Adelaide has given its inaugural premiership heroes reason to celebrate with a 57-point victory against St Kilda at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.

With players from their history-making side gathered for their 20-year anniversary, the Crows led from wire to wire to consign the Saints to their 10th straight loss in South Australia in front of a crowd of 46,082.

Running defender Rory Laird (34 disposals) continued his All-Australian season, Jake Lever was everywhere in the backline (20 disposals, six marks) and ruckman Sam Jacobs (25 disposals, 37 hit-outs) added to his impressive campaign as the Crows won 16.15 (111) to 7.12 (54).

Captain Taylor Walker, Tom Lynch and Josh Jenkins kicked three goals each.

Sebastian Ross battled hard with a game-high 39 disposals, Koby Stevens did a wonderful tagging job on Rory Sloane (14 disposals) and Josh Bruce booted four goals in his first game back after a demotion to the VFL, but the Saints were again woefully exposed against a premiership contender.

The Five: Round 12 v St Kilda

The Crows are back on top of the ladder, but will drop back to second if, as expected, Greater Western Sydney defeats Carlton on Sunday.

"It was important after last week to respond," Crows coach Don Pyke said.

"That's what better teams do, they don't dwell.

"I'm really proud of the players with the effort and intensity they brought tonight."

What loomed as a potential banana peel game for the Crows, after losing three of their past five, was as good as over at half-time.

The Saints (5-6) kicked just two goals and trailed by 41 points at the main break, on their way to their fourth loss against a top-eight side in five attempts.

"We had way too many passengers," Saints coach Alan Richardson said.

"While the Crows did a good job we were equally disappointed with our start to the game.

"We were badly beaten around the ball."

Sloane, the Brownlow Medal favourite after six rounds, was again kept quiet with three touches in the first quarter and five at the main break.

Stevens was stapled to Sloane's hip, bumping, pushing and shoving the tenacious midfielder at every opportunity.

Sloane's lack of impact didn't stop the Crows from booting six goals to one for a 29-point lead at quarter-time.

Lever was magnificent in defence for the Crows as the loose player in the backline.

His ability to read the play and take intercept marks is why the Crows are desperate to ensure he stays at West Lakes beyond this season.

The Crows were back to their best when the ball was up for grabs, eager to make amends for getting smashed in the contest against the Cats.

Matt Crouch (29 disposals), Richard Douglas (28) and Brad Crouch (24) and former basketballer Hugh Greenwood (16 contested possessions) were influential at stoppages.

The sting was out of the game in the second half, the Crows kicking three goals to one in the third term to stretch their advantage to 49 points.

MEDICAL ROOM
Adelaide: Defender Jake Kelly copped an accidental poke to his eye. Kelly had his eye examined and came back on to the ground.

St Kilda: Defender Jake Carlisle left the ground in the second quarter with an injury to his left hamstring. Carlisle had his hamstring strapped and returned to the game. Midfielder Maverick Weller hobbled off near the end of the first quarter. He had his ankle strapped and returned to the game in the second term. Nathan Brown appeared to injure his hamstring in the final quarter.

NEXT UP
The Crows will put their feet up during the bye before hosting Hawthorn at Adelaide Oval in Round 14 on Thursday night, June 22, 7.20pm ACST. The Saints have their second straight Friday night game when they take on North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, 7.50pm AEST in Round 13.

 


ADELAIDE   5.6   8.9   11.11   16.15 (111)
ST KILDA   1.1   2.4    3.10    7.12 (54)

GOALS
Adelaide: Lynch 3, Jenkins 3,Walker 3, Betts 2, Sloane, Otten, Milera, Smith, Beech
St Kilda: Bruce 4, Stevens, Billings, McCartin

BEST
Adelaide: Lynch, Jacobs, Atkins, Douglas, Laird, Lever, Smith
St Kilda: Ross, Stevens, Newnes, Geary, Bruce

INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil
St Kilda: Weller (ankle), Carlisle (thigh), Brown (hamstring)

REPORTS
Nil

Umpires: Rosebury, Hosking, Schmitt, Mollison

Official crowd: 46,082, at Adelaide Oval