The Adelaide Crows delivered a significant defeat to the Sydney Swans, winning by a staggering 90 points at the SCG. This disappointing performance has cast doubt on the Swans’ chances for the 2025 season, placing them in a precarious position, while the Crows solidified their top-four standing and achieved the league’s highest percentage.
The match predominantly unfolded in Adelaide’s forward half, where standout players Josh Rachele and Ben Keays each scored three goals. The Swans initially opened the scoring through Hayden McLean; however, that was the extent of their success as the Crows embarked on a streak of 12 unanswered goals, with contributions from ten different goal scorers.
This remarkable streak marked Adelaide’s longest run of unanswered goals away from home since 2015. By half-time, the Swans had managed just a single goal, trailing the Crows by an overwhelming 65 points— the lowest half-time score for the club outside of COVID-restricted matches. Fox Footy commentator Garry Lyon remarked on the unprecedented humiliation faced by the Swans on their home ground.
Though Sydney attempted a response after the break with early goals from Will Hayward and Isaac Heeney, their efforts were quickly suppressed by Adelaide’s superior ball movement. The Crows capitalised on two back-to-back 50m penalties, resulting in easy goals, and proceeded to extend their lead with another eight-goal surge.
The Swans failed to score in the final quarter, while the Crows showcased their depth with 14 different players contributing goals throughout the match. This defeat has left Sydney with a disappointing record of 4-8 for the season, marking their worst start since 2020 and comes on the back of two heavy losses. The Crows’ victory also ended Sydney’s six-game winning streak in their head-to-head matchups, which dated back to 2019.