Adelaide produced an inspiring performance to beat top-placed Glenelg by 20 points at Glenelg Oval on Saturday afternoon.
A strong opening quarter and dominant third term proved the difference, helping Adelaide secure an important 15.11 (101) to 11.15 (81) victory.
Here are the five key takeaways.
Mids set the tone
Adelaide got off to a strong start, as its midfielders set the tone, winning the ball out of the centre.
The Crows won clearances 15 to seven and inside 50s 19-four, which led to a 16-point, quarter-time advantage.
In the first term, on-ballers Matt Crouch (12 disposals and two clearances), Jackson Hately (11 touches, five clearances and three inside 50s), Harry Schoenberg (eight disposals and three clearances) and Tyler Brown (seven touches) all did their part.
Crouch finished with 34 touches, Schoenberg 29, Hately 25, and Brown 21.
“The Bays are very much a momentum-type team, so you need to take the game away from them and I was really pleased with our contested work to get the ball in our front half,” SANFL Senior Coach Michael Godden said.
“I was really pleased with our cohesion today, our connection between the lines and both when we had the ball and didn’t, I thought we were really hard to play against.”
Third-quarter dominance
In the third term, Adelaide took control of the game, extending its half-time lead from 17 points to a 46-point advantage.
The Crows dominated time in forward half and were able to get repeat entries inside 50, having 25 for the quarter, which resulted in 11 scoring shots and five goals.
“Every game you want to play in your front half because that is where you score from and it makes it hard for the opposition,” Godden said.
“You design the game to want to do that but it doesn’t always work but today we played the game predominately in our front half and it went a long way to winning the game.”
Himmelberg fires
Tall forward Elliott Himmelberg left his mark on the contest with his ability to compete in the air and hit the scoreboard.
Himmelberg kicked a major each quarter to finish with four goals – a League season-high.
“It was probably his best game in a while,” Godden said.
“He kicked four goals, had 10 score involvements, took four contested marks and they were big strong ones so really pleased with Elliott.”
Himmelberg split time between ruck and forward, amassing 15 disposals, four marks, 28 hit-outs and two inside 50s.
Strachan reigns supreme
Ruckmen Kieran Strachan was also strong, impacting the game in the ruck and up forward.
Strachan gave Adelaide’s midfielders first use recording 46 hit-outs, as well as playing his part to launch the Crows forward, finishing with a game-high eight inside 50s.
During the third term when Strachan spent time forward, he capitalised on his opportunities with two majors, both coming from crumbing the ball off the ground.
“Kieran is a really consistent performer for us and he is obviously ready to go when the time is needed at AFL,” Godden said.
“He has had limited opportunities but he has always stayed positive and he has been a wonderful player for us.”
Dowling brings the pressure
First-year player Billy Dowling had an impressive performance against Glenelg, showcasing his contested game.
In just his 12th game of State League footy, Dowling continued to show exciting signs for the future, recording individual season-highs in tackles with 12 and clearances with six.
“He is only a young man who hasn’t played a lot of footy, but he is finding the ball and is hitting the scoreboard as well which is pleasing,” Godden said.
“He is a good tackler and we will keep encouraging that but for someone in their first year of SANFL footy he has been impressive.”
Dowling also finished with 24 touches, one goal and four inside 50s.
Adelaide plays Woodville West Torrens at Woodville Oval next Sunday afternoon at 2:10pm.
ADELAIDE: 4.5 8.5 13.11 15.11 (101)
GLENELG: 2.1 5.6 6.7 11.15 (81)
GOALS
Adelaide: Himmelberg 4, Gollant, Schoenberg, Strachan 2, Hately, Cook, Haysman, Clamp, Dowling
Glenelg: McBean, Hosie 4, Reynolds 2, Turner
BEST
Adelaide: Himmelberg, Schoenberg, Cook, Strachan, Parnell
