Western Bulldogs vs Adelaide: Crows win by 57 points

Western Bulldogs vs Adelaide — live scoreboard

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By Chris De Silva

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Bulldogs vs Crows

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Press Conference

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Highlights

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Beveridge explains Treloar's absence in third quarter

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By Chris De Silva

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is asked about the decision to bench Adam Treloar for the entire third quarter.

"It was Luke Kennedy's first game, and Luke's got high endurance," he says.

"We were working through who should be playing different roles and covering the ground in different ways, and we thought we'd save Adam up for a run at it in the last quarter.

"He came on and started that last quarter and had an impact.

"With the five [substitutes], you're looking for outputs at different times and you make decisions throughout the course of a game."

Beveridge, as you'd expect, is very disappointed at his team's first quarter.

"You build yourself up for the contest every week and the intensity that's required in the game, and they beat us in those stakes," he says.

"That's the most disappointing thing. We didn't handle their pressure. We were second-rate."

Bontempelli speaks after a disappointing loss for the Dogs

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By Chris De Silva

Here's Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli's assessment on his side's performance tonight.

Nicks absolutely thrilled by another Crows win

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By Chris De Silva

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks absolutely stoked with his side's performance once again.

"When you visualise what we're coming in to do, that's the template," he tells Fox Footy.

"We spoke a lot about focus this week. We felt confident with the way we were playing, but that doesn't mean anything if you don't bring it.

"We couldn't have asked for a better start."

On the performance of Jordan Dawson, Nicks says: "I thought that was one of the best quarters I've seen."

You and I both got it wrong Mike!

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By Chris De Silva

My predictions are often wrong or very wrong, but this is shaping up to be one of my wrongest...

- Mike

A rare game that's not a tight finish while I'm blogging. Less entertaining, but better for my long-term health...

The final stats from Adelaide's big win at Docklands

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By Chris De Silva

Here's a look at all the big numbers out of that one.

Disposals: Adelaide 431-343

Inside 50s: Bulldogs 53-50

Clearances: Bulldogs 40-33

Centre Clearances: Bulldogs 12-11

Contested Possessions: Adelaide 153-135

Intercepts: Adelaide 74-64

Marks: Adelaide 114-72

Marks Inside 50: Adelaide 13-3

Tackles: Adelaide 75-59

Tackles in Forward 50: Adelaide 22-5

One Percenters: Bulldogs 58-40

FT: Adelaide 19.7 (121) defeats Western Bulldogs 9.10 (64)

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By Chris De Silva

The siren sounds at Docklands and Adelaide runs out 57-point winners over the Western Bulldogs!

Crows coach Matthew Nicks has been talking all year about claiming a big scalp, and that's quite a handy one away from home.

It's easy to forget that the Crows were the minor premiers last year amid a patchy start, but performances like tonight show you that this is a team to be reckoned with.

Adelaide were absolutely outstanding in the first quarter, kicking nine goals to two, and the match was effectively over right then and there.

Skipper Jordan Dawson was unstoppable in that first quarter, kicking three goals and in the end he finished with 32 disposals, 12 score involvements, eight tackles, seven clearances and six intercepts.

"The one word that comes to mind is inspiring," Josh Rachele says on his skipper's performance on Fox Footy.

"He's had such a tough year, but he's one of the most inspiring people I've ever met."

Rachele was outstanding up forward as well with four goals, while Riley Thilthorpe also added three majors of his own.

A word too for Sam Berry, who finishes with 29 disposals, 11 clearances, 10 score involvements and five inside 50s, while Rory Laird led all players with 35 touches.

Marcus Bontempelli led the way for the Bulldogs with 29 touches, but it was a dirty, dirty night for the home side.

Rachele adds his fourth goal of the night

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By Chris De Silva

Josh Rachele has put on an absolute small forward masterclass tonight.

He again stands expertly at the foot of a marking contest and snaps through his fourth goal of the night on the left foot.

This has turned into a nice little percentage-booster for the Crows now.

Stands empty out as we head into last five minutes

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By Chris De Silva

There are thousands of empty seats clearly visible at Docklands Stadium now as we tick into the final five minutes.

A desperately disappointing night for the Western Bulldogs.

They've just had little to no fluency at either end of the ground tonight.

Naughton adds a late goal to his tally

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By Chris De Silva

Aaron Naughton relatively unsighted again tonight after being quiet last week as well.

He gets a late one here though after taking a mark deep inside 50 to make it two for the night.

Marcus Bontempelli has come off the ground and is sitting on the bench looking pretty distraught right now.

I don't think anyone saw this level of a belting coming the Dogs' way tonight.

Into the final 10 minutes at Docklands

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By Chris De Silva

It's fair to say this match is just petering out at the moment.

Lachie McAndrew drops an absolute soda inside 50, which tells you all about the heat in the game.

The Crows up by 57 and they've sent a massive warning shot to the rest of the competition.

Treloar misses shot on goal after Milera extends lead

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By Chris De Silva

All eyes on Adam Treloar as he takes a set shot on goal from right on the 50m arc, but he badly misses it.

Meanwhile, the goals continue to rain in at the other end for Adelaide with Wayne Milera getting in on the act.

The Crows are a ridiculous 18.4 for the night. Other than the Pedlar injury, it's been the perfect night for Adelaide.

Cook gets the first goal of the final term

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By Chris De Silva

Brayden Cook adds to Adelaide's lead with an easy goal to start the final term!

A lovely kick inside 50 from Josh Rachele finds Ben Keays, who unselfishly centres it to find Cook at the top of the square.

Treloar starts final quarter on the ground after 'strange' absence

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By Chris De Silva

It looks like the Bulldogs medical staff wasn't lying after all because Adam Treloar is back on the ground!

"It's strange. Strange to sit a player for 20 minutes when he's fit," says Leigh Montagna on Fox Footy's coverage.

3QT: Adelaide 16.4 (100) leads Western Bulldogs 8.7 (55)

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By Chris De Silva

Another late goal from Adelaide is a killer to end the quarter for the Dogs!

Toby Murray the man this time as he sneaks home a set shot inside the right-hand upright.

The Dogs have fought hard to get themselves back into the contest after a horror first quarter, but the Crows have had all the answers.

There was a brief moment where the Dogs looked like they could get back into it when Cody Weightman's goal cut the margin to 33 goals, but Adelaide has steadied with the last two goals.

Adelaide kicks 4.1 in that quarter to the Dogs' 3.2 to extend the half-time lead despite what seemed like an improved performance from the Dogs.

Jordan Dawson still the leading ball-winner on the ground with 26 touches, while Sam Berry has added 24 to go along with a game-high 11 clearances.

Matt Kennedy is the leading ball-winner for the Dogs with 20 disposals, while Ed Richards and Marcus Bontempelli have added 19 apiece.

Adam Treloar, who played just 47 per cent of game time, has managed just four disposals.

It'll be really interesting to see what Dogs coach Luke Beveridge says after the game on his management of the veteran midfielder.

Dogs say Treloar fine despite absence from ground

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By Chris De Silva

It appears Adam Treloar has been left off the ground more due to performance, not injury.

Cam Mooney, who is Fox Footy's boundary rider tonight, says the Dogs say Treloar hasn't injured himself.

He has spent the entire quarter off the ground on an exercise bike.

"I just don't know that he's important to his team anymore," says Leigh Montagna on Fox Footy's coverage.

Treloar under injury cloud after quiet match

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By Chris De Silva

Adam Treloar remains on the exercise bike in the tunnel in this quarter.

Treloar has not been on the field in 20 minutes, and I wonder whether he might be done for the night, given his history with soft-tissue injuries of late.

Taylor strikes after free kick to keep Dogs at bay

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By Chris De Silva

Just as the Dogs were building some momentum, the Crows strike back again!

This decision looks stiff as Zac Taylor is tackled by Will Lewis as he handballs.

It's a legal tackle, but the umpires deem that he's held on for too long, that's really, really stiff.

Taylor drills the set shot from 40m out directly in front.

Weightman finally has his return goal

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By Chris De Silva

After being denied in the first quarter, Cody Weightman won't be denied this time!

The Dogs force a turnover in the middle of the ground courtesy of some good pressure, and Marcus Bontempelli sends a long ball inside 50.

It's towards Weightman, and Aaron Naughton does well to bring some manpower to the contest and then he hands off to Weightman, who dribbles it home.

The Dogs have the lead down to 33. The next two would make things really, really interesting.