Izak Rankine was at his blistering best Adelaide fired in a nine-goal second half to fight off a plucky Richmond at the MCG, 14.14 (98) to 9.7 (61).
Trailing by 10 points at half-time and playing well below their balance, the Crows came out firing in a dominant third quarter with five unanswered goals to separate the game.
The Tigers kept fighting in the final term as a goal from third-gamer Sam Cumming got the hosts within 17 points with 10 minutes left in the game.
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But Matthew Nicks’ side had the last laugh with clutch goals to Josh Rachele and Lachlan McAndrew to seal the win.
Rankine starred with 33 disposals, a goal, 10 marks, eight tackles, eight score involvements and 686 metres gained in pure inside midfield role as best on ground.
Meanwhile superstar skipper Jordan Dawson tallied 29 touches and 12 marks across half back and Wayne Milera racked up a game-high 34 disposals.
The win saw Adelaide improve to 5-4 and climb into eighth spot on the ladder, while Richmond fell to 1-8 overall. Further souring the loss was a Tom Brown suffering a forearm injury in the first quarter that ended the defender’s day.
The 3-2-1 (what we learned)…
3. ‘FANTASTIC’ RANKINE ERUPTS IN PURE MIDFIELD ROLE
Izak Rankine can do serious damage as a midfielder.
The Crows star produced his best performance of 2026 on Sunday with 33 disposals, 10 marks, nine tackles, eight inside 50s, 684 metres gained, eight score involvements and a goal.
It made Rankine the highest-rated player on the ground as Matthew Nicks’ move to play him as a pure midfielder paid huge dividends as the 26-year old builds into the season.
In fact, Rankine’s 20 centre bounce attendances were second only to Lachlan McAndrew among Adelaide players
Hawthorn legend Jordan Lewis noted at half-time Rankine was “keeping Adelaide in it” when the visitors trailed by 10 points.
“He’s been fantastic. His craft forward of the ball, his ability to find players and help them … the in and under stuff and creativity,” Lewis said on Fox Footy.
“You’d like two of him, to be honest.”
Brownlow medallist Gerard Healy observed that Rankine was “working really well with McAndrew” through their midfield connection.
“He’s a magnificent player, the Crows are just a different side when he’s running at his best,” Healy added.
2. STUNNING CROWS TURNAROUND AFTER NICKS BAKE… BUT PLAYERS DROVE IT
They don’t call it the premiership quarter for nothing!
Whatever Matthew Nicks told his troops at half-time worked as the Crows bounced back from a sloppy first half to run over the top of Richmond in emphatic fashion.
The Adelaide coach conceded post-match he was fired up at the main break, but emphasied the players drove the turnaround.
“I think the players were already talking it when we walked in. Although ‘Balmey’ did say he heard me from the stand at half-time,” he said.
“Disappointing to be in that position from what we’d worked on during the week and what we knew we were coming into.
“But at the same timer, what do we take away from this game? We were able to turn it.
“The players were driving that at half-time, we walked in at half-time and it was already being said, areas we weren’t getting right,.
“That’s the most pleasing part, they’re not relying on us at all.”
The third term specifically was when Adelaide did its best work five unanswered goals to separate the game as the likes of Riley Thilthorpe and Jordan Dawson really lifted.
Hawks legend Jordan Lewis believed it all stemmed from Adelaide’s renewed defensive energy; it had a 194 pressure rating and laid 16 tackles to Richmond’s three.
“You can focus a lot on the offensive side of the game. But I think where Adelaide ramped it up is the defensive side of the game,” Lewis said.
“Their pressure was 194 – that’s the highest it’s been for a while.
“Not only did they have more disposals and more balls going inside forward 50 and more tackles, they denied Richmond the opportunity to actually apply pressure, which was so evident in their game early on.
“That would please Matty Nicks.
“The defensive side of their game lifted, which meant their offensive side of their game came off the back of that.”
1. TIGERS BRING HEAT IN PROMISING SIGNS
From some saying Richmond wouldn’t wouldn’t win a game, to the Tigers looking capable of a second-straight win.
You walk away from today’s game more optimistic than before it as a Richmond fan in a promising showing where Adem Yze’s men brought the heat and never gave up.
Take away the third quarter and Adelaide only wins by four points.
It was largely ignited by the Tigers’ pressure across the ground to force turnovers and throw Adelaide off its game
“They’re really playing as a team and it’s been that team pressure that has brought the Crows right back to the pack,” Gerard Healy said at half-time.
“They’ve been able to keep it inside forward 50 as well as they’ve done all season.”
Richmond’s ball movement by hand and ability to get from inside to out was a key trademark in the first half.
“We’ve spoken about their front-half game and ability to turn the ball over. But in and around the contest they’ve been far superior than Adelaide and really gotten themselves from the inside to out,” Lewis said at half-time.
“They haven’t blazed away, call it hedge and draw – you try and suck the Adelaide players in to create some overlap.
“Yes, their inside 50 kicks have let them down on a few occasions. But they’re still getting opportunity.”
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Originally published as ‘Fantastic’ star explodes in role shift as he steals the show at the MCG
