With Don Pyke out of a job we look back at the best five wins of his time at the Crows. Pyke served from 2016-2019 as the top dog in Adelaide, taking his team to finals on two occasions, culminating in a Grand Final appearance in 2017.
5. Rd 10, 2017 v Fremantle
Adelaide delivered Ross Lyon his first ever 100 point loss as a coach in a mauling at the Adelaide Oval. The Crows couldn’t be contained as they ran all over the Dockers in all facets, and the margin could have been a lot, lot more after the Crows kicked in inaccurate 20 goals 23 behinds. The Crows had five players kick at least three goals, including four goals straight from unlikely hero Andy Otten.
ADELAIDE 5.9 9.18 16.21 20.23 (143)
FREMANTLE 1.0 2.1 4.2 6. 7 (43)
GOALS
Adelaide: Otten 4, Jenkins 3, Milera 3, Betts 3, Cameron 3, Sloane 2, Walker, Jacobs
Fremantle: Tucker 2, Weller 2, McCarthy, Fyfe
BEST
Adelaide: M.Crouch, Sloane, Otten, Atkins, B.Crouch, Lever
Fremantle: Weller, Blakely, Hamling, Spurr
INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil
Fremantle: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Foot, Hosking, McInerney
Official crowd: 42,415 at Adelaide Oval
4. Round 3, 2017 v Port Adelaide
A terrific effort from the Crows saw them roll the Power for what would be the first of two times in 2017. A close match the whole way through, the Power mounted a strong charge in the last term, coming within a kick after the Crows had a handy lead. The Crows then fought Port off, silencing the Power home crowd in an impressive three goal win.
PORT ADELAIDE 4.6 6.6 9.8 12.11 (83)
ADELAIDE 3.3 7.9 11.10 15.10 (100)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Wines 2, Wingard 2, R.Gray 2, Westhoff, Impey, Dixon, Boak, Eddy, Powell-Pepper
Adelaide: Walker 4, Betts 3, Otten 2, Knight 2, Lynch 2, Mackay, Sloane,
BEST
Port Adelaide: Wines, Ryder, Ebert, Byrne-Jones, Hartlett, Boak
Adelaide: Sloane, Douglas, Walker, Otten, Laird, Lynch, Knight
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Nil
Adelaide: McGovern (hamstring)
Reports: Paddy Ryder (Port Adelaide) reported for striking Adelaide’s Riley Knight in the fourth quarter
Umpires: Dagleigh, Meredith, Williamson
Official crowd: 53,698
3. Round 12, 2016 v West Coast
After trailing by 12 points at three quarter time, the Crows booted six goals in the final term and kept the Eagles scoreless, running out 29 point winners. The Crows hadn’t led since the first half of the first term, and stormed home to win in a classy effort in the strong hold of Perth.
WEST COAST 5.6 9.6 11.10 11.10 (76)
ADELAIDE 3.1 6.5 9.10 15.15 (105)
GOALS
West Coast: Kennedy 3, Darling 2, Yeo 2, Hill, Hutchings, Gaff, Duggan.
Adelaide: Betts 5, Jenkins 3, Walker 2, Lynch, Douglas, M McGovern, Cameron, Atkins.
BEST
West Coast: Priddis, Yeo, Gaff, McGovern, Hill, Shuey.
Adelaide: Sloane, Betts, Thompson, Laird, M. Crouch, Talia, Jenkins, Lynch.
INJURIES
West Coast: Mackenzie (ill) replaced in selected side by Barrass, Bulter (groin) replaced in selected side by Ellis.
Adelaide: TBA
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Hay, Rosebury, Farmer.
Official crowd: 37,591 at Domain Stadium
2. 2017 Preliminary Final v Geelong
Adelaide destroyed the Cats at home to enter their first Grand Final since 1998. The Crows were ruthless from the off in their most important win in a long time. The atmosphere was electric at this game and when the final siren sounded, Don Pyke was the Messiah. An epic match for Crows fans with so much significance.
ADELAIDE 6.3 11.7 14.10 21.10 (136)
GEELONG 1.2 5.8 8.11 10.15 (75)
GOALS
Adelaide: Cameron 5, Jenkins 4, Walker 2, Betts 2, Lynch 2, Seedsman 2, Jacobs, Otten, M.Crouch, Knight
Geelong: Dangerfield 2, Cockatoo, Duncan, Selwood, Lang, Hawkins, Motlop, Henderson, Menegola
BEST
Adelaide: Laird, Cameron, M.Crouch, Seedsman, B.Crouch, Talia
Geelong: J.Selwood, Motlop, Taylor, Mackie, Dangerfield
INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil
Geelong: S.Selwood (hamstring), Lonergan (corked quad), J.Selwood (groin)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Rosebury, Stevic, Schmitt
Official crowd: 53,817 at Adelaide Oval
1. Round 20, 2018 v Port Adelaide
One of the greatest Showdowns in history and sweet revenge on the old enemy has to be the best win this side has managed in the last four years. Bryce Gibbs, Matt Crouch and Rory Sloane were all huge as the Crows controversially beat the Power thanks to Josh Jenkins’s crucial maybe-poster. Crows fans still talk about this one to this day.
ADELAIDE 5.3 7.8 9.14 13.18 (96)
PORT ADELAIDE 5.39.5 10.9 14.9 (93)
GOALS
Adelaide: Jenkins 3, Sloane 2, Walker, Murphy, Greenwood, Gallucci, Lynch, Doedee, M.Crouch, Betts
Port Adelaide: Gray 4, Wingard 4, Farrell 3, Boak 2, Byrne-Jones
BEST
Adelaide: M.Crouch, Gibbs, Jenkins, Sloane, Atkins, Doedee
Port Adelaide: Gray, Polec, Wingard, Ryder, Byrne-Jones, Boak
INJURIES
Adelaide: Talia (right calf)
Port Adelaide: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Rosebury, Nicholls, Mitchell
Official crowd: 50,377 at the Adelaide Oval
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