Adelaide registered its first loss of the 2026 season in a thrilling contest at Adelaide Oval on Friday night. 

The Crows produced a stirring final quarter fightback to almost steal a victory, but ultimately fell short, as the Bulldogs held on for a 14.10 (94) to 13.10 (88) triumph. 

Senior Coach Matthew Nicks spoke to the media post-game, and delivered five key takeaways. 

Flat start proves costly

Nicks was quick to point to a lacklustre first half as the main reason behind his side’s Round Two loss. 

By their coach's admission, the Crows were comprehensively beaten around the ball in the first two quarters, which allowed the Bulldogs to take a critical 15-point lead into the main change. 

Although they were eventually able to get the game on their terms and hit the lead, the energy spent to muster the final quarter fightback meant the Crows ran out of gas to close out the victory in a tense final two minutes. 

Nicks said the group was disappointed with what it produced in the first half and was quick to identify where the game was won and lost. 

“We were just a bit slow to get going for whatever reason, we don’t necessarily know yet what the reason was, but just to get ourselves up and firing took us too long. ” Nicks said. 

“Looking back on it, we were probably lucky to be in it at half-time, the Bulldogs were very good in the first half especially in the contest, they smashed us in the tackle count, beat us at ground ball and that was where we were a little bit off. 

“So that was quite disappointing, putting that first half out there, but we gave ourselves a chance late and unfortunately left it too late as we spent all our energy getting in front and couldn’t close it out.” 

Butts stands tall 

Key defender Jordon Butts was a shining light for the Crows, as he enjoyed a career-best night behind the ball. 

The night began with the 26-year-old kicking his first AFL goal, and he continued the momentum by quelling the influence of Bulldogs star Sam Darcy. 

He also showed the offensive improvement in his game, as he recorded career highs in disposals (19) and marks (12), and gathered 11 intercepts. 

Nicks said it was a complete performance for the defender, who was rewarded for an impressive pre-season.  

“We backed Buttsy in (on Darcy), we love the way he defends, he’s super disciplined, he’s a competitor and he hates getting beaten,” Nicks said. 

“They’ve had a couple of good match-ups (Darcy and Butts), and I thought Buttsy was huge for us tonight. 

“11 intercepts and he probably should have kicked a couple of goals, it was a good reward for him after a strong summer and we were lucky we had him behind the ball at the start of the game. 

“He was huge for us.” 

Rankine’s return

Livewire Izak Rankine returned to the line-up after a four-match suspension, and provided moments of individual brilliance. 

A freakish goal to give Adelaide the late lead in the last quarter typified Rankine’s talent, as he worked his way into the contest in what was his first competitive match in more than six months.

The 25-year-old finished with 16 disposals, three tackles and a major, and will be better for the run according to his Senior Coach. 

“It was great to get him back out there,” Nicks said.

“I think he’d be the first one to say it wasn’t necessarily his best night, but what can you expect from someone that hasn’t played footy in so long. 

“He’s been champing at the bit to play, so the nerves were there for him pre-game, but our expectation was just for him to come in and play his role. 

“I think he had a few key moments which were typical Izak, he can do stuff others can’t, and he’ll be better for the run.” 

Ah Chee’s team-lifting moment

The defensive efforts of recruit Callum Ah Chee proved to be the firestarter for the Crows’ final-quarter fightback. 

Adelaide found itself unable to find any spark for much of the contest, before Ah Chee committed himself to make a spoil in the middle of the ground, which ended in a major to Skipper Jordan Dawson. 

The 28-year-old was mobbed by his teammates after the effort, and minutes later desperately attempted to make another spoil, which resulted in him suffering a hamstring injury. 

Nicks spoke about the effect Ah Chee’s moments had on the group and said it was disappointing to see the classy forward sustain another injury. 

“You talk about moments, we find ourselves flat for most of the game and Cal does an effort, which was huge and it lifted the group,” Nicks said. 

“I reckon he did another three or four in between that, and then lunged for one that maybe he didn’t need to, but the adrenalin is pumping at that point and he’s doing everything he can to get us over the line.

“It’s a tough one for Cal at the moment, getting that (hamstring) right, but it was a huge effort and we’ll have a look at it.” 

Clock problems not an excuse

Confusion reigned throughout the Adelaide Oval in the final quarter, as the countdown clock malfunctioned. 

As a result, coaches, players and fans watching at the ground and at home did not know the time remaining for a fair portion of the final 12 minutes. 

Nicks said the coaching group did its best to work around the issue, and insisted it had little effect on how his team attacked the closing stages of the match. 

“We didn’t have a clock, but that happens,” Nicks said. 

“My understanding is that across the board, the whole stadium went down so you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do in that moment. 

“We can see the time that’s gone in the quarter and work it out from that, it maybe changes the mode we were in, but there’s no excuse there at all. 

“We had to get it done and we couldn’t tonight.”