Rachele the match-winner as Crows beat Lions in a thriller

[ad_1] Adelaide have produced a surprising last-quarter comeback to sink reigning premiers Brisbane by 5 factors in an AFL thriller.

Down 17 factors at three-quarter time, the Crows then booted 5 objectives to none for a ten.8 (68) to eight.15 (63) triumph at a rain-soaked Adelaide Oval on Friday evening.

Adelaide will retain a maintain on third spot no matter different weekend outcomes — they're simply two premiership factors behind the second-placed Lions.

Adelaide livewire ahead Josh Rachele slotted three objectives, as did did ex-Lion Ben Keays (20 disposals).

And their captain Jordan Dawson took a mark-of-the-year contender — after which goaled — throughout a final-term flourish which boosts the Crows' standing as a real contender.

Adelaide boast 9 wins and 4 losses and seem sure to return to the finals for the primary time since 2017.

Brisbane duo Cam Rayner and Charlie Cameron kicked two objectives every and Norm Smith medallist Will Ashcroft was excellent with a game-high 31 disposals.

Ashcroft's midfield colleagues Hugh McCluggage (27 touches, one purpose), Jarrod Berry (28 possessions) and Lachie Neal (22) additionally revelled within the moist.

The quartet overpowered the on-ball brigade of Adelaide for the preliminary three quarters earlier than the Crows' unheralded final time period.

In slippery situations, it took till the twenty first minute of the sport for Brisbane's Rayner to attain the opening purpose.

Simply 60 seconds later, the Lions struck once more when Callum Ah Chee bounced by a significant.

The guests led 2.3 to 0.6 on the finish of a primary quarter which may land Crows recruit James Peatling in strife for a sling sort out on Neale.

The Lions champ wasn't harm when his head hit the turf however Peatling was penalised for a harmful sort out sure to draw match evaluate scrutiny.

Brisbane scored three objectives in 9 minutes to create a 21-point benefit halfway by the second time period.

However Adelaide responded to the hazard with Rachele threading a exceptional 45m set shot from outdoors a boundary line to assist cut back their deficit — the Lions led by eight factors at halftime, 5.3 to three.7.

That benefit was decreased to 2 factors early within the third quarter when Rachele snapped his second purpose — and a few 26 minutes into the time period, the house aspect had been nonetheless inside 4 factors.

However late strikes from Cameron and Kai Lohmann gave Brisbane a 17-point buffer at three-quarter time.

Adelaide then stormed to victory with 5 objectives to none in lower than 18 minutes.

Tall attacker Riley Thilthorpe triggered the spree with an aesthetic purpose on the run from an acute angle — Keays, Dawson, Rachele and Keays once more adopted with majors for an 11-point lead.