Crows stay top as Eagles almost claim upset of the year

Adelaide has come away with the points but had to fight all the way against West Coast on Sunday

Zac Taylor celebrates during the round 22 match between West Coast and Adelaide at Optus Stadium, August 10, 2025. Picture: AFL Photos

ADELAIDE has survived a huge scare holding on to beat a gallant West Coast by nine points in an unexpected thriller on Sunday afternoon.

In what was looking to be the biggest upset of the season, Adelaide’s leaders lifted in the final term to help their side come from behind to win 13.9 (87) to West Coast’s 12.6 (78).

EAGLES v CROWS Full match coverage and stats

Izak Rankine, who had just three disposals up until half-time, had 20 disposals and a goal in the second half, whilst big man Riley Thilthorpe kicked three second-half goals to help get the Crows over the line.

For the Eagles and their fans, though they will be disappointed with the loss, they will be buoyed by their side’s performance showing that despite only having one win next to their name on the ladder, they can take it up to the competition’s best.

The Eagles led for large parts of the game, with both young and old players playing some of their best football for the year.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS Previous Next 08:12 Full post-match, R22: Eagles Watch West Coast’s press conference after round 22’s match against Adelaide

08:15 Highlights: West Coast v Adelaide The Eagles and Crows clash in round 22 of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

01:12 Thilthorpe denied the mark, but strikes again within seconds Riley Thilthorpe fires a crucial goal only moments after a strong clunk is ruled out, sealing an important win for the Crows

00:56 ‘Cool in a crisis’: Rankine arrives onto scene again Izak Rankine continues to try and will his Crows over the line in a tough battle with this sensational solo goal

00:45 ‘Took bodies with him’: Fog rides bump and still powers on Darcy Fogarty gathers a hot footy and crashes into an Eagle before composing himself to snap a much-needed major

01:04 Ryan and Kelly light up the telly in different ways Liam Ryan converts a beauty from distance before Tim Kelly’s floater somehow squeezes through to hype up the home crowd

01:12 Crows sweat as star forward in agony after captain’s MRO worry Adelaide gets thrown a big injury headache as Riley Thilthorpe clutches his shoulder after appearing to be clipped high by Liam Duggan

00:50 Young Eagle swarmed after stunning first goal lifts stadium West Coast continues to shock the Crows as Hamish Davis lands his first major in the AFL in sensational fashion

00:42 Eagle’s eye-catching handball ends in Jobe gold Elijah Hewett delivers a perfect pass to Jobe Shanahan, who makes no mistake with the snap

00:42 Skipper salutes after typical ripper with lethal left Jordan Dawson unleashes a thumping effort off just a few steps to get his troops up and about early

Young gun Reuben Ginbey was exceptional on Thilthorpe despite the Adelaide forward getting on top in the final term. Ginbey kept Thilthorpe to six disposals and one mark up until half-time, despite giving away a 10cm height advantage to the key Crow.

Tim Kelly wound back the clock to put together one of his best games in 2025, finishing with 25 disposals and 10 clearances. In front of goals, 19-year-old Jobe Shanahan kicked three goals as did veteran Liam Ryan.

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In their second last home game of the year, the Eagles came out with an intensity and pressure that startled the top-of-the-table Crows. West Coast’s intent took away time and space and caused key Adelaide players to make uncharacteristic errors.

Off the back of their turnovers, the Eagles got opportunities of their own, coming through Campbell Chesser and Shanahan. They had just five inside 50s in the first quarter, but were able to score on four occasions.

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Returning to Adelaide’s line-up this week, medium-sized forward Luke Pedlar steadied the ship for the Crows, converting two in the first term after finding himself on the end of the midfield’s work from clearance and kicking accurately.

But Pedlar’s second goal just before quarter-time was Adelaide’s last until the third term, with West Coast kicking the next six goals, premiership heroes Ryan and Cripps kicking one each just before the main break.

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The Eagles continued with the momentum in the second half when 19-year-old Hamish Davis came out and kicked the first goal of his career, while Shanahan slotted his third.

Thilthorpe, who had been held quiet by Ginbey, suffered a knock to his neck at the start of the term and left the ground momentarily to be assessed by the Crows medical team. The 201cm forward returned later in the quarter with great impact.

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Rankine and Thilthorpe took the game into their own hands in the final term, with Rankine having eight disposals and slotting a goal and Thilthorpe putting through two pivotal goals to take back the lead and give the Crows the victory.

Adelaide’s class saw it lift when needed, surviving a scare from a young West Coast side that put together a brave performance.

Learn More 00:56

Retired hero inspires young Eagles

Sunday afternoon’s game included a celebration of the careers of retired West Coast premiership stars Jeremy McCovern and Dom Sheed. The two completed a lap of honour at half-time as the Eagles fans cheered the club favourites on. McGovern was also tasked with the pre-game address to players prior to the first bounce. Whatever the five-time All Australian said clearly worked as the Eagles came out firing.

Dom Sheed and Jeremy McGovern during the round 22 match between West Coast and Adelaide at Optus Stadium, August 10, 2025. Picture: Getty Images

Crows miss big Tex

The ladder-leading Crows may have thought it was a safe bet to manage veteran forward Tex Walker for their clash with the Eagles, given where the two sides were placed on the ladder. But at three-quarter time, coach Matthew Nicks may have been regretting his decision to rest his former captain as West Coast had the momentum heading into the final term. Walker's experience and leadership was missed.

WEST COAST 3.1 6.4 10.4 12.6 (78)

ADELAIDE 5.2 5.4 9.5 13.9 (87)

GOALS

West Coast: Shanahan 3, Ryan 3, Chesser, Baker, Cripps, Davis, Kelly, Brockman

Adelaide: Pedlar 3, Thilthorpe 3, Peatling, Dawson, Keays, Soligo, Taylor, Fogarty, Rankine

BEST

West Coast: Kelly, McCarthy, Shanahan, Ginbey, Ryan

Adelaide: Laird, O’Brien, Rankine, Dawson, Soligo

INJURIES

West Coast: Nil

Adelaide: James Peatling (corked thigh)

SUBSTITUTES

West Coast: Matt Owies (replaced Tom Gross in the third quarter)

Adelaide: Chayce Jones (replaced James Peatling in the third quarter)

Crowd: 32,845 at Optus Stadium

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