The Serve

Adelaide locks up top eight spot

Adelaide has closed the door on the AFL top eight race, beating Collingwood 14.10.94 to 11.9.75 to lock up a position in the finals.

The Crows led at every change in a match that wasn’t over until time added on in the final quarter. Brent Reilly and Simon Goodwin kicked the final goals to put the result beyond doubt.

Mark Ricciuto bagged three goals in his second game back from injury.

If Hawthorn beats Sydney at the SCG on Sunday, then these two sides will meet in a knock out final next week, in Melbourne.

“We continue to misuse the football,” was the blunt assessment of Pies coach Mick Malthouse.

“I could count four or five, perhaps more goals that came directly from straight turnovers, from players that you don’t expect that to happen (to).”

The Crows have come back from near death in the last month, winning four of their last five matches to secure a spot in the finals.

“A great effort by our club,” said Adelaide coach Neil Craig.

“We’ve played Western Bulldogs, Brisbane and Collingwood (in the last three weeks), so we’ve got some momentum.”