AFL: Crows crush Bombers to snap MCG hoodoo in 61-point blitz

Adelaide has snapped a near eight-year winless run at the MCG in emphatic fashion, dismantling Essendon by 61 points in a dominant display on Saturday afternoon.

The Crows’ 25.11 (161) to 15.10 (100) victory was built on relentless ball movement, an even spread of contributors, and clinical finishing — marking back-to-back powerful performances to start their 2025 AFL season.

It was the Adelaide Crows first win at the MCG in 2,822 days and came with a statement, as Matthew Nicks’ side piled on at least five goals in every quarter, suffocating Essendon with speed, pressure and precision.

Captain Jordan Dawson led from the front with 33 disposals and 775 metres gained, while Matt Crouch was tireless at the contest, finishing with team-highs in tackles, goal assists and score involvements.

Up forward, Adelaide’s spread was deadly. Twelve different players hit the scoreboard, with Josh Rachele and Ben Keays both booting four goals. Rachele dazzled with a series of crafty finishes, including a brilliant curling shot from the pocket, while Keays — who torched the Bombers with five goals last year — was again a thorn with 22 disposals and 11 marks.

Izak Rankine added two goals of his own, including a contender for Goal of the Year with a stunning boundary-line finish on the run, while Riley Thilthorpe and Darcy Fogarty chipped in with three apiece.

Essendon simply couldn’t keep up. Their midfield was often caught flat-footed as Adelaide surged forward with intent, and the Dons’ defenders were consistently caught behind their opponents, allowing the Crows’ forwards to lead into space unchallenged.

Despite the heavy loss, Bombers skipper Zach Merrett fought valiantly, collecting 36 disposals and matching a career-high four goals in a solo effort to keep his team afloat. Sam Durham added grunt around the ball with 21 disposals and seven clearances, while debutant Tom Edwards provided a rare highlight — kicking three goals, including one with his first kick in AFL footy.

Essendon’s best patches came in short bursts. They mounted mini-comebacks in the second and third terms but were unable to sustain pressure for long enough to halt Adelaide’s momentum. Poor delivery inside 50 also plagued them, with promising leads from the likes of Nate Caddy often ignored in favour of low-percentage bombs.

Ruckman Sam Draper provided some early excitement, booting two first-quarter goals with his trademark around-the-body set shots, but even his unorthodox efforts couldn’t spark the Bombers for long.

By the final siren, Adelaide had outworked, outclassed and outscored their opponents in nearly every department — showing off their growing depth, elite ball use and forward potency in a ruthless performance.

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