The Crows wrote their way into the record books at the Gabba on Sunday.
Adelaide’s score of 25.18 (168) was the highest score kicked against Brisbane at the Gabba since 1991. It was the Adelaide Football Club’s 10th highest score, ninth-biggest winning margin and the third-highest score in the AFL this season. The 105-point defeat was the Lions’ biggest-ever at the Gabba.
The Crows achieved their highest score of the season with 13 individual goalkickers.
The team Adelaide fielded was its youngest of the season, with no player aged over 27-years-old. Nine Crows had fewer than 50 games of AFL experience. The Lions had 11 in the same bracket.
Forward Taylor Walker kicked a season-high six goals against the Lions. Walker has now bagged 14 goals in his past three outings against Brisbane. The Crows spearhead also amassed 21 disposals, six marks, five inside 50ms and a goal assist. The performance was enough for Walker to climb to eighth place on the Club’s all-time leading goalkicker list with 190 goals from 81 games.
Acting-co captain Rory Sloane led from the front, collecting 28 touches, eight marks, six inside 50ms and four clearances. Sloane worked hard offensively and defensively, kicking two goals and also laying an equal-Round 20 high 11 tackles.
Ruckman Sam Jacobs provided his midfielders with some silver service. Jacobs won 39 hit-outs, including an equal-round high 13 to advantage. He took six marks, won four clearances and three inside 50ms. Jacobs slotted two goals and assisted in two others to play a pivotal role in the win.
Brad Crouch amassed 30 (or more) disposals for the third time in the last month. Crouch finished with 30 possessions, eight tackles, six inside 50ms, five clearances and two goal assists in another accomplished performance. Patrick Dangerfield excelled at the clearances, winning six and sending the ball inside 50m six times with his 21 touches. He also kicked a goal and assisted in another.
Matthew Jaensch provided plenty of drive from half-back. Jaensch gathered 25 disposals, five marks, five rebound 50ms and four inside 50ms. He laid seven tackles and also kicked a goal.
Playing his first game since Round 15, Jarryd Lyons found plenty of the ball. Lyons finished with 26 disposals, seven marks, six clearances, four inside 50ms and a goal.
Matthew Wright posted his best disposal return since Round One, gathering 27. Wright also took five marks, generated four inside 50ms and kicked a goal. Brodie Martin kicked an equal-career high three goals from 20 possessions.
Forward Eddie Betts also slotted three goals and assisted in a round-high four others. Betts collected 17 possessions and laid four tackles to help put the Lions defence under pressure.
After a poor kicking display last weekend, the Crows ranked No.2 for effective kicks in Round 20. Adelaide also found a better kick-to-handball ratio.
Match statistics
Disposals
Adelaide – 378
Brisbane Lions – 358
Kicks
Adelaide – 229
Brisbane Lions – 167
Handballs
Adelaide – 149
Brisbane Lions – 191
Free Kicks
Adelaide – 20
Brisbane Lions – 12
Clearances
Adelaide – 46
Brisbane Lions – 31
Inside 50ms
Adelaide – 63
Brisbane Lions – 52
Contested Possessions
Adelaide – 154
Brisbane Lions – 122
Tackles
Adelaide – 61
Brisbane Lions – 45
Hit-outs
Adelaide – 49
Brisbane Lions – 34
Interchanges
Adelaide – 89
Brisbane Lions – 115
