Essendon on the brink of missing AFL finals after last-gasp loss to Adelaide, but Crows left to count the cost of victory with a host of fresh injuries

Essendon is on the verge of missing the AFL finals after a dramatic loss to Adelaide on Friday night.

Adelaide's Josh Rachele clinched a spectacular goal with just 50 seconds left, securing a thrilling two-point victory and leaving Essendon's finals aspirations in jeopardy.

Trailing by 15 points with seven minutes remaining, the Crows mounted a stunning comeback, scoring the final three goals in the exhilarating match at Marvel Stadium. This win ended their seven-game losing streak against the Bombers.

Despite Rachele's decisive goal, Essendon pushed forward through captain Zach Merrett, creating multiple opportunities to reclaim the lead. 

However, Adelaide managed to rush two behinds and held on to win 17.13 (115) to 17.11 (113), marking their seventh win of the 2024 season.

Instead of finding themselves second on the ladder, Bombers fans now await the possibility of being knocked out of the top eight. With five losses in their last seven games, this outcome may be more than temporary.

The Bombers were expected to win this match. Even if Josh Rachele's goal had missed, questions would have been raised about how a team aiming for the finals found itself in such a chaotic shootout against a team that has struggled for consistency and flair all year.

A comeback like this might have been more understandable from a top-tier team like Sydney, but not from the 14th-placed Crows.

Essendon fielded a team with around 800 games more experience than Adelaide. The Crows had nine players with less than 50 games, including three under ten games, while the Bombers only had three such inexperienced players.

'We did a lot right, but we're just not where we want to be because we're not executing for 125 minutes; we're doing it in patches,' said Bombers coach Brad Scott. 

'That's why we are where we are. We're showing some improvements, some good signs, but we're not executing consistently enough for long enough.'

Adelaide's victory came at a cost, with defender Nick Murray potentially suffering a serious knee injury. Murray was substituted off in the first quarter, having only recently returned from an injury to the same knee.

'We're all trying to think positive thoughts at the moment,' said Crows coach Matthew Nicks. 

'He has to have scans on that. I don't want to say we're confident, but we're going to stay really positive, and as you can imagine, he's quite emotional at the moment. 

'But we'll keep just thinking positive thoughts and hopefully that one comes out the right way.'

Defender Jordan Butts also failed to finish the match due to a foot sprain. 'He's had a few issues with that foot in the past...we're staying positive and hopefully that one comes out the right way as well,' Nicks added.

Furthermore, Adelaide forward Ben Keays faces scrutiny following a tackle that led to Essendon midfielder Jye Caldwell being assessed for a head knock.

After a 'confusing week' at the tribunal, Keays' tackle during the Crows' narrow win will be closely examined.