Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020

Adelaide Crows West Coast action at Optus Stadium on Friday night ended with the Crows rebounding from last week’s Showdown shock, beating West Coast Eagles by 25 points in front of 40,770 fans.

Adelaide lost Riley Thilthorpe to illness before the match, but Darcy Fogarty’s four first-half goals set up a 15.9 (99) to 11.8 (74) win. The result lifted the Crows to 10-6, while West Coast fell to 4-12 after a fourth straight defeat.

For more Australian Football League coverage, read GWS vs Fremantle: Giants Embrace Underdog Tag Before Dockers Test, while official fixtures and results are available through the Australian Football League website.

Fogarty Sets The Tone

Jake Soligo gave Adelaide a flying start with a goal after just 17 seconds, shaking off a tackler before finishing from near the boundary. Fogarty then took control inside 50, kicking three goals in the opening quarter as West Coast’s defence struggled to handle his marking power.

Adelaide led 38-9 at quarter-time after dominating inside 50s 19-6, centre clearances 7-1 and contested possessions 44-29. It was a sharp response after the Crows were beaten badly around the ball in their loss to Port Adelaide Football Club.

Eagles Fight But Fall Short

Fogarty’s fourth goal early in the second term pushed the margin to 43 points, but West Coast found some resistance through Jobe Shanahan and Willem Duursma. Shanahan later added two more before three-quarter time to keep the Eagles within reach.

West Coast closed the margin to 18 points early in the final quarter after goals to Bo Allan and Jake Waterman. The Eagles also had the first 13 inside 50s of the term, but Adelaide held firm before Ben Keays struck twice on the counter.

Crows Midfield Responds

Jordan Dawson had 27 disposals, six clearances, one goal and 753 metres gained, while Izak Rankine also had 27 disposals, seven clearances and one goal. Keays finished with three majors in a clean late display.

Lachlan McAndrew battled well in the ruck with 38 hitouts and five clearances against Bailey Williams, who had 23 hitouts and eight clearances in his 100th game. West Coast debutant Oliver Francou impressed with 18 disposals, four clearances and nine tackles.