Crows thrash Cats to reach AFL grand final
Sep 22, 2017 - 1:43 PM Adelaide livewire Charlie Cameron has kicked five goals in a 61-point belting of Geelong in the first AFL preliminary final.The Crows have secured a spot in their first grand final since 1998 with a 21.10 (136) to 10.15 (75) triumph at Adelaide Oval on Friday.
Adelaide jumped the Cats, kicking nine of the first 10 goals, to set up a a premiership decider against the winner of Saturday night's clash between Richmond and Greater Western Sydney.
"Great credit to the players for the work they have done," Crows coach Don Pyke said.
"The connection they have got allows them to perform like they did ... the start was fantastic."
Geelong megastar Patrick Dangerfield was felled in a second-term collision with Adelaide's Rory Sloane which will attract scrutiny.
The great mates crashed front-on and Sloane's upper arm hit Dangerfield in the head in what appeared accidental contact.
Dangerfield lay prone on his back for about 15 seconds before being helped from the field, but came back on to play out the match.
The incident came as Adelaide steamrolled the flat Cats - seven minutes into the second quarter, the Crows led by 48 points.
The closest Geelong came was 27 points before Adelaide accelerated into their third grand final - they won the others, in 1997-98.
Fleet-footed Cameron's five goals were a career-best return, complemented by a soaring pack mark in the third quarter.
Cameron's attacking colleague Josh Jenkins slotted four goals, and Eddie Betts, Taylor Walker, Paul Seedsman and Tom Lynch bagged two each.
Betts sparked the early onslaught - within the first three minutes, he had a hand in one goal and kicked another.
The masterly forward later curled a 40m boundary-line set shot to give the Crows a 6.3 to 1.2 quarter-time lead.
Only once this season have the Cats scored less in a first term - 0.4 in their qualifying-final loss a fortnight ago to Richmond.
"They (the Crows) were fantastic tonight ... they executed extremely well," Geelong coach Chris Scott said.
"Their skill level ... they well and truly deserve to be where they are."
Adelaide's vaunted forward line were fed a feast of chances from the Crouch brothers in midfield - Matt had 31 disposals, Brad 29.
Defender Rory Laird was outstanding with 32 possessions, roaming forward Lynch collected 20 touches and teammate Sam Jacobs won the rucks.
Geelong's linchpin Dangerfield started in attack - and the Crows kicked four goals in 15 minutes before he was shifted into the midfield.
The Brownlow medallist triggered a mini-revival in the second quarter when the visitors pulled within 27 points - he finished with two goals and 24 disposals.
But the Crows, despite the plucky efforts of Cats captain Joel Selwood (34 disposals) and Mitch Duncan (25 touches), were never seriously challenged before 53,817 raucous spectators - a record AFL crowd at Adelaide Oval.
Source: AAP
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