Star Crow Taylor Walker hit his straps against Gold Coast at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

In his third AFL game back from a serious knee injury, Walker reminded the AFL world just how influential he can be, booting five goals from 22 possessions in a match-defining display.

The imposing forward took a game-high 10 marks, including four inside Adelaide’s attacking 50m. He generated more inside 50ms (eight) than any player on the ground – ranked third in the AFL for Round 11. Walker also had two goal assists and a total of 16 score involvements – ranked (equal) No.1 for the round. He was involved in more than half (51.7%) of Adelaide’s scores.

Damaging defender Brodie Smith was also back to his best. Smith collected 30 disposals for the third time this season. He rebounded the ball from Adelaide’s defensive 50m nine times – ranked (equal) No.2 for the round – and took six marks. Smith also pushed hard forward, generating five inside 50ms and kicking the opening goal of the game from well outside the 50m arc.

Acting co-captain Rory Sloane topped a number of key statistical areas on Sunday. Of Sloane’s 29 possessions, 22 were contested – an equal-high for Round 11. He played a leading role in Adelaide beating the Suns – the best contested possession team in the League – in contested possessions (173-154).

The hard-running onballer also ranked (equal) No.1 for the round in loose ball-gets (10). He won a game-high eight clearances and had 10 score involvements, second only to Walker for the Crows on Sunday. Like Smith, Sloane worked tirelessly between the arcs, generating six inside 50ms and five rebound 50ms.

Matthew Jaensch joined forces with Smith to help set-up Adelaide’s attack from the back line. Jaensch racked up 29 disposals, seven marks, six rebound 50ms and converted a classy snap to kick Adelaide’s second goal of the match.

Daniel Talia further enhanced his reputation as one of the best key defenders in the game. Talia held in-form Suns forward Tom Lynch, who had kicked 15 goals in his previous four games, goalless. The 2012 Rising Star has conceded only one goal (to Travis Cloke) in the past five weeks. He’s also improved his disposal average from 11.2 in 2013 to 14.7 this year and is taking more marks (from 4.2 to 5.9 per game). Talia also had 16 one-percenters (more than double the next-best Crow) against Gold Coast, 12 possessions, four marks and four rebound 50ms. The Crows defence worked well together to keep the high-scoring Suns below 100 points for the first time in six weeks.

Ball winners Richard Douglas, Patrick Dangerfield and Scott Thompson helped the Crows win the midfield battle. Douglas finished with 22 disposals, seven tackles, six inside 50ms, three clearances and a goal. Dangerfield overcame a sore back during the week to win 26 disposals, four clearances and four inside 50ms. Thompson had 26 disposals, seven clearances and two inside 50ms

Sam Kerridge also played a pivotal role in the midfield despite having only 11 touches. Kerridge limited Gold Coast champion Gary Ablett to 25 disposals and two goals. The Adelaide tagger laid five tackles, including one that caught Ablett holding the ball, took six marks and won four clearances.

Wingman David Mackay’s influence on the game wasn’t accurately reflected on the stats sheet. Mackay finished with a modest seven disposals, but applied enormous defensive pressure. He laid a game-high 10 tackles (Ranked 7^th for the round) and had 37 pressure acts - 10 more than the next-best player. He rebounded the ball from defensive 50m six times and also swooped on a loose ball to kick a brilliant running goal at a crucial time in the last quarter.

Big men James Podsiadly and Josh Jenkins were important in a variety of roles. Podsiadly finished with 19 disposals, four rebound 50ms and a goal. He also took eight marks, including a few when he floated back to help out the Crows defenders. Jenkins kicked 2.2 as a forward and also won 13 hit-outs in a competitive ruck performance when Sam Jacobs was subbed out of the game at three-quarter time.

Eddie Betts was also lively in attack and could easily have finished with a bag of goals. In the end, he slotted 2.3 from 13 disposals. He also won four clearances, including one where he swooped on a bouncing ball and finished off with a classy long-range goal.

Like Mackay, Jarryd Lyons and substitute Matthew Wright also made the most of their touches. Lyons presented strongly up forward, gathering 18 disposals, four marks, three inside 50ms and kicking a goal. He also laid three tackles. Wright racked up 12 disposals in the last quarter and also set up an important goal with a spearing pass to Walker.

Match statistics
Disposals
Adelaide – 373
Gold Coast – 352

Kicks
Adelaide – 235
Gold Coast – 193

Handballs
Adelaide – 138
Gold Coast – 159

Free Kicks
Adelaide – 19
Gold Coast – 14

Clearances
Adelaide – 46
Gold Coast – 39

Inside 50ms
Adelaide – 57
Gold Coast – 60

Contested Possessions
Adelaide – 173
Gold Coast – 154

Tackles
Adelaide – 65
Gold Coast – 77

Hit-outs
Adelaide – 41
Gold Coast – 44

Interchanges
Adelaide – 118
Gold Coast – 103