ADELAIDE captain Taylor Walker has responded to a week of scathing criticism to inspire his side to a remarkable 10-point upset win over Sydney at the SCG on Friday night.
The Crows and their skipper were rightly picked apart after their disappointing loss to Collingwood in round four, but with stars Rory Sloane and Eddie Betts missing, Walker's four goals led the visitors to a stirring 12.13 (85) to 10.15 (75) victory.
CROWS STUN SWANS: Full match coverage and stats
Hard-running midfielder Paul Seedsman was sensational for the Crows with 26 possessions, while defenders Rory Laird and Tom Doedee gathered 55 touches between them, and wingman Rory Atkins was also important with three goals.
Unheralded onballers Hugh Greenwood and Cam Ellis-Yolmen did plenty of grunt work and shared 19 tackles for the night.
After a disastrous loss to Collingwood in round four Adelaide coach Don Pyke was at a loss to explain how his team's form could be so different in Sydney.
"I don't think we'll ever know to be honest," he said.
"Last week, I don't think too much went right. Sometimes that just happens.
"We didn't really dig super deep through it. The players were disappointed, they were determined to put a lot stronger showing on tonight.
"We brought in some younger players who contributed really well."
The Swans had few four-quarter performers but defenders Dane Rampe, Harry Marsh and Jake Lloyd were solid under a mountain of pressure, along with midfielder Zak Jones.
SCG GETS EMOTIONAL: Five talking points
Sydney coach John Longmire said his side's problems started in the opening term when the Crows midfield dominated the clearances (16-7) and the inside 50 count (20-11), which put the homes side's backline under too much pressure.
"Our mids didn't touch it much it all in the first half and all our big possession winners were our defenders, and looking at those stats it's not surprising," he said.
"We just got well beaten in the middle of the ground and they were better at winning the contests than us."
Pyke threw plenty of players behind the ball with his side often starting centre bounces with nine defenders, which left superstar Swan Lance Franklin with little room to move and he struggled to kick the single goal opposed to Daniel Talia.
WATCH: Zak Jones busts through to score
The Crows dominated the early part of the opening term but could only register 0.5 on the scoreboard, but under fire captain Walker settled the visitors with two goals, and when Rory Atkins snagged his second on the run they led by 12 points at quarter-time.
Franklin threatened to turn momentum the Swans' way when he launched a trademark bomb from the centre square not long after the break, after being picked out by a wayward Crows kick, but Walker hit straight back with one of his own from a set shot.
WATCH: Buddy goes bang from 70
Josh Jenkins failed to touch the footy in the first quarter, but he bobbed up with a couple of his own and when Atkins cleverly snapped his third the Crows were 23 points clear midway into the second.
The Crows held their advantage for the reminder of the half but a dropped mark from Mitch McGovern after a defensive switch of play let the Swans in, and veteran Kieren Jack calmly slotted one from in front of the SCG members with 14 seconds left on the clock.
After being well down in the first half, Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker and Isaac Heeney started to wield an influence in the third term, but it wasn't until the 13-minute mark that a Harry Cunningham goal got the Swans on the board.
WATCH: Tex stands up for Crows
The SCG crowd then rose as one when Gary Rohan snapped truly and kissed the black armband on his left bicep, the speedster mobbed by teammates as he pointed to the heavens as a tribute to his baby daughter Willow who tragically passed away last week.
WATCH: SCG rises for Gary Rohan
The home side couldn't take advantage of a lopsided inside 50 count and when Seedsman threaded a goal from a tight angle the margin was back to nine points at the final break.
A third for Jenkins and another for Walker, followed by a neat finish from youngster Jordan Gallucci blew the Crows lead out to 27 points 10 minutes into the last quarter, but two quick goals dragged the Swans to within two straight kicks.
WATCH: Gallucci seals the game
They pressed hard until the final minute until fittingly it was a Walker mark near the Swans' goal line that ended the charge.
MEDICAL ROOM
Sydney: The Swans got through without any injury worries.
Adelaide: The visitors lost defender Kyle Hartigan with a hamstring injury in the first half and he is likely to miss some games, adding to the Crows' mounting injury list.
NEXT UP
The Crows head back to Adelaide to take on Gold Coast next Saturday night, while the Swans have another tough game against Geelong on the road on Saturday afternoon.
SYDNEY 3.3 6.6 8.9 10.15 (75)
ADELAIDE 4.9 8.10 9.12 12.13 (85)
GOALS
Sydney: Rohan 2, Jones, Towers, Florent, Franklin, Heeney, Jack, Cunningham, Hewett
Adelaide: Walker 4, Atkins 3, Jenkins 3, Seedsman, Gallucci
BEST
Sydney: Lloyd, Rampe, McVeigh, Jones
Adelaide: Walker, Laird, Seedsman, Jenkins, Atkins, Talia
INJURIES
Sydney: Nil
Adelaide: Hartigan (hamstring)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Haussen, Meredith
Official crowd: 38,017 at the SCG
The siren has sounded to end Q4.
The siren has sounded to end Q4.
Paul Seedsman set the game up for Adelaide in the opening term and finished the match with 26 disposals, 12 contested possessions (of which eight were post clearance), five inside 50s and a goal.
Sydney won the inside 50 count for the first time this season 64 to 48. Interestingly, the three occasions this season that the Swans have lost the inside 50 count they have won the match.
BEHINDSwans (Rushed)
BEHINDSwans (Gary Rohan)
Scores from turnovers have been very even for the match. Adelaide has scored 7.7.49 to Sydney's 7.6.48 from this score source.
GOALSwans (George Hewett)
Adelaide has kicked 6.4.40 from set shots tonight. Sydney has kicked 3.7.25.
BEHINDSwans (Isaac Heeney)
BEHINDSwans (Lance Franklin)
BEHINDSwans (Isaac Heeney)
GOALSwans (Gary Rohan)
Adelaide has kicked 3.1.19 from just five inside 50 entries this term. Two of the three goals have come from forward 50 chains.
GOALCrows (Jordan Gallucci)
GOALCrows (Taylor Walker)
Adelaide leads the clearances 35 to 26 for the match and has outscored Sydney 5.5.35 to 3.7.25 from this score source. The Crows average 29 points per game from stoppages this season, ranked 13th.
GOALCrows (Josh Jenkins)
BEHINDCrows (Jordan Gallucci)
BEHINDSwans (Lance Franklin)
Q4 is now underway.
Sydney launched 16 disposal chains from its attacking midfield zone in the third quarter, resulting in 13 inside 50 entries, many of them repeat entries. They launched just 12 chains from this zone in the entire first half.
The siren has sounded to end Q3.
Bryce Gibbs had a big third term for Adelaide after a quiet first half. He had 11 disposals, six contested possessions and five clearances for the term after just seven disposals in the first half.
GOALCrows (Paul Seedsman)
BEHINDCrows (Paul Seedsman)
The inside 50 count is now at 17 to three in Sydney's favour this term, with the Swans enjoying 81 per cent time in forward half. Despite this, the Crows defence has held up well, conceding just 2.3.15.
BEHINDSwans (Rushed)
BEHINDSwans (Zak Jones)
The Swans now lead inside 50s 11 to two and have got on top of contested possession 22 to 16 this term. The Crows are kicking at an efficiency of just 42 per cent for the term.
GOALSwans (Gary Rohan)
Sydney has enjoyed the majority of territory this quarter, enjoying 73 per cent time in forward half this term. They have six of the first eight inside 50s and lead uncontested possession 24 to nine this quarter.
GOALSwans (Harry Cunningham)
BEHINDSwans (Tom Papley)
Adelaide has a kicking efficiency of just 36 per cent this quarter, compared to Sydney's 81 per cent.
Adelaide's defenders have been the beneficiaries of Adelaide's organisation and pressure. Tom Doedee has five marks from opposition kicks, with Doedee and Paul Seedsman having six intercept possessions each for the match.
BEHINDCrows (Mitch McGovern)
Crows InterchangeRichard Douglas off due to the blood rule.
Q3 is now underway.
The siren has sounded to end Q2.
Rory Laird continues to be a prolific ball winner for the Crows. He has 18 disposals at 78 per cent efficiency at half time. He is averaging 37.8 disposals per game this season, ranked second in the competition.
Sydney addressed their first quarter clearance woes, winning the clearance count 10 to five in the second term. Unfortunately this didn't translate on the scoreboard, with just a 1.2.8 to 1.0.6 advantage.
Two of Sydney's three goals this quarter have come via intercept possessions in its attacking midfield zone.
GOALSwans (Kieren Jack)
The Crows have generated 14 chains from intercept possessions in its attacking midfield zone for 13 inside 50s, a strike rate of 94 per cent, well up on their season strike rate of 78 per cent.
BEHINDSwans (Oliver Florent)
BEHINDSwans (Callum Mills)
BEHINDCrows (Hugh Greenwood)
The Crows have recorded a kicking efficiency of 82 per cent this quarter, compared to Sydney's 72 per cent. This season, the Crows rank No.1 for kicking efficiency, going at 71 per cent by foot.
GOALCrows (Rory Atkins)
GOALSwans (Isaac Heeney)
Adelaide continues to dominate in contested possession, leading 14 to nine for the quarter and 58 to 42 for the match. When they defeated Richmond in Round 2, the Crows won the contested possession count by 48.
GOALCrows (Josh Jenkins)
GOALCrows (Taylor Walker)
GOALSwans (Lance Franklin)
BEHINDSwans (Luke Parker)
Adelaide kicks its second goal of the game from an intercept possession in its defensive midfield zone. They have six intercept possessions in this zone, resulting in five inside 50s and the two goals.
GOALCrows (Josh Jenkins)
Q2 is now underway.
The siren has sounded to end Q1.
Paul Seedsman had an outstanding first quarter with 14 disposals, nine coming via a contested possession. He gained 374 metres for his side, over 150 more metres than any other player on the ground.
Adelaide would be happy with a 16 to seven advantage in clearances. They have outscored Sydney 2.5.17 to 1.2.8 from this score source. All of Hugh Greenwood's four disposals have been clearances for Adelaide.
BEHINDSwans (Callum Sinclair)
Crows InterchangeKyle Hartigan and is possibly out for the game.
BEHINDSwans (Lance Franklin)
Adelaide has generated seven scoring shots from chains launched in its forward 50, kicking an inaccurate 1.6.12. Despite this, they would be encouraged as they average just over four scores per game from forward 50 chains this season, ranked 10th.
GOALCrows (Rory Atkins)
BEHINDCrows (Rushed)
BEHINDCrows (Wayne Milera)
GOALSwans (Oliver Florent)
BEHINDSwans (Tom Papley)
The Crows have increased their advantage in contested possession to 28 to 12. Preclearance, this advantage is 15 to three, hence their 11 to three edge in clearances.
GOALCrows (Taylor Walker)
Despite having just four inside 50s, the Swans have kicked two goals. This season Sydney ranks No.1 in the competition for goals per inside 50, kicking a goal from 29 per cent of its forward 50 entries.
GOALSwans (Dean Towers)
BEHINDCrows (Rushed)
BEHINDCrows (Paul Seedsman)
The Crows lead the clearances nine to one on the back of three hitouts to advantage from Sam Jacobs. The Crows have kicked 2.4.16 to 1.0.6 from stoppages thus far.
GOALCrows (Taylor Walker)
After losing the contested possession count against Collingwood last week by 36, its worst differential since Round 19, 2017, the Crows currently lead contested possession 20 to eight.
GOALCrows (Rory Atkins)
GOALSwans (Zak Jones)
As is often the way, despite only recording three inside 50s to Adelaide's seven, the Swans kick a goal from its first scoring shot. The Swans rank second for accuracy in front of goal, kicking at an accuracy of 65 per cent.
Adelaide has an inaccurate 0.5.5 to start the game. This season the Crows have recorded a scoring accuracy of 56 per cent, ranked 12th in the competition.
BEHINDCrows (Taylor Walker)
BEHINDCrows (Richard Douglas)
Adelaide has enjoyed 91 per cent time in forward half to start this match, controlling the territory with the first five clearances of the game. They have failed to capitalise with just four behinds.
BEHINDCrows (Rushed)
BEHINDCrows (Rory Laird)
BEHINDCrows (Bryce Gibbs)
Q1 is now underway.
The Crows have averaged 57 defensive half intercepts per game this season, ranked No.1. They have only scored from 12 per cent of these, however, ranked 15th in the competition.
The Swans have scored a goal from 29 per cent of their inside 50s this season, ranked No.1 in the competition.
Adelaide lost the clearance count by 23 last round, its worst differential recorded since Round 8, 2011.
Sydney has lost the inside 50 count by eight per game this season, the secondworst differential of any side.
Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.
Ins for Crows: R.Knight, J.Gallucci, M.Poholke, A.Otten
Outs for Crows: E.Betts, R.Sloane, D.Mackay, D.Fogarty
Ins for Swans: G.Rohan, H.Marsh
Outs for Swans: N.Newman, A.Aliir
Welcome to SCG for the Sydney Swans v Adelaide Crows Round 5 clash.