In his last game for Carlton, Eddie Betts booted three goals and played a crucial role in a violent momentum swing that enabled his team to overcome an initial deficit in an elimination final at the MCG.

In this match, Betts played an even more dramatic role, contributing three match-turning goals in the first quarter alone, his deft and clever positioning and deadly finishing transforming a contest and abruptly halting a ballistic Bulldogs opening surge.

By half-time, Betts had four on the board. He was deployed deep in attack and playing almost as a de facto spearhead, while Taylor Walker played high – as a genuine centre half-forward. It is a set-up that has served Adelaide brilliantly in this emotionally wrenching season.

The Dogs were winning more contests and sent the ball forward often enough – and with sufficiently speed – to post a winning score. But the Crows were more efficient, largely because they had fast Eddie and Tex, the free ranger. Walker, with his low centre of gravity and swagger, has some of Wayne Carey's attributes. In this final, he showed some Carey-esque presence when the contest lay in the balance.

At one point in the third quarter, Walker marked about 55 metres from home.   He shaped up to take a shot, which seemed a low percentage option. But he struck the drop punt perfectly and drilled what was, at the stage, a significant major. But better was to follow, or worse for the Dogs.

At half-time, the Crows had been beaten in a number of measures on which they pride themselves: ground balls, clearances and tackles.

Indeed, the Dogs had 24 clearances to Adelaide's 14, with the exquisitely skilled Marcus Bontempelli contributing a half dozen. The Dogs had 10 more forward entries than the Crows – usually, that would mean a handy lead.

Yet, the Crows led by eight points. For that, they could thank a number of players – including Rory Sloane. But none were more responsible than Betts or Walker.

Given the ceaseless energy and run of the Dogs, the eight goals that Betts and Walker produced – an aggregate you would usually see in a 10-goal romp – weren't necessarily going to prove decisive. This wasn't the typical final; neither team defended like Fremantle and for that we should be thankful, even if this failing ended the Dogs' season.

At the other end, the less hailed Tory Dickson booted five – including  the one in the middle of the last quarter that snatched the lead back for the Dogs.

When the mercurial Jake Stringer snapped another straight after Dickson's fifth, most of the 60,000 probably saw these few minutes as the match-deciding period.

At this critical juncture, Walker re-entered the match. He marked on a lead and, using that wonderful kicking technique, calmly slotted a goal that reduced the lead to a point. Minutes later, he marked in space again, but this time his shot went awry.

But the match's signature moment was provided by the Adelaide skipper , who manoeuvred cleverly to mark on the wing, took a couple of bounces and rather than bombing towards goal he slotted a piercing 40 metre pass to Charlie Cameron, who nailed the match-sealer  from 30 metres.