Crows forward Ben Keays got away with a cheeky trolling act that left a Bulldogs rival filthy during Friday night’s blockbuster in Adelaide.
A freakish, match-winning snap from Oskar Baker proved to the difference between the two sides as the Dogs snatched the final two goals to record a 14.10 (94) to 13.10 (88) victory.
In a rollercoaster final quarter, the Bulldogs led by 25 points, only for the home side to roar back in front with five minutes remaining.
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With the game in the balance deep into the fourth term, Jordan Dawson gave away a boundary line free kick when he kicked the ball off the ground only for it to dribble over the white line.
However, Keays was the first player to arrive on the scene as the ball bounced over the fence into a front row spectator’s lap.
Keays was seen barking orders for the spectator not to hand the ball over to Bulldog Connor Budarick.
The spectator held onto the ball as Budarick waved his arms in protest.
The fan even pump-faked returning the ball to Budarick before snatching it away again.
The delay was exactly what the Crows needed to get their defensive structures in place.
Keays’ cheeky act had plenty of footy commentators laughing.
Crows legend Mark Ricciuto could be heard chuckling on Fox Footy.
Channel 7 commentator Alister Nicholson called it “gamesmanship on the wing”.
Port Adelaide great Chad Cornes said on SEN: “Keays telling the crowd not to give it back to them, there’s got to be a rule against that”.
Fans on X appeared to thoroughly enjoy Keays’ cheeky act.
One person posted: “Ben Keays telling the punter to hold onto the ball there… that’s all time”.
Another wrote: “Best s***houserry of all time from Ben Keays there. Will never be topped”.
One person posted: “Hahaha Ben Keays told bloke in crowd not to give ball back”.
Bulldogs star scores controversial, dazzling goal
Oscar Baker was a human highlight reel against the Crows, but one piece of wizardry appeared to cross the line.
With the Crows’ defence falling apart in the second quarter, Baker received a handball 30m out from goal and had plenty of time and space to size up a shot.
Instead of a simple drop punt, Baker danced his way past two defenders before finally dribbling the ball through from point-blank range at the top of the goal square.
You can watch the goal in the video player above
The Bulldogs were celebrating their fourth consecutive goal at the time, but it didn’t go overlooked that Baker carried the ball for more than 15m before finally putting the Crows defenders out of their misery.
Replays showed Baker took 19 steps before finally slotting the goal.
Channel 7’s Dale Thomas said: “His legs were going, plenty of steps there”.
Chad Cornes said on SEN: “He almost ran too far there didn’t he, dodged that many Crows boys”.
Baker finished the night with three goals and it was his final goal that silenced the Adelaide Oval crowd.
“It’s a bloody good feeling mate,” Baker said on Kayo Sports’ Friday Night Football.
“I’m just so proud of the boys. 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.”
Originally published as Adelaide Crows star gets away with ‘s***housery’ crowd act