Against all odds, an undermanned Adelaide have defied expectations after pulling off a stunning victory over Sydney by 10 points at the SCG.
Skipper Taylor Walker silenced his critics following his quiet game last week, with four vital goals to pave the way for his side's victory, while Paul Seedsman continued his stellar form with 26 disposals.
With Adelaide coming off a 48-point smashing against Collingwood last week, the Crows simply had to respond early at the SCG.
Led by Walker up forward, the Crows did just that, dominating around the stoppages and locking the ball inside their 50 to mount pressure on the Swans' defenders.
But despite their early superiority, Adelaide were unable to capitalise, starting the game with five straight behinds, with set shots to Walker and Richard Douglas just missing.
The Crows' inaccuracy opened the gate for the lethargic Swans, who managed to finally get the ball out of their back half and convert a goal through a running Zak Jones.
Adelaide quickly responded however, with an excellent snap from previously out-of-form wingman Rory Atkins finally getting them on the board.
With Seedsman racking up disposals at will (14 in the first quarter), Adelaide continued to stamp their authority, with the under fire Walker marking inside 50 and converting with ease to give the Crows a crucial break.
Although Dean Towers hit back for the Swans to keep them in touch, majors to Walker and Atkins took their tally to two and handed the Crows a 12-point lead at quarter-time.
With the young and undermanned Adelaide midfield on top of the star-studded Swans, a devastating response was expected from the premiership favourites.
But the Crows again managed to get the fast start, courtesy of a strong mark and goal from key forward, Josh Jenkins, who was yet to touch the ball prior to his major.
As the Crows began to pull the contest away from the Swans, a criminal turnover by the ever reliable Rory Laird would hand Lance Franklin the ball 65 metres from goal as he proceeded to turn around and put through his first goal of the night.
Walker would return serve with a long goal of his own minutes later, with a cheeky celebration after Franklin goaded the Adelaide skipper would be unable to make the distance.
Another goal to Jenkins would provide a crucial break midway through the term, before the class of Isaac Heeney sprung the Swans to life as he converted from a big contested mark.
With both sides searching for the half-time break, a costly dropped mark by Mitch McGovern would hand Sydney veteran Kieran Jack a critical goal, cutting back the margin to 16 points just 14 seconds out from the siren.
Having all the momentum going into the second half, Sydney came out fired up in the third quarter, getting on top of the young Crows' midfield around the ball.
The Crows were ruing an early chance to extend their lead through an easy McGovern set shot as Sydney proceeded to lock the ball in their front half for the majority of the term.
Despite the Swans' all-round dominance, the Crows' defence were admirable in holding off the rampaging Sydney, with the likes of Laird, Luke Brown, Daniel Talia and Atkins constantly saving the day.
It would be a snap by Harry Cunningham which would ultimately break the deadlock, with the Swans looking set to run over the gallant Crows.
An emotional goal by Gary Rohan would bring the SCG crowd to their feet as the Swans cut the margin back to just three points.
Desperate to increase pressure on the Crows, a courageous spoil from Tom Papley running back with the flight of the ball prevented what would have been a certain Adelaide major to give them some much-needed breathing room.
Despite looking broken, the Crows found some relief through a Seedsman major - the in-form midfielder putting through a class goal to extend their lead to nine points at the final change.
Holding on by under two straight kicks going into the last, the Crows managed to find something early in the as their midfield again found a way to get on top around the contest.
A sliding mark to Jenkins would give him his third as Adelaide extended their lead to 15 points four minutes into the quarter.
Jenkins would again get involved deep in attack as he bundled through a host of Sydney defenders to set up the skipper with his fourth goal.
Second-gamer, Jordan Gallucci, was instrumental in the Adelaide resurgence, having some pivotal touches and kicking an inspired goal to bridge the Crows' lead out to a game-high 29 points.
With the game seemingly sewn, Sydney did what all champions teams do and surged home hard, with Rohan marking and converting his second to clinch back the momentum.
Running through the middle of the ground in waves, Sydney were back to their best around the contest, however couldn’t put it on the scoreboard with Franklin and Heeney both missing key opportunities.
The Swans eventually broke through courtesy of a set shot from George Hewett which kept the door slightly ajar for a miraculous come-from-behind victory.
Yet their gutsy ambitions would be put to bed, with a big defensive mark by Walker sealed a famous 10-point win for the Adelaide Football Club.
Now sitting at 3-2, the draw opens up for the Crows with four games at the Adelaide Oval to come, facing Gold Coast first on Saturday night.
Sydney meanwhile will be itching to bounce back from their poor performance as they head down to Geelong on Saturday afternoon.
SYDNEY 3.3 6.6 8.9 10.15 (75)
ADELAIDE 4.9 8.10 9.12 12.13 (85)
GOALS
Sydney: Rohan 2, Jack, Towers, Franklin, Jones, Florent, Hewett, Cunningham, Heeney
Adelaide: Walker 4, Jenkins 3, Atkins 3, Seedsman, Gallucci
BEST
Sydney: Heeney, Jones, Rampe, McVeigh, Cunningham, Lloyd
Adelaide: Walker, Atkins, Seedsman, Laird, Doedee, Lynch
INJURIES
Sydney: Nil
Adelaide: Hartigan (hamstring)
TALKING POINTS
1. TAYLOR WALKER IS STILL THE COMPETITION'S BEST CAPTAIN
Copping criticism all week regarding his leadership and ability to impact games, the two-time AFLPA Captain of the Year responded on Friday night with the perfect captain's game.
Getting involved in the game early with some strong marks and early goals, Walker was instrumental all night with 16 disposals and seven marks to go with his four goals.
With long goals from outside 50 and a crucial crumb in the last, Walker provided a target for his team across half-forward and constant lift throughout the night.
Along with his prowess up forward, Walker topped his good performance with a crucial late defensive mark to lock in a win for the Crows.
2. ISAAC HEENEY EMERGING INTO ONE OF THE COMPETITION'S ELITE
A product of Sydney’s plentiful underage academy, the Swans were wrapped to bring the blonde haired bombshell into their doors with pick 18 in the 2014 National Draft.
Blessed with sensational athleticism and size around the contest, the 21-year-old looks to have taken the next step in 2018 as he provided a dangerous target inside 50 for the Swans and took a number of crucial contested marks.
Playing an almost lone hand in the Sydney midfield at times, Heeney is one of few who can hold his head high with 19 disposals, eight marks, eight tackles and a goal.
With a number of Sydney’s premier midfielders ageing, Heeney looks set to become the main man in the harbour city in the not too distant future.
3. PAUL SEEDSMAN IS AMONG THE MOST IMPROVED PLAYERS IN THE COMPETITION
Going back to halfway through the 2017 season, the career of Paul Seedsman was on the line as injuries and inconsistent form saw him unable to crack into the Crows' best 22.
However, injuries to fellow Crows late in the season saw Seedsman given another chance at the top level which he has taken with both hands.
A solid finals series has led into his best ever pre-season, and now the wingman has come into the 2018 season primed to cement himself in the Adelaide side.
In the first five rounds of the season, Seedsman is yet to go under 20 disposals with his 26 and a goal critical to the Crows' success.
4. THE COMPETITION IS AS EVEN AS EVER
Two weeks in a row we have seen stunning upsets on Friday night, with Collingwood belting Adelaide on their home deck before an undermanned Crows outfit travelled to the SCG and produced a famous victory.
With no side undefeated, it seems as if anything can happen in the AFL at the moment as the gap between the good and bad sides is as small as ever.
With a number of 50/50 games still to come in this round alone, fans should expect a series for the ages in 2018 as the AFL’s effort to even up the competition is working beautifully.
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