Blackwood put in an impressive second half shift until he was cleaned up by Newcastle Jets goalkeeper Glen Moss in a heavy injury time collision, leaving the Reds to finish with 10 men.

In the three-man smash, Jets defender Daniel Georgievski appeared to get a knee to the head from Blackwood in the lead-up.

But Adelaide appeals for a penalty fell on deaf ears, with the Reds now facing Tuesday's FFA Cup final against Sydney FC without the forward.

In a game of few chances Ronnie Vargas put the visitors in front (52') before Craig Goodwin equalised with a bullet header (63') at Coopers Stadium. 

Post-match Goodwin said it looked like Moss had taken Blackwood out.

"I need to see it again but to be honest from the bench it looked like the keeper came out, didn't get anywhere near it, and killed Georgie - I think he's probably done his collarbone, " Goodwin told Fox Sports.

And irate Marco Kurz confirmed Blackwood had broken his shoulder. Only minutes before, he had stormed onto the pitch and confronted referee Shaun Evans after the final whistle.

Kurz told Fox Sports: "It's a clear penalty but for me it's another very important question. My players told me they said 'look to the VAR' but the referee said 'no, no, the VAR said it's not the fault of the Newcastle players'."

He added: "Who's the main referee in Australia? Is it on the pitch or is it on the stage? That's for me the question and I need the answer."

Evans later clarified the confusion, saying the decision not to award a penalty was his. 

The game was full of niggle but it took the high velocity impact between the two players going for the ball to send tensions boiling over, ending in a rash of yellow cards in the final minutes.

Reds goalkeeper Paul Izzo ran the length of the pitch to make sure he got one when they were dished out. Meanwhile Georgievski was perhaps lucky not to be sent packing when he gave a meek impression of a headbutt during the stoppage time flare up.

The result gives Adelaide two draws from the opening two rounds while the Jets are off the mark with one point.