to give Melbourne a 21-point lead.
It took 19 minutes before Adelaide registered its first score – a rushed behind – but then the Crows hit back with three in a row in time-on, cutting the margin back to just three points at quarter-time.
Second quarter: Adelaide Crows 5.3 (33) to Melbourne4.6 (30)
Goals were hardto come by in the second term, but Adelaide’s two majors were enough to givethem the lead at the main break.
Josh Jenkinsput the Crows in front at the five-minute mark, but the Demons regained thelead at the 13-minute mark, courtesy of Jesse Hogan, who kicked his first andMelbourne’s only goal for the quarter.
But when TaylorWalker kicked truly, the home team took a three-point advantage at half-time.
Third quarter: Adelaide Crows 9.4 (58) to Melbourne6.9 (45)
Adelaidestarted the third quarter in strong fashion and there were signs for Melbournethat it could’ve been like last round’s disastrous second half.
The Crowsbooted the first three goals to gain a 21-point lead, but when Jesse Hoganlanded his second for the match and Dean Kent kicked truly, the Demons cut thedeficit back to just eight points.
But DavidMackay’s quick reply to Kent’s major in time-on gave the Crows a 13-pointbuffer heading into the final change.
Final quarter: Adelaide Crows 12.8 (80) d Melbourne 7.13(55)
Although thegame was still within Melbourne’s reach entering the last term, Adelaide allbut ended the match mid-way through the quarter when it booted three goals tozip.
Walker landedfor the first for the quarter and had three for the match, while CamEllis-Yolmen’s second and Eddie Betts’ first at the 17-minute mark all butended any hope of a Melbourne comeback.
From that point,Garlett was the sole goalkicker, landing Melbourne’s only major for the finalterm at the 30-minute mark, as Adelaide managed a 25-point victory.
