The Dogs upstaged Melbourne at the MCG earlier in the evening<\/a>, meaning the Crows were playing for a top-six spot.<\/p>\nNot only that, but a chance to be on the same side of the draw as a suddenly undermanned Sydney, if the embattled Swans lost the qualifying final.<\/p>\n
Rather than having a pressure-packed wildcard game in which Matthew Nicks would be coaching for his job, the Crows booked what could be a very valuable week off.<\/p>\n
It is an extra break for 36-year-old Walker, the sore Callum Ah Chee, the injured James Peatling and every Adelaide player battling niggles or needing a breather.<\/p>\n
The Crows will also take much-needed momentum into the major round after indifferent form of two losses, drubbing cellar-dweller Essendon and an ugly win over second-last Richmond.<\/p>\n
Adelaide embraced the celebratory occasion like it did when it opened the inaugural Gather Round against Carlton in 2023.<\/p>\n
It booted 8.2 to 2.3 in a 56-point win that night and 9.2 to 1.4 this time.<\/p>\n
The Crows had kicked eight goals in a quarter in only three other matches this season.<\/p>\n
Adelaide\u2019s opening five majors were from the star of the moment and the toast of the night.<\/p>\n
It went Izak Rankine, Tex, Rankine, Tex and Tex.<\/p>\n
They finished with 10 goals between them.<\/p>\n
Criticised for much of the season, the Crows\u2019 ball movement was more adventurous.<\/p>\n
Last week Adelaide played risk-averse and boring down the line so often coming out of defence against Fremantle.<\/p>\n
The Crows tried more inboard passes, sharp changes of direction and handing off to runners on Saturday night, which worked early and late.<\/p>\n
It came unstuck at times during the second term, as the Giants clawed a 45-point quarter-time margin to 21 by the long break and Adelaide\u2019s intensity dropped, leaving the door ajar.<\/p>\n
But if the Crows are going to go deep into September, they cannot play safe.<\/p>\n
Their total of 157 was their highest of the season.<\/p>\n
Rankine is in a patch so purple Barney the Dinosaur will be blushing.<\/p>\n
Adelaide lacked matchwinners in last season\u2019s finals with Rankine suspended and Josh Rachele returning from injury.<\/p>\n
The team will take extra confidence knowing Rankine (35 disposals, 12 clearances, four goals) is playing like a previous Crows No. 23.<\/p>\n
Adelaide Oval\u2019s sellout crowd of 52,332 started a Mexican wave \u2013 or a Tex-he-can wave \u2013 once the Crows secured passage to what the AFL considered the second week of the finals and nerves were eased.<\/p>\n
Nerves and major-round inexperience suffocated the Crows last September.<\/p>\n
After playing with the handbrake off against the 12th-placed Giants, can Adelaide do it again under finals heat?<\/p>\n
Saturday night was a party, but the Crows were only ever going to be judged on their major-round performances.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This was a three-fold celebration. A party for retiring Crows great Taylor Walker, for the win that 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