Adelaide Crows set embarrassing AFL history in latest loss
The Adelaide Crows’ torrid 2020 AFL season continued on trend with their loss to Melbourne on Wednesday night, the latest defeat extending their losing streak to the third-longest in league history.
It’s been more than 12 months since the Crows last won a game, albeit with the coronavirus-enforced hiatus adding some time to that - but the 13.10 (88) to 5.7 (37) at the hands of the Demons did little more but salt the wound for Adelaide.
HANDS OFF: Prince Harry 'manhandled' by AFL great in Vegas
‘VOICE OF TREASON’: AFL great wages war on journalist
Their most recent win came against St Kilda on August 3, 2019, while new head coach Matthew Nicks, appointed prior to the 2020 season, is yet to win a match.
Despite the torrid start to his AFL coaching career, league great David King said it would be unfair to pin the Crows’ struggles entirely on Nicks.
"They're a team that lacks culture...so don't talk about culture, until you start will to live the culture."@warrentredrea hasn't missed when assessing the dire state of affairs at the Adelaide Crows.
Watch 'Talk of the Town' 👉https://t.co/80w4Jcwdc4 pic.twitter.com/yC6M56ZEcC— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) August 5, 2020
The former North Melbourne premiership player said the Crows were in the early stages of a root and branch rebuild.
“From an Adelaide point of view, I know Matthew Nicks is going to start 0-10, but (Richmond’s) Damien Hardwick started 0-9,” King said.
“I think we need to cool the jets on the feedback there.
“This is a 50-game re-set, isn’t it. It’s going to take some time. They’re down on talent.
“This is the bottom after a four or five-year shot at a flag.”
Adelaide Crows season goes from bad to worse
Adelaide made nine changes after a humiliating 69-point loss to fellow strugglers North Melbourne last weekend - eight at the selection table and Brodie Smith (knee) was a late scratching.
But the Crows again had few winners against the Demons - winger Paul Seedsman booted two goals, halfback Luke Brown (20 disposals) was solid and on-baller Matt Crouch collected a team-high 27 touches with limited impact.
Adelaide trailed by four points after an opening quarter punctuated by a sling tackle from Melbourne's Alex Neal-Bullen which concussed Crows defender Will Hamill just 13 minutes into the game.
Hamill's head hit the ground with force and he didn't feature again in the match, with Neal-Bullen facing certain sanction from the match review officer.
The Demons led by five points at halftime and were only 12 up at the last change.
But the visitors steamrolled to victory with seven goals in a 21-minute scoring spree against meek resistance - the Crows mustered just one major in the second half.
The Demons meet North Melbourne on Sunday night at Adelaide Oval while the same venue will host the Crows' clash with Collingwood on Tuesday night.
With AAP
