Round 2 match report and final scores, highlights, Oskar Baker goal, who won, latest news

The Western Bulldogs have palmed off one of the great final quarter comebacks at Adelaide Oval, clutching up to defeat Adelaide by one goal in a Friday night thriller.

The home side forced a 31-point turnaround in the final quarter to look in the box seat, but the Dogs had the final say to win 14.10 (94) over the Crows’ 13.10 (88).

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Winger Oskar Baker had the final say with an outrageous snap from the boundary to kick his third goal of the night, capping off a game that had a major say on the final result.

His young gun teammate Joel Freijah kicked three first-half goals of his own earlier in the night, while Aaron Naughton was the pick of the Dogs’ key forwards with a trio of majors too.

It was the Crows’ out-and-out stars in Taylor Walker, Josh Rachele and Jordan Dawson who steamrolled the visitors in the first half of the last stanza, after trailing by 25 points eight minutes into the fourth before leading by a goal only a dozen minutes later.

Adelaide goalkickers: Walker 3, Thilthorpe, Fogarty, Rachele 2, Butts, Soligo, Dawson, Rankine

Western Bulldogs goalkickers: Freijah, Naughton, Baker 3, Williams 2, Croft, Bontempelli, Darcy

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3. ‘THAT MAN AGAIN’: DOGS DEJA VU AS RISING STARS DAZZLE

Joel Freijah’s ‘breakout game’ was widely considered to have come last year against the Swans on a Friday night, when he booted four goals in a big win on the road.

Well, it was an eerily similar circumstance for the ascending young star on Friday night, who stunned the Crows, particularly in the first half.

In just AFL game number 40, Freijah led all with 12 score involvements to go with 24 disposals and three first-half goals.

By the main change, Freijah astonishingly already had 3.2 from 18 disposals and nine score involvements.

His first came after he’d hunted down Isaac Cumming holding the ball in the goalsquare, before a neat set shot and a crafty snap – which crucially broke a run of four-straight Crows goals.

“The Crows had a really good period and kicked four goals in a row, so they just had to find a way, and it’s that man Freijah again,” Garry Lyon said in the second term.

Gerard Whateley added: “He dominated a Friday night against Sydney last year where he really came of age. The Dogs needed him that night, and he’s the No.1 avenue to goal tonight with 3.2.”

In the first term, Freijah became the first Bulldogs player on record to notch 12+ disposals, 2+ goals and 6+ score involvements in a quarter.

Tom Hawkins said: “I’ve just loved his impact forward of the footy. He’s had 85 per cent of his disposals in the forward half, so it just goes to show that he’s been the one damaging up in that forward line.

“We talked about Darcy and Naughton and how that pairing was going to be. Instead, it was Freijah and Croft. He was outstanding.”

Jordan Lewis added: “He came alive last year, but you see those (first-half) numbers, they were record numbers; certainly in the first quarter. He was applying pressure, getting on the end of it, and setting up teammates.”

Early in the third, Freijah found Marcus Bontempelli in the goalsquare for a direct goal assist and his 11th score involvement of the evening.

Another developing Bulldog who caught the eye on Friday night was athletic key defender Buku Khamis, who had close to, if not a career-best, night.

A fringe player for most of his short career, Khamis was superb while matched up against a host of Crows, finishing with 10 intercepts – trailing only Jordon Butts – and 20 disposals in 100 per cent time on ground.

“Best game I’ve seen him play,” Dunstall said in the third quarter after Khamis prevented a sure mark to Cal Ah Chee.

And for all the talk about Luke Beveridge’s defence going into this season, the Dogs did well to hold Riley Thilthorpe to two goals, with Taylor Walker the one to get off the chain somewhat with three majors.

But it was Oskar Baker’s unbelievable snapping goal from the boundary line – on the wrong side for a right-footer – that proved the matchwinner for the visitors at the 30-minute mark.

“It’s a bloody good feeling, mate,” Baker said on Fox Footy post-game.

“Obviously, Adelaide fought back really well there, and it looked like they had all the momentum, but for us to stem the flow and go back at them and get away with the win is a bloody good feeling.

“Especially coming over here to Adelaide as they’re a great side, so I’m just so stoked.”

Baker was the epitomisation of ‘opportunist’, bagging three goals from just eight touches.

It was the Bulldogs’ first win against Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval, and their first at the venue since beating Port Adelaide in the 2021 preliminary final.

2. ‘WHO’S WRITING THE SCRIPT?’: STAR’S MAGIC MOMENT AS DARCY-STOPPER STUNS

He’d had a quiet night, and yet, when a big enough moment comes, there aren’t many you’d rather have with the ball in their hands than Izak Rankine.

Face-to-face with Marcus Bontempelli, up against the boundary line, with scores level in the fourth quarter, Rankine felt no pressure as he set sail from 45 metres to put the Crows ahead by a goal.

“Of course he was going to! Of course he was going to do something before the night’s out!” exclaimed Garry Lyon.

“Have a look at this – tight up against the boundary with Bontempelli in his face, and he slots it.

“Who’s writing the script? Have a look at the pictures after he kicks it. Look at these moments. Wow.”

Anthony Hudson added: “He’s back.”

In his first game back since Round 23 last year, Rankine only had 16 disposals and two score involvements alongside his goal, but he only needed a few seconds to show he hadn’t missed a beat.

Adelaide fell just short in the end, but the home side valiantly fought back from as many as 25 points down early in the final term.

And a pivotal part of the Crows’ cause was Jordon Butts, who picked a pretty good night to have a career-best outing – and in his 87th league game, he finally dobbed his first goal.

Matched up against prodigious key forward Sam Darcy, Butts was seeing everything in a tremendous aerial performance on Adelaide Oval.

Butts’ sixth intercept mark of the first half prompted caller Anthony Hudson to say: “He’s almost bullying him.”

Jason Dunstall added: “He’s got to be careful Sam Darcy. He’s getting under the ball too quickly, and just allowing Butts to work him under it.”

Butts’ six equalled the Adelaide Crows record for first-half intercept marks.

“He’s had a fantastic night,” Lyon said at half-time.

As for his team, though, an uncontested style of play on offence wasn’t doing the business in a measly five-goal first half.

“I think sometimes you go into half-time not knowing what the pattern of the game is – I think both sides are really clear,” Jordan Lewis said.

“And I’d be surprised if Adelaide came out and played the same way, because I don’t think it’s working for them at the moment.”

In a critical swing in the third term, Butts couldn’t capitalise for his second major of the night after Darcy conceded a 100-metre penalty. Then, up the other end, Darcy nailed a tougher set shot to push the visitors’ lead back out to 19 points at the 26-minute mark.

However, Butts’ defensive performance could hardly be faulted, in the fourth quarter taking his eighth intercept grab on Darcy, who finished with just one goal and one mark for the night.

1. HUGE HAMMY BLOW FOR RECRUIT AFTER EARLY CONCERNS

Callum Ah Chee appeared to have suffered a serious hamstring injury after diving to intercept a Bulldogs kick.

In the fourth quarter, Ah Chee lunged to pick off a pass intended for Lachie Jaques, and in extending himself, looked to suffer the injury to his right leg.

The 28-year-old couldn’t even manage to walk himself off the field, needing to be carried by two trainers in a disheartening sight.

“That is a nasty hamstring,” Lyon said as replays were shown.

“He’s obviously going to be missing a fair chunk of football after this,” Fox Footy reporter David Zita said post-match.

“He already had a low-grade hamstring strain after (State of) Origin, of course, one of those casualties from that game.

“With that desperate run to impact the contest, grabbing at his right hamstring … he won’t be playing for at least a few weeks, you would imagine.”

It came after the Crows had two calf concerns early on Friday night, with veteran Rory Laird and defender Josh Worrell requiring attention at different stages.

Laird had an issue early in the contest. Sliding to take a mark, the 32-year-old immediately grabbed at his right calf before going off for medical assistance.

“He’s getting some work on his calf, Rory Laird. I don’t think he’s ever done a calf before … he’s grabbing it straight away,” Ricciuto said in reaction.

But after a pseudo fitness test at quarter-time, Laird was strapped up and back out there in the second term, ready to play out the match.

“He did a bit of a fitness test at quarter-time – I wouldn’t say it was convincing by any stretch. It’s strapped up, time will tell whether he’s going to come back,” Ricciuto said.

Questioned about his ailment by Ricciuto at half-time, Laird put it down to nothing more than “a bit of carry-on”.

“Just a bit sore, but trying to push it out and keep going for the rest of the game.”

Worrell, meanwhile, received treatment in the second quarter and spent a considerable period of time on the bench.

But like Laird, the key stopper came back on and played out the game.

Re-live our coverage of Adelaide-Western Bulldogs in the blog below!