Adelaide’s pre-season culminated when it took on West Coast in an AFL AAMI Community Series match at Hisense Stadium on Saturday.

The Crows took an early lead and went on to record a 17.15 (117) to 7.8 (50) win.

Here are the five key takeaways from the match.

Rankine dazzles in hybrid role

In just his second official hit-out splitting his time in the midfield and up-forward, Izak Rankine did not miss a beat.

When on-ball, Rankine used the ball with precision, driving the Crows into attack.

The 23-year-old was also lively at half-forward, booting a game-high four goals, to go with 18 possessions.

Rankine was, however, rested for the final term.

Adelaide Senior Coach Matthew Nicks said he was unsurprised by Rankine’s performance and was looking forward to seeing him further develop this season.

“He’s in Izak Rankine touch,” Nicks said.

“He’s embraced the way we go about it and just had a little bit more time around the ball which is really good for him and our team.

“He’s unique in the way he plays footy, there’s things he does that a lot of us can’t, so we’ve really enjoyed giving him that freedom this pre-season, playing on-ball and going forward when he needs to.”

O’Brien strong in ruck and around the ground 

Adelaide ruck Reilly O’Brien has enjoyed a solid pre-season and it showed in the Crows’ game against West Coast.

O’Brien dominated the ruck contests, finishing with 34 hit-outs, while also proving to be prolific around the ground, amassing six marks, eight clearances and 22 disposals.

Nicks said the 28-year-old had worked hard to get himself fit and was benefiting from an AFL rule change, which permits straight-arm blocks in a ruck contest, provided the player contests the ball.

“I thought Reilly controlled the game for us, he’s embraced what is a new rule that’s come in and it’s one that’s going to really work for him because it brings out his weapons,” Nicks said.

“Today, I also thought it was more than his strength and power around the ruck, I thought even around the ground he played a really strong game.

“We ask a lot of him, he plays a lot of game time, but we know he can do that because of his endurance and the work he has done.

“He can do more than just his role, he follows up and I thought he connected really well with our mids today, which is a real positive.”

Crouch, Berry and Laird clearance kings

Midfielders Matt Crouch, Rory Laird and Sam Berry proved to be the difference for the Crows in the midfield, especially in the first half.

Crouch, one of Adelaide’s newly-inducted Life Members, recorded 23 disposals at 100 per cent efficiency and three tackles.

Berry, meanwhile finished the match with 22 disposals, seven tackles, and also hit the scoreboard with two goals.

Three-time Club Champion Rory Laird was also strong with 26 disposals and seven clearances.

Nicks said the Crows’ work at the stoppages was what gave them the edge over the Eagles.

“Matt Crouch has continued his form from last year, he hit the ground running again,” Nicks said.

“He’s got a wingman now in Sam Berry who’s stepped up and said ‘hey, I want to play Round One’, which was pleasing.

“He’s continued to develop in every area, but his weapon is his ability to win a hard ball… it’s really pleasing to watch where he’s at and he’s confident and has a lot of belief.”

Half-back run created plenty of opportunities

Adelaide backmen Mitch Hinge, Brodie Smith, Max Michalanney and Wayne Milera’s ability to take the game on and use their run and dash from half-back helped the Crows swiftly move the ball from defence into attack.

Michalanney's first term in particular was solid as the second-year player took plenty of marks in defence.

The three were well supported by tall defenders, including Josh Worrell, James Borlase and Jordan Butts, who positioned themselves well to get the better of their opponents.

“We were able to get Wayne back into the team and they (the defenders) showed last year that they were really connected in that space,” Nicks said.

“Brodie Smith is another one that you talk about in that smaller/medium half-back position, but I thought Wayne coming in connected that altogether again.

“I thought our guys showed today they could really stand up.

“Butts was really solid, he’s done a lot of work without playing footy and he’s shown he can come back and be at the level.”

Second-half change up

Adelaide’s coaching cohort made a few changes to start the second half to help players’ preparation ahead of the opening round.

Midfielders Jake Soligo (who was returning from an ankle injury) and Ned McHenry came into the game in the third term.

Captain Jordan Dawson’s minutes were reduced, along with Crouch’s, while veteran and Leadership Group member Brodie Smith was rested for the second half.

Backman Will Hamill was then given some time on the field in the fourth quarter.

Soligo and McHenry got through unscathed, while Dawson stood up when on the ground, amassing a game-high 28 disposals, four clearances and 628m gained.

“Soligo played throughout the second half, in which we managed a few players to allow that to happen,” Nicks said.

“Soli showed last year he’s a really important part of our 22 when he’s fit and ready to go, so today was about making sure we saw that.

“McHenry also came on in the second half, almost as if we were using a sub, so there were a couple of little things we did towards the end of the game, I think our opposition might’ve done something similar.”

SCOREBOARD:

ADELAIDE 4.0 7.5 14.7 17.15 (117)

WEST COAST 1.0 2.3 6.6 7.8 (50)

GOALS:

Rankine 4, Rachele 3, Berry, Walker, Murphy 2, Keays, Dawson, Sholl, Pedlar.