{"id":3053,"date":"2026-05-01T20:51:25","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T20:51:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/3053\/"},"modified":"2026-05-01T20:51:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T20:51:25","slug":"brayden-cook-kicks-winning-goal-in-showdown-epic-as-andrew-dillon-and-greg-swann-booed-amid-arc-controversy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/3053\/","title":{"rendered":"Brayden Cook kicks winning goal in Showdown epic as Andrew Dillon and Greg Swann booed amid ARC controversy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Adelaide\u2019s<\/a> Brayden Cook has kicked the match-winning goal with 10 seconds left in a one-point victory against arch foe Port Adelaide.<\/a><\/p>\n

Cook\u2019s stunner on the run delivered the Crows a stirring 11.10 (76) to 11.9 (75) victory at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.<\/p>\n

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: AFL bosses booed after controversial ARC decision<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

Cook enters folklore in the closest-ever Showdown with a 45m shot to pinch victory.<\/p>\n

Just 35 seconds earlier, young Power forward Joe Berry snapped a left-footer to give his side a five-point lead.<\/p>\n

But Cook\u2019s late heroics lifted the Crows to a famous win and a 4-4 win-loss ledger this season.<\/p>\n

Port slip into a 3-5 record after another classic fixture of the South Australian rivals full of late drama.<\/p>\n

Adelaide halfback Wayne Milera continued his stunning form with 29 disposals, and Jake Soligo (22 touches), Izak Rankine (23, one goal) and Sam Berry (29) were midfield influences.<\/p>\n

Ben Keays potted three goals and Josh Rachele and Toby Murray kicked two each, with Riley Thilthorpe (one goal) well held by Port\u2019s Aliir Aliir.<\/p>\n

\"BraydenBrayden Cook (c) proved the matchwinner as Adelaide pipped Port Adelaide by one point. Credit: AAP<\/p>\n

The Power\u2019s prime movers were Zak Butters (30 disposals), Ollie Wines (30) and Jason Horne-Francis (20), while Mitch Georgiades kicked three majors, and Corey Durdin and Berry two apiece.<\/p>\n

Controversy twice threatened to mar the result of the game when Adelaide were on the end of a couple of dubious decisions, one from the on-field umpire and another from the ARC.<\/p>\n

Soligo thought he had slotted a goal to get the Crows back within seven points mid-way through the third term but had it overturned by the ARC minutes later, despite seemingly inconclusive camera angles to prove it.<\/p>\n

The ARC ruled that the ball had gone over the top of the goal post and changed the on-field decision from a goal to a behind.<\/p>\n

When the ball next went out of play on the wing, the broadcaster cut to a shot of AFL commissioner Andrew Ireland, CEO Andrew Dillon and footy boss Greg Swann, who had boos rain down on them from the Crows-heavy crowd.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow can you turn that over with that (evidence)?\u201d Adelaide great Mark Ricciuto said on Fox Sports.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a little bit crazy. You\u2019ve got to prove that that\u2019s a point.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ThisThis was the angle that made the ARC overturn Soligo\u2019s goal to a point. Credit: Fox Sports<\/p>\n

Even former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley agreed: \u201cHonestly, I\u2019ve got explanation for you for that, and I don\u2019t believe that\u2019s a turnover decision that they should go with. I don\u2019t think that\u2019s definitive.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d like to ring Swanny right now and say, \u2018Mate, what do you think that is?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

After Ireland, Dillon and Swann were shown on the big screen, Dwayne Russel noted: \u201cAnd the crowd giving them the reception that they expected.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd how are the goal umpires now with their confidence, if those are going to be reviewed and overturned off the evidence we just saw?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"AndrewAndrew Ireland (left), Andrew Dillon (centre) and Greg Swann (right) were booed after the ARC controversy. Credit: Fox Sports<\/p>\n

The trio of AFL bosses let out an awkward laugh, but would have been relieved when Rankine kicked the next goal just moments later.<\/p>\n

After the game, Shaun Burgoyne said the replays weren\u2019t conclusive enough to overturn the decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got to get that right \u2014 when a game is so close, you can\u2019t have a game decided by decisions like that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s got to be conclusive.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Crows were then denied another goal later in the game, this time in the dying minutes of the last quarter, when Wayne Milera slotted one from 50 but had it disallowed because of a push from Rachele on Logan Evans in the goal square. Replays showed only minor contact, and the Adelaide fans once again erupted with displeasure.<\/p>\n

Port, despite having five less inside 50s, held a 3.2 to 1.2 quarter-time lead with Georgiades among their goalscorers.<\/p>\n

The Crows lost former captain Taylor Walker to a right hamstring injury but, after goals from Keays and Rachele, drew level with Port at 22 all.<\/p>\n

Power acting skipper Butters restored a slender six-point break after nailing a 45m boundary line set shot from a dubious pushing free against Soligo.<\/p>\n

\"ZakZak Butters did everything he could to drag his side over the line. Credit: Matt Turner\/AAPIMAGE<\/p>\n

Port held a 4.4 to 3.4 halftime buffer with Adelaide\u2019s brilliant halfback Milera (19 touches) and Butters (18) both outstanding.<\/p>\n

The Power held a 13-point advantage midway through the third term before the Crows gained traction late.<\/p>\n

After a stunner on the run from Rankine, his teammate Keays snapped his second before third-gamer Murray stole the spotlight.<\/p>\n

The younger brother of Nick, who was dropped for the game, twice got on the end of Soligo passes and, twice converted clutch set shots.<\/p>\n

The Murray retort helped Adelaide establish an eight-point lead at three quarter-time, 8.9 to 7.7, after booting five goals to three for the term.<\/p>\n

The industrious Keays highlighted his impact with a third major early in the final term as the Crows went 15 points clear.<\/p>\n

And Adelaide appeared home when Thilthorpe, after a shrewd back-handed tap from Rachele, curled a left-footer through for a 21-point break five minutes in.<\/p>\n

But like so many Showdowns, there was a dramatic twist.<\/p>\n

Georgiades slotted two of Port\u2019s next four consecutive goals – they crept within two points with about six minutes remaining before Berry\u2019s snap gave them a late five-point lead.<\/p>\n

But Adelaide frantically pressed forward and Cook delivered the game-breaker in the final seconds.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Dockers mid injures own teammate in celebration gone wrong<\/p>\n

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