1. Shoot out at Etihad Stadium

With the best defence in the League up against the most dangerous attack, Saturday night's game was never going to disappoint. After the first six rounds of the season Adelaide was the highest scoring team in the competition, averaging 114.6 points per game in 2016, while the Dogs have the tightest defence, conceding an average of just 57 points per game. A total of 35 goals were scored in the match of the round, in what was an enthralling contest. Adelaide became the first team in 2016 to score more than 100 points against the Bulldogs, but it wasn't enough to get them over the line. Crows key forward Josh Jenkins was unstoppable, kicking a career-best haul of eight goals. He was far too strong overhead for the Dogs defenders, and was ably assisted by Tom Lynch (3). The Dogs had eight individual goal scorers with Jake Stringer the star act in attack with four. 

2. Key Crows struggle, as the Bont shines

While Jenkins stole the limelight in attack as the best forward on the ground, it was Bontempelli who was the star of the match. The Dogs' midfielder amassed a career-best 30 disposals (15 contested) and four clearances. He kicked two goals, including the sealer with under a minute to go, and also had two score assists. The bustling athletic Dog was incredible, sparking his team into action when the Crows came at them, and showed great maturity to go back and kick the winning goal from a set shot. For the Crows, it was a dirty night for star midfielders in Rory Sloane and Scott Thompson. The pair, who have been outstanding so far this season for Adelaide, struggled to impact the game. Both players were way below their best this season, Sloane gathering 19 touches and kicking a goal, while Thompson had 16 touches and five clearances. 

3. Stringer responds

After a quiet game against North Melbourne last Friday night, Jake Stringer copped some criticism with even his coach conceding at times he could be a little selfish. A response was needed, and the Bulldogs forward didn't shy away. Stringer threatened early in the game against the Crows, and looked as though he was on the verge of tearing the game apart. He had five disposals and a goal in the opening term, but more importantly set up two of his teammates. Stringer started the second quarter in similar fashion, but suffered a nasty corked left quad and was forced from the field. He limped back onto the ground 11 minutes later with his quad heavily strapped, and looked like he would struggle to play out the game. But to his credit, he pushed through the pain in the second half, providing one of the highlights of the night when he flew high to take a spectacular mark off the shoulders of Crows' defender Jake Lever. The athletic Bulldog finished with 17 disposals, four goals and, more importantly, five score assists in a strong response after a dog-day against the Roos. 

Heading into round seven, Western Bulldogs midfielder Lachie Hunter was ranked No.2 in the League for total disposals, behind Hawthorn premiership star Sam Mitchell. A corked calf kept Mitchell out of the Hawks' win over Richmond on Friday night, leaving him stranded on 203 disposals for the season, and leaving the door wide open for Hunter to claim top spot. The Bulldogs midfielder (198 disposals) needed only six touches against Adelaide to dethrone the Hawthorn veteran, and he did it easily with 24 possessions for the game, taking his total for the season to 222. 

5. Where's Eddie?

Last time these two sides met, sharpshooter Eddie Betts kicked five goals to guide the Crows to a thrilling win in last year's elimination final. But it was a different story on Saturday night, with Bulldogs defender Dale Morris blanketing his influence early in the game. Betts had just a miserly three disposals to his name in the opening half. He slowly worked his way into the contest in the second half, but by that point Morris had been moved off him with the lesser experienced Shane Biggs taking over. He was held goalless for the first time this season and gathered 12 touches. The Crows dearly missed his forward pressure and his spark in attack.