Crows' quest for premiership glory just beginning as they prepare to take on Lions

A week is a long time in footy, but an hour can feel like a lifetime.

In the space of 30 minutes last Saturday, Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks jumped from zero to hero, whilst hours earlier at the SCG the Lions went from premiership favourites to staring down a straight sets exit.

When the Bulldogs piled on three rapid fire goals to erode the Crows' 20-point lead, the tension at Adelaide Oval was palpable; but after Izak Rankine snapped a magical goal to seal Adelaide's first finals victory in nine years, everything changed.

The home crowd rose as one to give their embattled senior coach a standing ovation; drawing a smile from the man whose future was publicly in the spotlight and uniting a football club that has been fractured since its 2017 grand final collapse.

Adelaide premiership player and former board member Rod Jameson couldn't hold back his emotions post-game on ABC Sport.

"'Get stuffed' is probably what you want to say," he said.

"It's been against the odds.

"I feel really happy for Matthew Nicks that he's actually got one … so what's the narrative now next week?"

That's the big question in a relentless news cycle. Despite the pressure valve being released, Adelaide's quest for glory is just beginning with an upcoming semi-final at the Gabba to face a Lions side who handed them their biggest loss of the season back in round 7.

But the heat has certainly shifted to the qualifying final losers Fremantle and Brisbane, with both teams facing the daunting possibility of becoming the 13th side in 13 years to be eliminated in straight sets.

Reigning premiers Brisbane were stunningly blown away by an undermanned Swans. Sydney's passion was unrelenting; winning the tackle count by 15, contested possessions by 19 and beating the Lions at their game with a whopping six goals to one from centre bounce.

"They were desperate from the start, and all you want as a fan is the effort … that was perfect finals footy," dual premiership winning Swan Ryan O'Keefe said on ABC Sport.

"When was the last time 36 scoring shots were kicked against an opposition in a final? That's unbelievable."

It’s a blueprint that will build belief for the Crows ahead of Saturday’s semi and could dictate the result. Adelaide is one of the best pressure sides in the competition. The six times they have lost pressure differential this season they’ve been defeated, whilst the Lions are 13-0 when winning it.

Adelaide’s other advantage is their forward firepower, with the team averaging 109 points per game in their last five matches. The Lions conceded 14 goals to key forwards last week, have leaked 100 points eight times this season and are sitting 13th for points against per game.

"The defence is the difference this year," premiership Magpie Luke Ball said after the Lions loss at the SCG.

"It looked too easy to score against them. They're going to have to defy history."

The final and most pivotal factor is likely to be the midfield. The Lions kicked five goals to none from centre bounce back in their round 7 mauling on top of 27 extra points from stoppage. Lachie Neale starred with 42 disposals and Will Ashcroft had 36 touches and a goal.

It's a concern for the Crows who conceded three unanswered goals from the middle against the Bulldogs on Saturday night. They made up for it in their defence with Josh Worrell nabbing a career high 34 disposals and a massive 19 intercepts. Adelaide kept the Bulldogs to a 14 per cent inside 50 to goal efficiency.

Brisbane are no strangers to doing it the hard way. This is the eighth consecutive year they’ve made it to a preliminary final or semi-final with a record of 3-2 in the latter.

The Crows, meanwhile, have got the monkey off their back, snapping their September shackles and now can take a swing at the reigning premiers at a venue they haven't won at since 2018.

"I don't think it can be understated how much pressure was on this side coming into this contest," All-Australian midfielder Josh Francou said after the elimination final.

"They were challenged and in the end they got the job done and in the end they go to up to Brisbane with a free hit."

You can hear ABC Sport call the semi-final between Adelaide and the Brisbane Lions from 5:30pm CST on 891 ABC Adelaide and on ABC Listen.