AFTER leading for three-and-a-bit quarters, Essendon has gone down to Adelaide by 16 points after the Crows produced an outstanding final term with six goals to two at Docklands on Sunday.

A stunning 300th AFL game from Tyson Edwards, plus 12 goals from Kurt Tippett and Chris Knights resulted in the Crows 21.4 (130) defeating the Bombers 18.6 (114).

Despite entering the final term without skipper Simon Goodwin, who suffered a knee injury in the third term, Adelaide hit the front for the first time in the match when Jason Porplyzia kicked truly at the three-minute mark. The Crows also booted the first four goals of the term, jumping out to a 15-point lead and from that point didn't look back.

Edwards racked up an amazing 41 touches in his milestone performance, while Tippett (seven goals) and Knights (five) were sensational in front of goals. Tippett’s contested marks were also highlights of the day.

Nathan Bock (25 disposals) also provided great rebound and run from defence.

For the Bombers, club great and 2000 premiership player Scott Lucas played his first match since round six after a spell with the Bendigo Bombers in the VFL. He hit back with four goals in a fine return.

Midfielders Brent Stanton and Andrew Lovett racked up 31 disposals each, while Jobe Watson and Bachar Houli claimed 26 each. Watson also booted a career-best three majors.

Ex-Crow and first-year Bomber Hayden Skipworth notched up his 50th AFL game with 21 touches and two goals.

The Bombers started in brilliant fashion. Paddy Ryder opened proceedings and by the 22-minute mark, the Dons had five goals to one and a 26-point lead.

Watson was outstanding in the first term with two goals and 12 touches, as was Stanton, who also had 12 disposals, including eight contested. 

It took two young Crows – Patrick Dangerfield and Tippett – to reel back the margin to 15 points at quarter-time, after back-to-back majors in red time.

Adelaide upped the ante in the second term, kicking six goals to five. And although it looked set to take the game by the scruff of the neck on occasions, each time Essendon answered to hold the Crows at bay. 

Tippett was excellent in the second term with three majors, including a brilliant checkside set-shot from the Coventry End pocket. He also took a classic hanger over Bomber Courtenay Dempsey late in the term, topping off an outstanding first-half.

Lucas had three majors by the main break, including bookend goals in the second term.

Bomber Adam McPhee also kicked a beauty in the second quarter, dribbling a goal through from the boundary line under pressure.

The third quarter was an absolute beauty, as both teams scored six goals.

Although the Bombers got out to a 22-point lead at the 12-minute mark, the Crows kept peppering away.

Tippett landed two more to have six entering the final break and recent NAB AFL Rising Star nominee Taylor Walker also bobbed up with two.

Although Essendon led by eight points entering the final stanza, Adelaide's outstanding last term resulted in its third straight win and Essendon's second loss in a row.

Essendon  5.3  10.4  16.4  18.6 (114)
Adelaide  3.0  9.0  15.2  21.4 (130)

GOALS
Essendon: Lucas 4, Watson 3, Monfries 2, Skipworth 2, Davey, Dyson, Lovett, McPhee, McVeigh, Ryder, Reimers
Adelaide: Tippett 7, Knights 5, Walker 2, Douglas 2, Dangerfield, Maric, McLeod, Porplyzia, Vince.

BEST
Essendon: Stanton, Lovett, Watson, Skipworth, Dyson, Prismall, Houli.
Adelaide: Edwards, Tippett, Knights, Vince, Bock, Johncock, Thompson.

INJURIES
Essendon: TBC
Adelaide: Goodwin (knee)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Kennedy, Grun, Findlay
Official crowd: 39,451 at Docklands

The views contained in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL