Adelaide has survived a big scare in Perth to claim a 25-point win over West Coast on Friday night.
Needing to respond after last week’s Showdown “reality check”, the Crows were off to a red-hot start with a six-goal to one opening term.
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Round 17
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Darcy Fogarty (four goals) did the damage early, as the Eagles never recovered that five-goal buffer before falling to the 15.8 (98) to 11.8 (74) loss at Optus Stadium.
A centre clearance belting in the first half continued to give Adelaide first use, with Fox Footy’s Ben Dixon claiming the Eagles were “on the ropes”.
But down by 30 at the final change, it was a brave West Coast who turned up in the final term.
They closed to within 18 points to spark the crowd to life, but when Ben Keays (three goals) nailed a ripping snap from the boundary – and let the crowd know all about it, the door was closed on the miracle comeback.
West Coast proved their own worst enemy in the final term, blowing an 18-3 inside 50 count to manage just three goals for the quarter.
Star Jake Waterman sent a scare through the West Coast camp late when he came from the ground clutching his shoulder – but bravely managed to return to the contest with just minutes to play.
THE 3-2-1 (what we learned) …
3. HORROR START KILLS EAGLE HOPES
West Coast went into the clash with Adelaide staring down a five-year win drought.
And that horror form against the Crows rolled on in the first term as Adelaide put the Eagles to the sword.
West Coast were forced to go into “save the game mode” after just 10 minutes with Jobe Shanahan and Jack Williams both heading into defence to try and stop the Crows’ run.
They had four goals to none at that point – and were “completely smoked” by the Crows at the contest.
“They’ve got to get in the trenches in these stoppages,” Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy said.
“They’ve been giving the Eagles a nice old lesson in the contest part of the game.”
It was a remarkable turnaround from the Crows – who were taught their own contest lesson in last week’s horror Showdown defeat.
“They are just deer in the highlights at the present time the Eagles,” Healy said.
“This is a shellacking at the moment.”
Jack Graham went without a touch in the first term, while Elliot Yeo and Jake Waterman had one disposal each.
By half-time, it was an 11-2 centre clearance count – but West Coast started to even it up around the ground.
“I think West Coast got themselves back into the game in clearance … they rolled the sleeves up. They just said we’re not standing for it – work rate was everything,” Ben Dixon said after West Coast won the second term clearance count by 1.
Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks was pleased with the response he got from his players after the Power “reality check”.
“To come out after last week and I guess bring it like we did especially through that midfield and centre bounce, it’s quietened down what is normally a very loud crowd,” he shared on Fox Footy at half time.
“I thought they started coming back at us in that quarter – a few things we can still get better at.”
2. WHAT’S WRONG WITH YEO?
Elliot Yeo is one of West Coast’s best and has been for a number of years.
But against Adelaide on Friday night, the midfielder couldn’t get near it.
He had just one touch to quarter time, and added just one more to the main break.
“I’ve been watching Elliot Yeo really closely – he can’t be 100% or anywhere near it,” Will Schofield said from the boundary.
“They’ve got him resting deep forward.
“You’d like to see the senior player having an impact.
“I don’t know if he’s injured, or they are holding him for minutes but once you’re out there you’re out there – you play your best players where the best players play.”
Gerard Healy said he had no issue with Yeo the forward – but they had to get the ball down there first.
“Surely in the last quarter Elliot Yeo goes to the backline or somewhere different – he can’t find the footy,” he said.
“He’s too good a player to be just running around standing on the mark for people.
“You’ve got an inexperienced backline – you could stick him down there with (Brandon) Starcevich!”
Three-quarter time vision showed coach Andrew McQualter speak with Yeo at length.
“He’s just asking … how can I help you?” Gerard Healey said.
“If they’re going to win, they are going to need a big effort from some of their match winners and Elliot Yeo was one of the great mids for a fair period of time.”
“He’s yet to have an effective disposal – (Liam) Baker has only had four disposals since quarter time and (Tim) Kelly has only had five so their leaders need to lift,” Ben Dixon added.
1. WHO ELSE BUT JORDAN DAWSON?
When Adelaide needed someone to steer the ship to stay in touch with the AFL’s top four, it was skipper Jordan Dawson who continued his incredible 2026 form.
Despite his personal heartbreak, the captain has led from the front time and time again.
And that rolled on in Perth on Friday night when Dawson inspired a stunning centre clearance haul.
“Their leader in Jordan Dawson… by his standards he hasn’t set the world on fire with his stats but he is still the dominant player in this game,” Will Schofield praised.
“He’s kicked a goal.
“Just the way he goes about it – I’ve watched him. He’s had I reckon a pretty close checking tag, although it doesn’t look like it with some of the things he does at stoppage.
“He just continues to find a way to impact the game.
“We know what’s happened away from the field, the tragic circumstances, but I think he’s probably the best leader in the game.
“This isn’t a blockbuster game for Adelaide, but it was a poor loss against Port Adelaide last week. He finds a way to stand up, be the player that his team needs and just continues to do it.
“Loved the way he goes about his business.
“You can see him leading in these circumstances as well. Just great to watch up close Jordan Dawson.”
The skipper finished with 27 disposals – 10 contested, eight tackles, six clearances, more than 750m gained and a goal.
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