Adelaide and Brisbane have played out for a draw in arguably the greatest match of 2024, with both sides locked at 90-90 after the final siren.
With no side leading by more than 18 points throughout the match, each side was in the contest for the entirety of the match – with the match almost fittingly ending with split points.
Neither side led by more than three points at the first three intervals, speaking highly of the incredibly tight contest.
Watch every game of every round this Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
Both clubs stay locked in 12th and 13th place on the ladder, stuck now on an awkward 14 points.
The match was the third draw in Adelaide’s 33-year history, while it was the Lions’ first draw since 2009.
THE 3-2-1… (with Will Faulkner)
3 – DRAMATIC DRAW SEE-SAWS FROM START TO FINISH
The Crows and Lions played out the biggest arm-wrestle seen in recent memory, with the second draw of 2024 sending fans from both teams into hysteria.
With no side leading by more than three points at the intervals, the indicators sat right in front of everyone that it was always going to be a tight finish.
Brisbane led Adelaide by three points at quarter time, before the Crows snatched a two-point lead at the main break.
The standard of football was high from the start, as noted by three-time Richmond premiership player Jack Riewoldt.
“It’s been an interesting open term, both sides playing some reasonable football,” Riewoldt said.
“For both teams, a little bit of work to be done – but an interesting first quarter, I think both sides are trying to feel their way out in this game.”
The Lions started the match with their worst clearance return in a quarter for 2024 – registering just seven compared to Adelaide’s 14.
A Darcy Fogarty behind on the siren meant the Crows again stole a lead at three-quarter time, with an epic final quarter on the horizons.
Brisbane’s early get away in the final term at one point gave them an 18-point lead, but the Crows fought back extremely hard to level score deep into the last quarter.
A Harry Sharp behind gave the Lions a one-point lead at the 30-minute mark of the term, before Crows captain Jordan Dawson ran across the face of his own goal 40 metres out, but missing to the right side of the big sticks.
At the final siren, all 46 players were in disbelief they had fought so hard for half of the deserved reward.
Which begs the question, should the draw be scrapped?
2 – THEY DIDN’T LOSE, BUT ARE THEIR SEASONS IN DAMAGE CONTROL?
Now sitting with just three wins from their first nine games, both the Crows and Lions desperately needed a win just as much as the other – and they each came out losers, kind of.
Now two wins outside the top eight, the unexpected draw makes their finals run increasingly unlikely, given their current records and the well-documented openness of the premiership race in 2024.
Nonetheless, there’s no doubt that both sides deserve to be higher than their current rank on the ladder, as touched on by Jack Riewoldt at half time.
“I think both of these sides are playing better footy than 12th and 13th at the moment… to have a win against a side that’s around you is so crucial,” Riewoldt said.
The Lions had moments where they stood out collectively, while the Crows had more moments of individual brilliance – particularly from the likes of Izak Rankine.”
“Certainly Brisbane are trying to control the ball when they have it, but when it’s been in a stoppage, I think they’ve been quite clinical in their stoppage work,” Jordan Lewis said at half time.
“I think both sides are finding it realty tough; I think the pressure’s been really good.”
Adelaide Crows legend Mark Ricciuto at three-quarter time made comment on the consequences of a loss, completely unaware of what the next half an hour would bring for both sides.
“It is so tight at the moment… you’d think it’s going to be very hard to play finals for the loser,” Ricciuto said.
Collingwood, who started with three losses this season, have only just reached the top eight – despite not losing since Round 2, and highlighting just how tough it is to climb back up the ladder from a tough beginning.
The glass half full point of view?
They’re both only three wins away from third place (thanks to Essendon’s poor percentage), so it isn’t as bad as it truly seems – but it’s still no doubt a tough-ish road back into the eight.
The Crows face Collingwood at the MCG next Saturday, while the Lions play the hapless Richmond on their home turf later that same night.
1 – KEY BATTLES EVEN OUT JUST LIKE THE FINAL RESULT
Ironically, the biggest battles in Adelaide’s attacking 50 ended up as even as the result – with individuals standing up for either side.
The matchup of the game was no doubt the battle between Taylor Walker and Jack Payne, with the latter surprisingly getting the better of Walker for most of the match.
Payne put together one of the biggest intercept performances in recent memory during a crucial third quarter, clunking half a dozen intercept marks alone in the term.
Adelaide legend Mark Ricciuto took great notice to the battle at three-quarter time, highlighting Payne’s influence.
“One of the great duels has been Tex Walker and Jack Payne in Adelaide’s forward line – they had nine intercept marks in that quarter Brisbane, Jack had six himself and Tex kicked two goals,” Ricciuto said.
Walker went without a disposal in the first quarter, before coming alive after half time for his two majors.
Payne finished the match with 16 disposals – 13 of which were intercepts – and 12 marks to take the points over his opponent.
Darcy Fogarty stepped up in Payne’s success though, kicking four goals in his best performance for the year with some dead-eye set shots.
Izak Rankine also ran riot, accumulating 24 disposals, 10 score involvements and three goals as he continues his pursuit for a maiden All-Australian jacket.
Jack Riewoldt added comments on Rankine at half time, who was clearly the centre of attention from the Lions given his output.
“Rankine has this great talent to make other players better… when Adelaide get out, they’re very hard to stop,” Riewoldt explained.
“When he’s around the ball, he attracts defenders.”
Lion Harris Andrews was also solid in defence for the Lions, but tried to play as loose as possible to combat high balls coming into their defensive 50.
ADELAIDE v BRISBANE – AS IT HAPPENED
Thesubs were Luke Nankervis (Crows) and Shadeau Brain (Lions).
Charlie Cameron kicked off proceedings with the first goal of the match, soccering quickly by the goal line in traffic.
Crow Elliott Himmelberg weaved through traffic just a couple of minutes later in response, kicking beautifully from the depths of 50 to gain an early one-point lead.
In his second game, Logan Morris ran out the back of a contested pack to snap his second AFL goal from close range – and give the Lions back a four-point lead.
Himmelberg provided Izak Rankine with silver service in reply, finding the star from the middle of the ground with a tracer bullet of a kick.
Rankine subsequently converted from the 50 metre arc, and created the fifth lead change already for the match.
Not to be outdone, former Crow Charlie Cameron found Callum Ah Chee with a piercing kick on his side’s 50 metre junction not long after – giving the Lions back the lead… again!
Ah Chee kicked his second not long after, crumbing off a throw-in with class to give the Lions their biggest lead for the match of nine points.
“The second gamer unfortunately in Curtin doesn’t see Ah Chee out, and it’s important at a forward 50 stoppage especially, you have to do your job at that point in time,” three-time Richmond premiership player Jack Riewoldt said on commentary.
A magnificent snap from Darcy Fogarty from the boundary brought the Crows back within one kick of the Lions, kicking his first for the evening in the right forward pocket.
The Lions lead the hosts by three points at quarter-time in what has been a see-sawing affair.
Rory Laird leads the disposals count for either team with 11 disposals, while Dayne Zorko has continued his form from last week with nine first quarter touches.
After a hectic passage of play, Josh Rachele kicked the first goal of the second quarter with a brilliant banana 30 metres out from goal.
Cameron shanked a set shot on goal a couple of minutes later, not making the distance from within range – however a Crows brain fade allowed the kick to go to ground, with Morris mopping up the crumbs for his second of the half.
“The Crows just went to sleep there on the goal line,” Riewoldt said on the Adelaide blunder.
Eric Hipwood joined the goal kicking party after a quiet first quarter, making the most of an Adelaide error inside defensive 50 to push their lead out to nine points.
Hipwood had a chance to his his second goal in a minute from the exact same spot, however faded his set shot to the left of the goals.
Suddenly a ball magnet, the Lions key forward had a third shot on goal inside three minutes – this time from the opposite angle of his previous too.
Like his most recent kick though, he kept the ball to the left of the goals and registered Brisbane’s fifth behind for the match.
A clean passage of play gave the Crows their eventual response, taking the ball end-to-end from a turnover eventually into the hands of Taylor Walker, who reaped the rewards of a great Ben Keays contested marks deep inside forward 50.
Logan Morris had the chance to kick his third goal with his third disposal, but faded his shot much like his teammates to the left of the goals.
Lachie Sholl kicked his 17th career goal to give the Crows the smallest of leads late in the first half.
Former Lion Ben Keays kicked after the siren from outside 50 to extend the lead, however could only register a minor score – giving his side a two-point lead at the main break.
Jordan Dawson and Reilly O’Brien led the Crows’ engine room, while Harris Andrews and Jack Payne kept the Lions in check down in defence – despite their opposition leading at half time.
“Both (teams) aren’t going away from their brand of football, I think that’s clear,” Jack Riewoldt said during the break.
“I think both sides are finding it realty tough; I think the pressure’s been really good,” Jordan Lewis added.
In a surprise tactical sub, the Crows have taken Daniel Curtin out of the game at the main break, with Luke Nankervis injected for the second half.
Kai Lohmann kicked his first of the evening in the opening minutes of the third term, giving the Lions their fifth lead for the match.
In a horror development, Josh Worrell left the ground just minutes after the Crows made their sub with an arm injury, and looks unlikely to play for the rest of the match – leaving Adelaide a man down.
Dead-eye set shot Fogarty kicked his second for the match on a 45 degree angle in the left forward pocket, forcing yet another leave change and a newly-found three-point lead for his side.
Walker doubled his goal tally for the evening from distance after a quiet few minutes for both sides, and extended his side’s lead to a team-high seven points.
Izak Rankine pushed the lead out to two goals after an unforgivable Harris Andrews kick from the goal square in open play, and insinuated the Crows had finally gained the true upper hand.
Brisbane had other ideas though, with Hugh McCluggage and Joe Daniher both kicking good goals late to send the scores straight back to a deadlock.
Fogarty had the chance to give the Crows back their buffer, with missed to – you guessed it – the left of the goal face, meaning Adelaide lead Brisbane by just one point heading into the final quarter.
Jarrod Berry opened the goal scoring booklet in the last term with a booming kick from outside 50, just minutes after teammate Charlie Cameron missed a snap from the boundary for a behind.
Callum Ah Chee followed suite, snapping under pressure inside forward 50 to give the Lions an early 12-point lead with 16 minutes to play.
Josh Dunkley kicked his first of the night to give his side the largest margin of the match – 18 points.
Elliott Himmelberg responded eventually, strolling into an open goal and giving Crows fans some cause for optimism with just over a half of football to play.
A brilliant centring ball from Walker on his left foot from the boundary found Rankine running forward into an open goal, and cut the deficit again down to just six points!
Fogarty kicked truly from another set shot for this third of the night, levelling the score to 83-83 with just under eight minutes to play.
‘The Fog’ made it four for the evening with his most crucial game yet – absolutely threading the needle with a drop punt on a tight angle in the left forward pocket.
The Crows lead became six points with five minutes to go in the match.
In a match that seemingly has no end, Callum Ah Chee popped up for his fourth goal of the match, and drew scores back level with three and a half minutes to play!
Follow Adelaide v Brisbane in our live blog below!
Source Agencies
