There are two Rounds remaining in the home-and-away season of the 2017 Toyota AFL Premiership competition and the Adelaide Crows look to be the team of destiny, as they toured Etihad Stadium for a game with Melbourne and handed the Essendon Bombers a 43-point loss.
At this juncture, it would be a bitter pill if the Crows cannot see it through to the Grand Final. The Crows have not been beaten in Melbourne in six games and it seems as though the minor premiership is theirs. They have also come close to securing a home qualifying final, but it is as yet unclear who they would play, but the Cats, Tigers, Swans and Port seem like the likely candidates.
The side’s good form in Melbourne bodes well for the Crows, and it appears certain that a Grand Final appearance will feature at least one finals game at MCG.
Crows’ veteran Richard Douglas was ebullient over his team’s performance at Etihad. “It’s really important for us to gain confidence winning here. We obviously understand that it’s where the big dance is played and every time we get to Melbourne we really enjoy it, said Douglas. “To get another good win at Etihad Stadium was pleasing.”
The minor premiership will go to the Crows provided they can win at home against the Sydney Swans at the Adelaide Oval Friday night coming. The Crows will be playing for a home qualifying final, while the Swans would like to move up into the top four.
Elsewhere in the AFL, the Geelong Cats switched ladder positions with the Richmond Tigers to return to number three. The Bombers loss to the Crows dealt them a serious blow, as they fell out of the four-way tie at 40 premiership points they had shared with the Western Bulldogs and the West Coast Eagles.
