AFL 2021 premiership season: Adelaide Crows v Geelong Cats – live!
Geelong #Geelong
4.07am EDT 04:07
Q4: 11 mins remaining: Adelaide 14-10 (94) vs Geelong 11-10 (76) Goal! Great work from Selwood on centre wing sets up another move forward for Geelong and this time there is no mistake as Smith converts with his set shot.
4.05am EDT 04:05
Q4: 12 mins remaining: Adelaide 14-10 (94) vs Geelong 10-10 (70) Goal! McHenry shrugs a tackle, then another, then gets taken high inside 50 before McAdam marks near goal and releases Schoenberg, who dribbles one through for the quarter’s first goal. Against the run of play but very big for the home team.
4.03am EDT 04:03
Q4: 14 mins remaining: Adelaide 13-10 (88) vs Geelong 10-10 (70) Higgins one-on-one in the goal square with McPherson, who has no right to win the contest but somehow manages to as the Cats forward hits the post with his prod off the ground. Guthrie then misses another gettable chance. But it looks like they are coming.
4.00am EDT 04:00
Q4: 14 mins remaining: Adelaide 13-10 (88) vs Geelong 10-8 (68) Lynch sends a high ball forward and Murphy positions himself smartly to win a free kick for high contact. But he muffs his set shot from a tight angle as the Cats mop up. Firest goal of this quarter will be huge. Hinge, meanwhile, has popped his shoulder out again.
3.58am EDT 03:58
Q4: 16 mins remaining: Adelaide 13-10 (88) vs Geelong 10-8 (68) McHenry’sd ambitious snap from the pocket soars through for a behind to get the scoring under way for the final term. The Crows then tackje Rohan in numbers on centre wing and win the free for holding the ball. Stewart then saves the day with a mark on the goal line.
3.56am EDT 03:56
Q4: 18 mins remaining: Adelaide 13-9 (87) vs Geelong 10-8 (68) Schoenberg shoves Menegola out of the way but Adelaide’s thrust forward dribbles onto the behind post. Intensity is high from both teams. This will be last man standing.
3.54am EDT 03:54
Q4: 19 mins remaining: Adelaide 13-9 (87) vs Geelong 10-8 (68) The final quarter is under way. What do the Crows have left? Sloane gets manhandled in the middle of the ground and wins a free as Dangerfield leaves the ground on the blood rule. Walker leaps high but has his hands all over Stewart and gives away the free.
3.50am EDT 03:50
3QT: Adelaide 13-9 (87) vs Geelong 10-8 (68)
Geelong are right back in this. Shellshocked by Adelaide’s pressure and fast ball movement in the first half, the Cats responded in kind in the third term to boot five goals and set up a big final stanza. The Crows look to be tiring. Will they lift their legs for one last effort or will the Cats run over the top of them. Stay tuned.
3.46am EDT 03:46
Q3: 1 min remaining: Adelaide 13-9 (87) vs Geelong 10-8 (68) McAdam just fails to get his hands on a mark near goal before the ball slingshots down the other end and into the hands of Rohan. The ex-Swan looks sure to convert but he drags his shot to the left in a massive let-off for the Crows.
3.44am EDT 03:44
Q3: 2 mins remaining: Adelaide 13-9 (87) vs Geelong 10-7 (67) Dangerfield marks strongly before switching play. Guthrie dumps Doedee with a crunching tackle but the Crows manage to work the ball away from danger. Lynch is important in the middle of the ground and finds Frampton with a nicely weighted left-foot pass. But the former Power forward hits the post with his set shot. They really could have used that, the Crows.
3.40am EDT 03:40
Q3: 4 mins remaining: Adelaide 13-8 (86) vs Geelong 10-7 (67) Goal! Reckless stuff from Berry, who dumps Higgins after disposal and gifts a set shot to Hawkins down the ground. The Geelong forward converts. Here come the Cats.
3.38am EDT 03:38
Q3: 6 mins remaining: Adelaide 13-8 (86) vs Geelong 9-7 (61) Goal! Geelong again go forward with speed, much quicker than in the first half. Just as was the case earlier on at the other end, Dahlhaus goes down in the tackle and is probably lucky to get the free kick. But he makes no mistake, swinging in from the right and piercing the big sticks to make it three on the bounce for Geelong.
3.35am EDT 03:35
Q3: 8 mins remaining: Adelaide 13-8 (86) vs Geelong 8-7 (55) Goal! Higgins is tackled strongly but from the resultant ball-up Cam Guthrie is taken high by Schoenberg. Guthrie rocks back, steps slowly towards goal and kicks truly. Two straight for the Cats. They’re still five goals down but five goals doesn’t look like much in the current climate.
3.33am EDT 03:33
Q3: 9 mins remaining: Adelaide 13-8 (86) vs Geelong 7-7 (49) Goal! Hawkins is creeping into this game nicely. This time he leads into space, marks strongly and gets his radar right from just inside 50. Goals wherever you look. Who said these new rules wouldn’t make a difference?!
3.30am EDT 03:30
Q3: 10 mins remaining: Adelaide 13-8 (86) vs Geelong 6-7 (43) Goal! Rowe goes down in the tackle and is a tad fortunate to get a free kick but he’ll take it. And he’ll take the goal that follows, a sweetly struck set shot that just slips inside the far post. Another goal for the Crows. The Cats have been getting back into this in general play but goals, as always, is the only currency that counts.
3.27am EDT 03:27
Q3: 12 mins remaining: Adelaide 12-8 (80) vs Geelong 6-7 (43) Goal! Walker again outmaneuvers his opponent, finds a bit of space inside 50 and marks strongly before playing on and kicking his fifth goal. Might not even have been going for goal judging by his reaction, but when you are on you are on. It’s his day. Good steadier for the Crows.
Updated at 3.52am EDT
3.24am EDT 03:24
Q3: 14 mins remaining: Adelaide 11-8 (74) vs Geelong 6-7 (43) Hawkins has been quiet but he is trying to impose himself on the game. His first set shot of the game, from 45m out hard on the right, looks really good but straightens up right at the death and hits the far post. Hinge’s shoulder, meanwhile, has been popped back in.
3.22am EDT 03:22
Q3: 16 mins remaining: Adelaide 11-8 (74) vs Geelong 6-6 (42) Hinge, Adelaide’s medical sub, goes down in a clash on centre wing with Rohan. Looks like a dislocated shoulder. Adelaide then stuff around with the ball deep in defence and Geelong look on, only for Smith to squander his dribbled attempt on goal.
3.20am EDT 03:20
Q3: 18 mins remaining: Adelaide 11-8 (74) vs Geelong 6-5 (41) The Crows miss a chance to answer back and the Cats speed the ball forward from the kick-in. Blicavs again looks dangerous but he takes one step too many and is run down, his shot spraying out of bounds on the full. Hawkins was on and looks less than impressed.
3.18am EDT 03:18
Q3: 19 mins remaining: Adelaide 11-7 (73) vs Geelong 6-5 (41) Goal! And we are back for the third quarter. This is where the Cats will want to stake their claims. Dangerfield rushes the ball forward for Geelong and this is the start Geelong wanted. Rohan competes in the air, forces the ball to the ground and releases Blicavs, who converts from range. Important early goal for the Cats.
Updated at 3.20am EDT
3.04am EDT 03:04
HT: Adelaide 11-7 (73) vs Geelong 5-5 (35)
Not sure anybody saw this coming but the scoreboard isn’t lying: the Crows are doing a number on the highly fancied Cats. Seven goals in the second quarter – Adelaide were flat out kicking seven goals a game in 2020! – was due reward for a team that continued to work harder than their opponents. It also came as two Adelaide players – Luke Brown and Jake Kelly – left the field due to injury. Taylor Walker is leading the way with four goals but it is Adelaide’s intense pressure that is the difference to date. The Cats are getting their share of the ball, but by and large the Crows aren’t letting them do much with it. Geelong will surely respond in the second half. The question remains: can the Crows keep it up?
Updated at 3.07am EDT
2.57am EDT 02:57
Q2: 1 min remaining: Adelaide 11-7 (73) vs Geelong 5-5 (35) Goal! With barely seconds left on the clock, Walker takes a mark on 50 before leaning back and slotting his fourth goal of the game to send the home fans into raptures. Seven goals in the quarter for Adelaide. Utterly remarkable.
2.55am EDT 02:55
Q2: 1 min remaining: Adelaide 10-7 (67) vs Geelong 5-5 (35) The Cats look set to scramble through a goal but Adelaide defend stoutly and from the rushed behind win a 50-metre penalty, presumably for dissent. McAdam takes a nice mark on centre wing – good to see him back on the ground – but McHenry misses with his set shot.
2.52am EDT 02:52
Q2: 2 mins remaining: Adelaide 10-6 (66) vs Geelong 5-3 (33) Jenkins lines up from just on 50, slight angle. Adelaide Oval is silent as the former Crow readies for goal. But the hush quickly makes way for a sardonic roar as Jenkins pulls his shot to the left. They seemed to enjoy that, the Crows fans.
2.50am EDT 02:50
Q2: 3 mins remaining: Adelaide 10-6 (66) vs Geelong 5-3 (33) Goal! Lynch is involved again, weighting his kick inside 50 beautifully. He finds McHenry, and McHenry finishes the job with an assured set shot for goal. End-to-end stuff, breathless. Crows not stopping yet!
2.48am EDT 02:48
Q2: 4 mins remaining: Adelaide 9-5 (59) vs Geelong 5-3 (33) Goal! Not to be outdone, the Crows win the centre clearance before entering 50 from the left wing, Lynch timing his kick to Walker to perfection. The forward makes no mistake with his kick, nailing his third goal for the game.
2.45am EDT 02:45
Q2: 5 mins remaining: Adelaide 8-5 (53) vs Geelong 5-3 (33) Goal! The Cats look nailed on with a 2-v-1 in the goal square but though Rohan marks, the umpire pays a free to Adelaide for a Jenkins block. But the Crows can’t get the ball out of danger as Parfitt tackles brilliantly and spins around the man on the mark for another Geelong goal. Good little period for the Cats.
2.43am EDT 02:43
Q2: 7 mins remaining: Adelaide 8-5 (53) vs Geelong 4-3 (27) They might be undermanned but the Crows aren’t stopping. They work the ball to the 50 arc at great speed and this time Smith launches from range, his shot on goal looking good but hitting the post.
2.41am EDT 02:41
Q2: 8 mins remaining: Adelaide 8-4 (52) vs Geelong 4-3 (27) Goal! Sloppy from Adelaide as Jenkins’s kick to a dangerous area is not dealt with by the home side, Menegola dribbling through under no pressure in another much-needed goal for the Cats. And there are now more injury concerns for the Crows, with McAdam being helped down the race after appearing to twist his ankle.
2.38am EDT 02:38
Q2: 10 mins remaining: Adelaide 8-4 (52) vs Geelong 3-3 (21) Goal! From the restart the Crows rush forward and Walker presents again on the 50 arc, marking strongly and kicking straight to extend Adelaide’s lead.
2.36am EDT 02:36
Q2: 11 mins remaining: Adelaide 7-4 (46) vs Geelong 3-3 (21) A great effort by Scholl to run Dangerfield down turns the ball over as Kelly looks to mop up. The defender gets his kick away but Dangerfield gets to him just as he does and the two clash heads in a sickening collision. The Crows have already activated their medical sub, with Hinge on for Brown, so the Crows are a man down with Kelly now being stretchered off the ground. Might be in trouble there, Dangerfield.
Updated at 3.04am EDT
2.33am EDT 02:33
Q2: 12 mins remaining: Adelaide 7-4 (46) vs Geelong 3-3 (21) Goal! Rohan kicks truly from just inside 50, snapping a run of four straight Crows goals to take one back for the Cats. My, did they need that.
2.29am EDT 02:29
Q2: 13 mins remaining: Adelaide 7-4 (46) vs Geelong 2-3 (15) Goal! Now Keays has a chance to add to Geelong’s misery but he shanks his set shot. Miers then shanks his own from the resultant free kick, missing his target across the goal under no pressure whatsoever. McHenry dances around the man on the mark and boots another six-pointer for the Crows. What on earth is going on here?!
Updated at 2.33am EDT
2.26am EDT 02:26
Q2: 14 mins remaining: Adelaide 6-4 (40) vs Geelong 2-3 (15) Goal! The Cats go forward and this is better for Geelong but Smith’s entry inside 50 is a bit messy as the Crows mop up. They work the ball upfield rather too easily and good work from Keays sets up Rowe, who has time to steady on a tight angle on the left and splitting the big sticks. The debutant punches the air in delight, his teammates get around him and the locals find voice. Time for Geelong to show us what they’re made of.
2.20am EDT 02:20
Q2: 18 mins remaining: Adelaide 5-4 (34) vs Geelong 2-3 (15) Adelaide win the quarter’s first centre clearance and Frampton almost takes a strong contested mark. Almost. The Cats manage to get the ball outside of Adelaide’s forward 50 but more manic tackling turns the ball over. From the next thrust forward McAdam takes an absolute hanger, flying in from the right and leaping high to hold a beauty. Not all speccies up forward result in a goal but this one does as the forward leans back and kicks truly. Lovely stuff.
Updated at 2.22am EDT
2.14am EDT 02:14
QT: Adelaide 4-4 (28) vs Geelong 2-3 (15)
Impressive stuff from the Crows, who have been given no hope in this game – in this season! – but showed great desire to pretty much dominate the Cats for the duration. Their pressure is evident in their statistical superiority at stoppages and the tackle count, which reads 25-16 in their favour. Essentially, they’ve wanted it more than the Cats. But there is a long way to go. Can the Crows keep it up for four quarters?
2.10am EDT 02:10
Q1: 1 min remaining: Adelaide 4-4 (28) vs Geelong 2-3 (15) Goal! The Crows have been on top this quarter and they finish it that way on the scoreboard as the Crows rush the ball forward by hand and foot before Murphy threads the needle with an exquisite kick from a tight angle on the left.
2.08am EDT 02:08
Q1: 1 min remaining: Adelaide 3-4 (22) vs Geelong 2-3 (15) Jenkins looks to have taken a big mark in the goalsquare but the umpire sides with McPherson, who flew high over the pack and definitely did have some of it. But the man in front should be given those. Not a great decision and rotten luck for the Cats.
2.05am EDT 02:05
Q1: 2 mins remaining: Adelaide 3-4 (22) vs Geelong 2-3 (15) Goal! Good kick inside by Parfitt finds Menegola but one of Geelong’s more promising forays forward comes to nothing as Brown wins the ball just on the Geelong 50. But the Crows are sloppy with the ball and from the turnover Geelong are clinical, Rohan finding Parfitt in plenty of space just in front of goal and there is no miss from the midfielder. Key late goal in this quarter for the Cats.
2.01am EDT 02:01
Q1: 4 mins remaining: Adelaide 3-4 (22) vs Geelong 1-3 (9) Butts is lucky to not get pinged deep in defence for incorrect disposal. The Crows manage to force the ball out of danger and their pressure on the ball carrier is just insane at the moment. They are not allowing the Cats a moment’s peace. Three Crows gang tackle a poor Cat and the pressure shows as Parfitt kicks out of bounds on the full. The chain of events sees Walker with another attempt on goal but his snap misses to the right.
1.57am EDT 01:57
Q1: 7 mins remaining: Adelaide 3-3 (21) vs Geelong 1-3 (9) It seems like Walker is everywhere at the moment – and it’s not often that could be said about him – but this time his attempt from just inside 50 misses to the left. Not sure I’ve ever seen Tex move this well.
1.55am EDT 01:55
Q1: 9 mins remaining: Adelaide 3-2 (20) vs Geelong 1-3 (9) Higgins takes a neat mark on centre wing and takes full advantage of the Man On The Mark rule to send the Cats forward. Dangerfield then sends Geelong even deeper and Dahlhaus looks set to snap a goal from close range before a deft smother limits the damage to a behind.
Here’s Walker’s goal from earlier.
1.51am EDT 01:51
Q1: 11 mins remaining: Adelaide 3-2 (20) vs Geelong 1-2 (8) Blicavs has his pockets picked in the centre of the ground and from the resultant turnover the Crows go direct and long. Frampton finds himself in prime position to outmark his opponent and he does just that before strolling back and slotting another major for the Crows.
Updated at 1.52am EDT
1.49am EDT 01:49
Q1: 12 mins remaining: Adelaide 2-2 (14) vs Geelong 1-2 (8) Goal! O’Brien goes inside from the back pocket and somehow the Crows find themselves with time, space and numbers in the middle of the park. Lynch takes a solid mark just inside 50 and from a tight angle to the right, drills his set shot home with a conventional drop punt. Walker involved again. Good start from the underdogs.
1.46am EDT 01:46
Q1: 14 mins remaining: Adelaide 1-2 (8) vs Geelong 1-1 (7) Goal! The Cats go inside and Stanley finds himself with time from well outside 50. He goes long to Dangerfield, who shields his direct opponent and watches on as the ball flies over his head and through for a goal.
1.44am EDT 01:44
Q1: 16 mins remaining: Adelaide 1-2 (8) vs Geelong 0-1 (1) Good forward pressure by the Crows and this time Berry finds himself on the end of a handpass chain but he is pressured on the ball and misses to the left.
1.43am EDT 01:43
Q1: 16 mins remaining: Adelaide 1-1 (7) vs Geelong 0-1 (1) Jenkins has a set shot, straight in front from just inside 50, but he pulls it left. Sloane lets him know about it. Bad miss.
1.41am EDT 01:41
Q1: 17 mins remaining: Adelaide 1-1 (7) vs Geelong 0-0 (0) Goal! The Crows kick the first goal of the game and it’s a solo effort by Walker, who outmuscles Jenkins from a boundary throw-in, snaps on his left from almost 50 metres out and splits the big sticks. Incredible skills from the big forward.
1.39am EDT 01:39
Q1: 18 mins remaining: Adelaide 0-1 (1) vs Geelong 0-0 (0) Another inside-50 for Adelaide after some sharp stoppage work by Murphy but Stewart is on hand to nullify the threat.
1.38am EDT 01:38
Q1: 19 mins remaining: Adelaide 0-1 (1) vs Geelong 0-0 (0) And we’re away. Sloane claims the game’s first centre clearance but it’s straight to a Geelong defender. The early touches all belong to the Crows, with Smith sending the hosts inside 50 before a rushed behind gets the scoring under way.
1.34am EDT 01:34
Not long now. Selwood and Sloane pump fists. The Cat wins the toss and Geelong will kick to the right of screen.
1.33am EDT 01:33
Hey Brendanjb. Agree, not match of the round but I guess we all take what we can get. Think Sportwatch is a thing of the past, at least until the decision is taken to bring it back. And, no, I haven’t joined the tipping comp. But I will if you give me the details.
Updated at 1.33am EDT
1.30am EDT 01:30
So to the young Crows. They hand two men a debut today: midfielder Sam Berry and the not-so-young James Rowe, a small forward who was taken at pick No 38 in last year’s draft after three years of being overlooked. Rowe will wear No 31, the same jumper number that adorned his father, Stephen, when he played for the Crows way back in the day. There will be no debut, however, for No 2 pick Riley Thilthorpe, who will be kept for another day. In other news, Jordon Butts will have plenty on his plate.
1.27am EDT 01:27
Speaking of the hurriedly introduced medical sub, check out what Steve Hocking had to say after Thursday’s season opener. I’m not sure I share his optimism. The concept, while well meaning, allows teams to bring in fresh legs and that is how it will increasingly be used. Remember, only concussion brings with it a mandated rest period. A player can suffer any other type of injury, be subbed off, and then play the following week. Not sure how or when I got so jaded.
1.23am EDT 01:23
In news just in, Melbourne have beaten Fremantle by 22 points at the MCG.
1.16am EDT 01:16
It’s a beautiful, dry, warm day in Adelaide. The mercury should be nudging the 30C mark by first bounce. Which is a lot more than can be said for other parts of Australia. If you’re in New South Wales, thank you for joining me. And take that snorkel out of your mouth.
1.09am EDT 01:09
No late team changes
Adelaide
B: Andrew McPherson, Jordon Butts, Luke BrownHB: Will Hamill, Brodie Smith, Jake KellyC: Lachlan Sholl, Rory Sloane, Paul SeedsmanHF: James Rowe, Billy Frampton, Ned McHenryF: Shane McAdam, Taylor Walker, Lachlan MurphyFOLL: Reilly O’Brien, Rory Laird, Ben KeaysI/C: Tom Lynch, Sam Berry, Harry Schoenberg, Tom DoedeeSub: Mitchell Hinge
Geelong
B: Lachie Henderson, Mark Blicavs, Jed BewsHB: Tom Atkins, Tom Stewart, Jake KolodjashnijC: Isaac Smith, Joel Selwood, Sam MenegolaHF: Shaun Higgins, Gary Rohan, Cameron GuthrieF: Gryan Miers, Tom Hawkins, Luke DahlhausFOLL: Rhys Stanley, Brandan Parfitt, DangerfieldI/C: Mark O’Connor, Zach Guthrie, Jordan Clark, Josh Jenkins*Sub: Charlie Constable
* Welcome back to Adelaide, Josh.
Lest anybody has forgotten, and I suspect most people have, the big fella can actually play.
1.00am EDT 01:00
Preamble 
Good afternoon and welcome to our liveblog of a round one clash that on paper looks a mismatch: in one corner we have last year’s wooden spooners and in the other one of 2020’s grand finalists. Both teams are fancied to follow a similar trajectory this season.
It wasn’t that long ago that Adelaide versus Geelong was a clash to savour, not least because both were premiership contenders but also because of the grudge factor following Patrick Dangerfield’s defection to Kardinia Park. Those days are long gone. Not only is nobody bothered in the slightest that Dangerfield once played for the Crows, but the two clubs are now poles apart in terms of their title aspirations.
Adelaide are in the sombre throes of a deep and (Crows fans will hope) meaningful rebuild. They boast the youngest list in the competition. On top of that, they are today without two of their best and most senior players, Wayne Milera and Matt Crouch, due to injury. The Cats were shown up by Richmond in last year’s decider but they have recruited like a club determined to go one better, welcoming established players Jeremy Cameron, Isaac Smith and Shaun Higgins into the fold. An injured hamstring means Cameron must wait to play his club debut.
So, yeah, this could get ugly. But you never know your luck in a big city. Or even Adelaide. Please do get involved. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this game, any that have happened thus far, your thoughts on the medical sub and/or what you make of this season’s new rules. To have your say, drop a comment below, send me an email or fire up on Twitter – @scott_heinrich.