But Matthew Nicks\u2019 side had the last laugh with clutch goals to Josh Rachele and Lachlan McAndrew to seal the win. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Meanwhile superstar skipper Jordan Dawson tallied 29 touches and 12 marks across half back and Wayne Milera racked up a game-high 34 disposals.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s day. <\/p>\n
The 3-2-1 (what we learned)…<\/p>\n
3. \u2018FANTASTIC\u2019 RANKINE ERUPTS IN PURE MIDFIELD ROLE<\/p>\n
Izak Rankine can do serious damage as a midfielder.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
It made Rankine the highest-rated player on the ground as Matthew Nicks\u2019 move to play him as a pure midfielder paid huge dividends as the 26-year old builds into the season.<\/p>\n
In fact, Rankine\u2019s 20 centre bounce attendances were second only to Lachlan McAndrew among Adelaide players<\/p>\n
Hawthorn legend Jordan Lewis noted at half-time Rankine was \u201ckeeping Adelaide in it\u201d when the visitors trailed by 10 points. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been fantastic. His craft forward of the ball, his ability to find players and help them \u2026 the in and under stuff and creativity,\u201d Lewis said on Fox Footy.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019d like two of him, to be honest.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brownlow medallist Gerard Healy observed that Rankine was \u201cworking really well with McAndrew\u201d through their midfield connection.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a magnificent player, the Crows are just a different side when he\u2019s running at his best,\u201d Healy added.<\/p>\n
2. STUNNING CROWS TURNAROUND AFTER NICKS BAKE… BUT PLAYERS DROVE IT<\/p>\n
They don\u2019t call it the premiership quarter for nothing! <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The Adelaide coach conceded post-match he was fired up at the main break, but emphasied the players drove the turnaround.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the players were already talking it when we walked in. Although \u2018Balmey\u2019 did say he heard me from the stand at half-time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cDisappointing to be in that position from what we\u2019d worked on during the week and what we knew we were coming into.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut at the same timer, what do we take away from this game? We were able to turn it. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe players were driving that at half-time, we walked in at half-time and it was already being said, areas we weren\u2019t getting right,.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the most pleasing part, they\u2019re not relying on us at all.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Hawks legend Jordan Lewis believed it all stemmed from Adelaide\u2019s renewed defensive energy; it had a 194 pressure rating and laid 16 tackles to Richmond\u2019s three.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou 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,\u201d Lewis said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir pressure was 194 \u2013 that\u2019s the highest it\u2019s been for a while. <\/p>\n
\u201cNot 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. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat would please Matty Nicks. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe defensive side of their game lifted, which meant their offensive side of their game came off the back of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"We](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/f9634c6f0978746351a6bce22c6e43e2.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
1. TIGERS BRING HEAT IN PROMISING SIGNS<\/p>\n
From some saying Richmond wouldn\u2019t wouldn\u2019t win a game, to the Tigers looking capable of a second-straight win. <\/p>\n
You walk away from today\u2019s game more optimistic than before it as a Richmond fan in a promising showing where Adem Yze\u2019s men brought the heat and never gave up. <\/p>\n
Take away the third quarter and Adelaide only wins by four points.<\/p>\n
It was largely ignited by the Tigers\u2019 pressure across the ground to force turnovers and throw Adelaide off its game<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re really playing as a team and it\u2019s been that team pressure that has brought the Crows right back to the pack,\u201d Gerard Healy said at half-time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve been able to keep it inside forward 50 as well as they\u2019ve done all season.\u201d<\/p>\n
Richmond\u2019s ball movement by hand and ability to get from inside to out was a key trademark in the first half. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve spoken about their front-half game and ability to turn the ball over. But in and around the contest they\u2019ve been far superior than Adelaide and really gotten themselves from the inside to out,\u201d Lewis said at half-time. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey haven\u2019t blazed away, call it hedge and draw \u2013 you try and suck the Adelaide players in to create some overlap.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, their inside 50 kicks have let them down on a few occasions. But they\u2019re still getting opportunity.\u201d <\/p>\n
Re-live Richmond vs Adelaide in our live blog below!<\/p>\n
If you can\u2019t see the blog, tap here<\/a>.<\/p>\n