Blood-curdling 90-point win something to Crow about
On a night celebrating the famed Bloods culture, the Crows mauled last year's beaten grand finalists, slamming through 12 unanswered goals on their way to a 21.5 (131) to 5.11 (41) victory at the SCG on Saturday.
Adelaide rise to third (8-4) on the ladder after holding the Swans to one goal at halftime.
The Crows enjoyed even contributions across all lines, with goal-kicking responsibilities shared among 14 players.
Josh Rachele and Ben Keays kicked three goals, with Alex Neal-Bullen (25 disposals) and Josh Worrell (24) getting plenty of the ball.
Meanwhile, Sydney are left languishing in 14th (4-8) after falling short of emulating the Bloods ethos that in 2005 netted the club's first premiership in 72 years.
The 2005 winning team did a lap of honour at halftime to mark 20 years since their breakthrough, with legend Adam Goodes among the honorees, and powerhouse forward Barry Hall also present at the coin toss.
But the celebration could not inspire the home side.
Dean Cox's side lacked composure against Adelaide's pressure and made uncharacteristic errors, unable to bounce back from last round's dismal 53-point loss to Melbourne.
They next face 16th-placed Richmond before they head into their mid-season bye.
Sydney had opened the scoring through Hayden McLean (two goals), but it was all Adelaide from there, the visitors kicking five goals to one in the first quarter.
Adelaide defender Brodie Smith provided an early highlight, pulling off a goal from just outside the 50-mark after a poor chip kick from Swans superstar Chad Warner.
The Crows' ascendancy continued with little resistance as the home side struggled to get outside their defensive 50.
So poor were the Swans that the 35,229-strong crowd resorted to cheering on their behinds in the second quarter - the home side notched only two points in that term.
Riley Thilthorpe scored his second major of the evening when his boot edged out Swans defenders Tom McCartin and Matt Roberts on the line.
The Swans briefly came alive in the third quarter when Will Hayward ended their goal-scoring drought, but Adelaide snuffed out the challenge.
Justin McInerney led the Swans with 26 touches and five clearances in his 100th AFL game.
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