Adelaide has dealt the Western Bulldogs’ finals hopes a near-fatal blow with a 56-point win at Norwood Oval on Sunday afternoon.

The Bulldogs went into the Round 8 clash needing to upset the Crows away from home to keep their pursuit of a finals appearance on track, but they were outclassed by the more experienced Adelaide outfit.

The young and developing Dogs now have a near-impossible chance of sneaking into the top six, with one game remaining.

The Crows set up their win with a dominant first half, with their speedy ball movement leading to seven goals by the main break, and a lead of 33 points.

The game turned into a scrap in the third, before Adelaide piled on a further four last-quarter majors.

Midfielders Brooke Lochland (20 disposals) and Ellie Blackburn (19) found plenty of the ball for the visitors, while defender Eleanor Brown (15 possessions and six tackles) held her own in a defence which was under siege for most of the afternoon.

Bonnie Toogood was the Bulldogs’ most productive forward with two first half goals, taking her season tally to eight.

After two straight weeks on the road, the Dogs finish the home and away season back at VU Whitten Oval this Friday night when they take on Richmond.

MATCH DETAILS
Adelaide                           3.1          7.3          8.4         12.6 (78)
Western Bulldogs            1.0          2.0          2.2          3.4 (22)

GOALS
Adelaide:  Scheer 3, Gould 2, Woodland 2, Phillips, Jones, R.Martin, H.Martin, Randall
Western Bulldogs:  Toogood 2, Lamb

BEST 
Adelaide: Scheer, Marinoff, Hatchard, Phillips, Woodland, Jones
Western Bulldogs: Blackburn, Lochland, Lamb, Brown, Toogood

INJURIES 
Adelaide: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Nil