Crows hang tough to silence Cats in the wet

Shayne Hope | June 4, 2026

An inspirational display from Jordan Dawson has helped steer Adelaide to a dramatic one-point victory over Geelong and into the AFL’s top six.

The Crows outlasted their opponents in a brutal contest, prevailing 11.9 (75) to 10.14 (74) at a rain-soaked Adelaide Oval on Thursday night.

There was more score review controversy when Darcy Fogarty was denied a goal from a long-range set shot with less than four minutes left.

But the behind that was eventually awarded put Adelaide in front and ultimately proved decisive, with neither side able to muster another score in the desperate final stages.

Adelaide (7-5) move up to sixth on the ladder with their first win over Geelong in five years, ending a run of six consecutive defeats.

Remarkably, seven Crows games this season have been decided by single-figure margins, including three that have resulted in one-point victories.

“We’ve played so many games against them that have been tight, so to get one is really pleasing,” Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks said.

“Geelong are such a great side and have been for so long … but for me it’s more about the way we got it done.

“Deep down I just know how good we are and it’s hard sometimes to walk in here and talk to that, but I will today.

“The boys executed under immense pressure and I’m incredibly proud of the way they went about it. They deserve the result.”

Dawson (22 disposals, three goals) was outstanding despite hurting his hip in a third-quarter incident for which teammate Taylor Walker will come under scrutiny.

“He’s a warrior. He’s not the only one, but he incredibly just kept going,” Nicks said of Dawson.

“It was quite a collision but it doesn’t surprise us. That’s why he’s our captain. He just finds a way.”

Walker pushed Cats defender Connor O’Sullivan into Dawson in a marking contest – an action the match review officer has cracked down on – while the Crows are also left nursing multiple injury concerns.

Callum Ah Chee did a brilliant job limiting Geelong star Tom Stewart for three quarters, but finished on the bench with his fourth hamstring injury of the season.

Key defender Jordon Butts (calf) was also hurt in the final term before Toby Murray and debutant Hugo Hall-Kahan were involved in a sickening head clash.

Daniel Curtin (26 disposals) starred in his best game for Adelaide and took a crucial late intercept mark, with Wayne Milera (24 disposals) and Rory Laird (23) also busy.

Walker and Ben Keays kicked two goals each.

Geelong (8-5), who remain fourth, were well served by Brownlow Medal favourite Bailey Smith (34 disposals), Max Holmes (30) and Patrick Dangerfield (30).

Dangerfield was unleashed in the midfield in a move reaped 13 disposals, 10 contested possessions, five clearances and a goal in the first quarter alone.

Jack Martin and Jack Bowes kicked two goals each for the Cats, but star forward Jeremy Cameron had just seven disposals after one of his hands was kicked early in the match.

Geelong utility Stewart, who was held to 15 touches, will come under scrutiny for a bump that made contact with Ah Chee’s head or chest.

Adelaide broke open a tight contest with a run of four straight goals straddling the main break, which gave them a game-high 20-point lead midway through the third term.

It was a tense contest throughout and got heated when Smith and James Peatling tangled off the ball, eventually resulting in the Cats star giving away an ill-disciplined free kick.

Brilliant goals from Keays and Walker gave the Crows the edge again early in the final term.

They looked home when Dawson outmarked two Cats defenders and played on to kick his third goal from outside 50 metres, putting the home side 19 points up.

Again Geelong hit back, kicking three quick goals as Adelaide tried to save the game, levelling the scores when Bowes kicked his second.

Fogarty gave the Crows the lead for the final time and Hall-Kahan laid a brilliant tackle in defence as they hung on.

Geelong dominated centre clearances, controlled territory early and won the contested possession battle, but were wasteful in front of goal.

“I was going to say we shouldn’t walk away devastated – but I am devastated,” Cats coach Chris Scott said.

“We feel like the game was there for us to win and we didn’t quite grab it.

“But that is, to an extent, the competition we’re in.”