Tex says goodbye to Adelaide Oval as Crows and Cats secure top six

Topic:AFL

Taylor Walker playing in his last game at Adelaide Oval has kicked a bag of five for the Crows. (Getty Images: AFL Photos/Sarah Reed)

Taylor Walker has a perfect farewell to Adelaide Oval as the Crows and Geelong seal top-six spots, and Melbourne's loss to the Bulldogs re-shapes the finals.

Adelaide beat GWS by 56 points, with Walker kicking six and Izak Rankine four. The win saw the Crows temporarily jump above Hawthorn, who will finish third or fourth if they beat West Coast tomorrow.

In Geelong, the Cats beat Richmond by 57 points, with Jeremy Cameron returning to the side after injury. The Cats are fourth going into the final day of the home-and-away season.

Marcus Bontempelli recorded 27 touches and kicked two goals as the Bulldogs claimed a 16.12 (108) to 12.15 (87) win over the Demons, setting up a wildcard clash against Collingwood.

The Bulldogs win came at a cost though as star forward Aaron Naughton left the ground at the end of the third quarter with an ankle injury.

Earlier on Saturday, Carlton continued its hot form, recording a 37-point win over ladder-leaders Fremantle at Docklands Stadium.

After trailing by 23 points early in the first quarter, the Blues turned the tables in sensational fashion, running out 18.11 (119) to 12.10 (82) winners as Francis Evans kicked five goals.

Meanwhile, former Sydney Swans assistant Josh Francou says the club's scandal "wouldn't have unfolded" under previous coach John Longmire.

Look back at all the action in our live blog.

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By Andrew McGarry

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By Andrew McGarry

That ends a very big day of football.

There have been upsets and injuries, and the shape of the finals has changed from what we expected before the day started.

Melbourne's loss to Western Bulldogs feels like a pivotal moment, giving the Crows a way out of the wildcard round, which they took.

The Crows and Cats did what they needed to, securing top-six spots, while Carlton tuned up for the wildcard round with a stirring win over Fremantle.

Tomorow we will be back to bring you the final three games of the home and away season, beginning with the early game at Docklands as Essendon takes on Port Adelaide.

Then we will have the culmination of a huge week for the Sydney Swans as they play North Melbourne at the SCG as the second half of a historic double-header with their women's team taking on Essendon at lunchtime.

Finally tomorrow evening at 7:20pm AEST, West Coast will host Hawthorn in Perth, with the Hawks needing close to a miracle to snatch third spot.

We will see you then. For now, this is Andrew McGarry, on behalf of Chris De Silva, thanking you for joining us and wishing you a very good night.

By Andrew McGarry

Taylor Walker's emotional six-goal haul has lifted Adelaide to a 56-point win over GWS and securely into the AFL's top six.

The Crows avoided the wildcard finals after Walker and Izak Rankine (35 touches, four goals) starred in a 24.13 (157) to 15.11 (101) triumph on Saturday night.

Adelaide hold fifth spot overnight, but will slip to sixth should Hawthorn's expected win over lowly West Coast on Sunday eventuate.

Veteran forward Walker was playing his last home-and-away game for the Crows, after announcing his looming retirement.

And after a prolonged pre-game tribute, the 36-year-old kicked three goals in the initial 10 minutes to delight an adoring 52,332-strong Adelaide crowd.

Rankine dazzled, kicking two specials and creating two more goals, and Riley Thilthorpe bombed two accurate 55m set shots.

The Giants lost key backman Sam Taylor, ruled out with concussion after a knock in a marking contest.

GWS rallied in the second term, kicking six goals to two to reduce their halftime deficit to 21 points.

Jake Stringer, in his 250th AFL game and possibly last with the Giants, booted three goals to half-time as the Crows lost small forward Zac Taylor to a hamstring injury.

Stringer slotted his fourth with another spectacular effort early in the third quarter and the visitors were only 16 points down.

But Adelaide rapidly responded, with Walker collecting two more majors and Josh Rachele slotting two in a minute.

Stringer potted his fifth goal late in term, but the Crows were a commanding 35 points up at three quarter-time, 17.8 to 10.9.

Rankine soon added another highlight to his monster game with a classy third goal — he also had 12 clearances and 10 score involvements.

His teammates Thilthorpe, Darcy Fogarty and Ben Keays also booted three majors each in Adelaide's highest score of the season.

Captain Jordan Dawson (32 disposals) was a standout, and Dan Curtin's 23 touches included five clearances and a goal.

The Giants, despite Stringer finishing with six goals and the efforts of Clayton Oliver (25 possessions), Lachie Ash (26) and Lachie Whitfield (21), end a disappointing season in 12th spot, with 10 wins and 13 losses.

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By Andrew McGarry

After four games today, we know a lot more about the shape of the top 10 (but not quite everything).

Right now, Fremantle is set in first, Sydney is set in second, and the Brisbane Lions have a hand (and a few fingers) on third spot.

Geelong sits fourth and will finish either fourth or (most likely) fifth.

The Crows are into the top six having passed Melbourne and Hawthorn with their big final quarter.

Hawthorn needs to beat West Coast by approximately 100 points to get past Brisbane and take third spot.

If they win (by any margin) they will pass Geelong and take fourth spot, moving the Cats down to fifth and the Crows to sixth.

If the huge upset comes and they lose, then the Lions will be third, Geelong fourth and Adelaide fifth with the Hawks slipping to sixth.

Unless something crazy happens, Melbourne will finish seventh and play Carlton in a wildcard game, while the Bulldogs will host Collingwood in the other wildcard game.

By Andrew McGarry

Star forward Jeremy Cameron made a successful AFL return and Geelong did what was necessary, beating lowly Richmond by 57 points.

The 20.13 (133) to 11.10 (76) win on Saturday night at Kardinia Park guaranteed a week off for the Cats heading into the finals.

They will most likely host an elimination final, with Hawthorn near certainties to beat West Coast on Sunday and leapfrog Geelong into the top four.

It was the Cats' second-highest score of the season and they will take a six-game winning streak into the finals.

Returning from a shoulder injury for his first game since July 11, Cameron started in defence before going back into attack in the second quarter, and he played out the game.

But teammate Jack Henry was forced out of the match in the second term with an ankle injury.

Star midfielder Bailey Smith was best afield, racking up a game-high 40 possessions and kicking three goals, along with 827 metres gained.

Shannon Neale led the scoring with four goals, including a lovely set shot on the final siren, while Shaun Mannagh and Patrick Dangerfield also kicked three apiece.

Richmond were competitive early, and when Seth Campell kicked their third goal they led 12 minutes into the opening term.

But the Cats closed out the term with four goals, capped by an excellent set shot from Dangerfield at the end of the quarter, and they were out to a 20-point lead.

Geelong killed off the game with a six-goal run through the second term, broken by Tom Lynch's first goal on the half-time siren. The Cats led by 49 points at the main break.

The Cats amassed 22 inside-50s in the third quarter, but the Tigers restricted the damage and it was three goals apiece for the term.

There would be no blowout, and a four-goal burst from the Tigers in the last quarter brought the margin back to 34 points.

Geelong quickly snuffed out the unlikely rally from the next centre bounce and Dangerfield's third goal followed.

Lynch kicked three goals for the Tigers and midfielder Tim Taranto had 36 disposals, with a game-high 10 clearances.

The Tigers have only won three games this season and are second-last. They will claim the wooden spoon if bottom side Essendon upset Port Adelaide on Sunday.

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By Andrew McGarry

A happy Taylor Walker has spoken briefly to Fox Footy after the win, saying he's grateful for the career he's had, thanking the fans for coming out for his final game at home, describing Izak Rankine as a "freak" (fair enough) and looking forward to a rest before finals.

"We've just got to keep winning, yeah?" he said, and he's right.

Everyone tried to give Tex a hug after the siren including a host of Giants.

He's walking around the ground acknowledging the fans (and I don't think anyone has left).

There was also a guard of honour for Walker, and the Giants raised Jake Stringer in his 250th AFL game (and almost certainly final one for GWS).

Key Event

By Andrew McGarry

It's game over in Adelaide, and the Crows have avoided a wildcard game next week.

They were pushed at times by the Giants, but a seven goal to four final term puts the cap on a big night.

The Western Bulldogs gave the Crows a present by beating Melbourne, and Adelaide took advantage.

Six goals for Taylor Walker was matched by six for Jake Stringer, but the latter was the only standout for GWS, while the Crows had four for Izak Rankine and three for Riley Thilthorpe, Ben Keays and Darcy Fogarty.

It's happy days for Adelaide, as they get the week off.

For the Giants a rough season comes to an end - and it could well be the end of an era.

By Andrew McGarry

Safe to say the Crows are not yet putting the cue in the rack.

They are putting pressure on the GWS defence, and when the ball came to 60 out, Dan Curtin got the ball, looked like he was going to be tackled but shrugged off one, then two defenders, then stepped through, steadied and kicked one from 50.

The home crowd LOVED it, and so did he.

By Andrew McGarry

We are entering time on in Adelaide, and the Crows are in cruise control.

Izak Rankine has kicked his fourth goal to go with 35 disposals, while Taylor Walker has booted his sixth in his farewell home game.

The Giants are not giving up, with goals to Aaron Cadman and Nick Madden keeping the margin from completely blowing out.

The margin is 49 points with seven minutes to go.

As things stand, the Crows are just behind Hawthorn on percentage. It probably won't matter, but you never know.

By Andrew McGarry

We're in the final term in Adelaide, and I think the Crows have taken a deep breath.

Riley Thilthorpe and Izak Rankine have both kicked their third goals of the game to boost the lead for the home side.

I think Rankine has been given a spell by the coach, and the Mexican Wave is going around Adelaide Oval, so that tells you where we are.

But Jake Stringer is making every bit of use of the shop window, booting his sixth of the game as he tries to impress various Victorian clubs on his way out the door at GWS.

The lead is 42 points, and the Crows are going to make it into the top six, barring some absolute catastrophe.

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By Andrew McGarry

It's all over at Kardinia Park, and the Cats have finished the job they set out to do.

Geelong wins by 57 points, and there were some serious performances.

Bailey Smith kicked a final quarter goal to make three majors and 40 disposals. Shaun Mannagh did the damage early with three goals and 33 touches, while Patrick Dangerfield also kicked three (22 disposals).

The Tigers pushed the Cats in the final quarter kicking four goals to Geelong's five.

Shannon Neale sent the fans home happy with a booming goal from 50 after the siren.

That's Geelong set in the top six, and now they need to hope for a huge upset in the west tomorrow night to grab fourth.

By Andrew McGarry

The siren sounds in Adelaide and the Crows have settled a bit.

A six goal to four term leaves the lead at 35 points with a quarter to go.

It's not the cakewalk they might have hoped for, but it would take something huge for the Giants to get over the line from here.

By Andrew McGarry

We're nearly halfway through the final term at Kardinia Park, and the Tigers are determined to put a strong finish to their season.

They are winning the final term, as the Cats are perhaps getting into preservation mode ahead of finals.

Richmond has booted four goals to one, with Steely Green kicking his second of the game, and Tom Lynch just adding the fourth in the run with a mark over the back and a runaround snap.

The crowd is a bit non-plussed, but there's not much peril there with the Cats still ahead by 34 points.

By Andrew McGarry

The Crows are trying to break this game, and the crowd have had their big moment with Taylor Walker kicking his fifth of the game.

That made it 40 points, but the Giants hit straight back with a burst through the middle and Harry Rowston finishing with a goal.

By Andrew McGarry

The crowd, the team, the coaches, the lot - everyone related to the Crows have been hoping to get this game sorted at Adelaide Oval.

They haven't reached the comfort zone yet, but two quick goals from Josh Rachele has made things a little better.

The first was a dribble from the pocket from 20, and the second was a floater from the arc.

The home side is out to a 34-point break now. Can they go on with it?

By Andrew McGarry

The Giants are hanging around. A 50m penalty for stepping into the protected zone left Max Gruzewski with a simple conversion from 20m out.

It's back to 22 points to Adelaide, halfway through the third quarter.

By Andrew McGarry

Finally the Crows have found a spark!

Ruckman Lachie McAndrew has kicked a wobbly one from 25 or so for a goal, and then another Adelaide break set up a kick to a contest for Taylor Walker to rise and take a contested grab.

The crowd roared - and he went back and kicked his fourth!

The lead is out to 28 points, andthat's exactly where the home fans will want that margin to stay as a minimum.

By Andrew McGarry

There's none of that early party atmosphere left at Adelaide Oval!

The Giants are coming, and it's Jake Stringer who's making the difference.

He's just sharked a ball off a pack and burst onto it to snap a ridiculous goal (another ridiculous goal) from the pocket to silence the crowd again.

With 14 minutes on the clock, the Crows lead is back to 16 points!

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By Andrew McGarry

It's three quarter time in Geelong, and the game is proceeding as needed for the Cats.

The third term saw Richmond make them work a little harder for their goals, with both teams kicking three for the term.

The Cats have nearly double the inside 50s, 57-32, and they have cooled off a bit from the early stages where they were kicking a goal every two and a bit entries.

But things are more than comfortable in front of their home fans.

They're one quarter away from locking in a top-six spot and giving themselves an outside chance of top-four.

By Andrew McGarry

New state, no difference.

The Kangaroos travelled to Queensland to face Brisbane in the AFLW, but the unbeaten streak continued as the premiers emerged as 11-point winners on the road.

Tahlia Randall and Bella Eddey both kicked two goals for North, while Ruby Svarc booted two for the Lions in a 6.8 (44) to 5.3 (33) game.

The Kangaroos kept the Lions goalless in a tight first half, booting 3.5 to take control at the long break.

The home side hit back in the third term to close the gap to just three points, but a three goal to two final term saw the Kangaroos home.

They dominated the stats, with 44 inside 50s to 35, 28 clearances to 19, and 32 more contested possessions than the Lions.

Ash Riddell led the way with 42 disposals for the Kangaroos.

Earlier, Geelong ran away with it against St Kilda, winning by 85 points 16.4 (100) to 2.3 (15).

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