After breaking their finals hoodoo last Saturday night, Matthew Nicks and his Crows outfit came plummeting back down to earth with a demoralising 53-point loss to Brisbane — and it saw 10 players fail.

Foxfooty.com.au rates all 23 Adelaide players out of 10 from its semi-final against Brisbane.

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2. Ben Keays

Went disposal-less in the second quarter after his opponent Dayne Zorko got off the chain in the first. Kicked a goal late in the third term to finish off a nice piece of Adelaide ball movement, and crumbed a marking contest with three minutes to go to get himself a second major. 4

3. Sam Berry

Had an abysmal start to his 100th AFL game, but well and truly made up for it after that. Was extremely lacklustre at an early forward stoppage on Zac Bailey, which saw the Crows pay the ultimate price. Worked his way to nine disposals and five clearances at quarter time after putting in the grunt, and continued to put in the efforts leading into half time. Despite his early failings, could not have done any more. Finished with 31 disposals and two goal assists, but no clearances after quartet time rob him of an extra mark. 7

4. Callum Ah Chee

Was barely unsighted in the opening half of his first clash back against his former side. Jaspa Fletcher totally had his number, in a very disappointing outing. Looked to be playing deeper in defence to start the second half. Got a lot more ball in the second half, but like a couple others, arrived when it was too late. 4

6. Daniel Curtin

Ended Brisbane’s insane start to the match with a cool set shot. Came crashing back down to earth not long after with a horror turnover trying to go back through the middle of the ground, resulting directly in a goal. Ended up having better than a middling match, and certainly gave Crows fan a taste of promising things to come next year and beyond. 6

7. Riley Thilthorpe

Tried to get involved in the first term despite very little opportunity, but his second stanza was particularly quiet. Snagged his first major with a contested mark halfway through the third quarter. Stepped up big time in the premiership quarter, but didn’t have many follow his lead. Found a second goal out the back in the final term to give himself a pretty solid stat line as a key forward, given the circumstances. 6

8. Josh Rachele

Another Crows player who had a horror start, amplified with a silly 50-metre penalty that gave direct opponent Ryan Lester an easy set shot on goal. Was seen in a heated discussion with teammate Taylor Walker before quarter time, before composing himself with a left-foot set shot snap in the second term. 3

12. Jordan Dawson

Found a decent amount of ball early, but could barely touch the Sherrin without being hounded by Lions players. Made his presence felt on the flip side of the coin though, recording a monster six tackles to quarter time. The only Crow, maybe with the exception of Sam Berry and James Borlase, who played well across all four quarters. Like Rankine, desperately need that extra star power in their midfield to truly get the most out of himself in September. 7

13. Taylor Walker

Missed a booming long-range shot as the Crows tried to grapple back momentum in the first quarter. Speared a chiselling drop punt to eventually set up Josh Rachele’s goal in the second term, and had three score involvements with his first three touches. Was burned a couple of times in the third term, with frustrations beginning to show. “He’s been presenting a lot, and been ignored a number of times tonight,” AFL Hall of Fame Legend Jason Dunstall said. Finished off an incredible 19-year career in the most fitting fashion in the final quarter — a cannon from beyond the arc, before a beautiful set shot and one last goal assist. Registered 2.3 in front of the big sticks on the final siren. 5

14. Jake Soligo

Had a quiet first term before finding a little more Sherrin in the second. Was down on his performance from last week. Selflessly gave off a goal to Riley Thilthorpe in the last quarter to give him a somewhat generous bump in score. 4

15. Brayden Cook

Started well early amid Brisbane’s rampage, but cooled off in the second term. Cooled off sharply though with little impact after quarter time. 4

16. Max Michalanney

A brutal night for the Adelaide father-son pick. Had the match-up on former Crow Charlie Cameron, who once again blitzed the club’s defence wide open. Was beaten for pace and simply couldn’t keep up, as Cameron kicked four goals from seven first-half shots on goal. Much better in the second half, but the damage was well and truly done. 2

19. Zac Taylor

A very bizarre match. Looked right at home from the get-go returning from a hamstring injury, and was one of a handful of Crows who performed amid Brisbane’s epic early surge. That said, went statless in the second term before then getting busy again in the third. 5

23. Izak Rankine

Was clamped hard by opposition hard nut Josh Dunkley, and was held to eight disposals and three score involvements in the first half. Looked much better in the third term, but unfortunately it was too little, too late. The tag he was dealt is ‘Exhibit A’ as to why the Crows are a star midfielder short. Passes after fighting hard. 5

24. Josh Worrell

After playing the game of his life in last week’s elimination final win over the Western Bulldogs, the 25-year-old star had no impact on the first half. Got busy to start the third term, but then in and out of the contest. 4

27. Luke Nankervis

One of the few Crows who could hold his head high early. Put his head over the hard balls, and as always, used the ball very efficiently. Took a very handy specky close to home before quarter time, and finished his work with a goal. His excellent first half was then followed by a poor third term, which affects his final score. Holds a pass mark for his strong first half. 5

28. Alex Neal-Bullen

Managed to find space in the opening half in patches, but didn’t use the ball well at all when he got his hands on it. A very middling night when his side needed his premiership experience the most. 4

One of Neal-Bullen’s seven handballs during the AFL Semi Final match between Brisbane Lions and Adelaide Crows at The Gabba.Source: Getty Images

29. Rory Laird

Had a very half-hearted effort chasing Zac Bailey early, with the recently re-signed star Lion running towards an open goal unbothered. Couldn’t be faulted too much with ball in hand in the first half, but still looked off the pace at times. Had a good third quarter which just bumps his score up to a six. 6

30. Wayne Milera

Didn’t bring his All-Australian kicking boots, and was clamped hard by Conor McKenna. Was way off his effective best early, going at 33.3% in the first term before missing a crucial inside 50 entry to Zac Taylor on the cusp of half time. “McKenna’s done a really good job. He’s kept Milera quiet when the Crows are really relying on him,” Brisbane legend Jonathan Brown told Fox Footy at half time. Kicked a clean goal at the start of the final quarter. 4

32. Darcy Fogarty

Stupidly gave away a 50-metre penalty for not getting back off the mark in the first quarter, before being stitched up by a Dayne Zorko flop that resulted in a 100-metre. Had just the one disposal at the opening break, and was well-held by Ty Gallop early. The 26-year-old flicked a switch in the second term though, nailing home back-to-back majors to put his side back within 10 points. Didn’t have a lot of ball all night, but was pretty effective when he did have it — inclusive of a goal assist. 5

35. James Borlase

Nullified Logan Morris really well early doors. Couldn’t completely keep him out of scoring chains — such was Brisbane’s dominance — but ensured he wasn’t the one hitting the scoreboard. Conceded his first goal in the third quarter courtesy of a belting set shot snap in the left forward pocket by Morris. The young Lions star kicked a second goal on the three-quarter time siren, but it wasn’t with Borlase as his direct opponent. 6

40. Hugo Hall-Kahan

Played with dare out of Adelaide’s back half, and looked as good as he has done in recent weeks. May have been under slight selection pressure for the semi-final but well and truly proved his picking to be a positive. 7

42. Lachlan McAndrew

Had the thankless task of having to handle both Darcy Fort and Sam Draper, but held his own. None of the rucks took the game by the scruff of the neck, but McAndrew’s match was far from a fail after dominating the hitout count. 5

48. Mark Keane

Joined the rapidly growing list of Crows players to concede a 50-metre penalty, clumsily stumbling over Oscar Allen after a mark in the opening minute of the second quarter. Had a missed spoil to forget halfway through the second quarter, which saw Charlie Cameron get on the end of his fourth goal before half time. Had rings run around him by both Eric Hipwood at times too, even if Brisbane’s #30 only hit the scoreboard once in the first half. Gave away yet another silly scoring shot after half time for blocking in a marking contest 20 metres out from Brisbane’s goal. 2