Adelaide's journey to this point

It's also a just reward that Adelaide finished so close, yet also so far, from their own Grand Final appearance.

Despite clearly suffering from their 120 minute performance against Melbourne City, the Reds showed their class and determination by still finding a way back into the match through Baba Diawara, then Ryan Kitto, then Michael Marrone, then an unstoppable rain of penalty saves.

The bottleneck scoreline may not be a true reflection of the gulf in quality between the sides, but it is a reflection of Adelaide's sensational organisation and ethos that Marco Kurz delivered.

Adelaide's owners and a yet unconfirmed coach, we hope you're watching. You have very big shoes to fill.

WORST

Lack of experience where it mattered

Adelaide's fullbacks proved the weakpoint in the end. Ryan Kitto, who was so incredibly pinpoint and fantastically unlikely to provide the equaliser to take the match into extra time, eventually cost his side two goals through defensive lapses.

It's a very harsh adjudication, he, like all of Adelaide's players, put in a superhuman effort to make it to this stage. But ultimately he and Scott Galloway, who failed to handle Castro for Perth's second, were a step below the likes of Jason Davidson and Ivan Franjic.

Ultimately the one percenters proved the difference. But there was a far bigger gap than that between the two sides, so that in itself is a tribute to Adelaide.