Adelaide’s difficult 2018 SANFL campaign came to an end on Sunday afternoon, with a 64-point loss against West Adelaide at City Mazda Stadium.
Adelaide started the game well with Ben Davis kicking the first two goals, but a poor second term saw the Bloods kick six goals to one solitary point.
The Crows were unable to recover and went down 10.7 (67) to 19.17 (131).
In his final game before retirement, Sam Gibson was the most influential player on the ground with 41 disposals, 12 marks and nine rebound 50’s.
Versatile defender Kyle Cheney was solid in defence and finished with 26 disposals, 10 marks and nine rebound 50’s.
Matthew Signorello provided spark in the midfield with 29 touches, seven clearances and six tackles before copping a heavy head knock in the final term and being assisted off the field.
Once again, Patrick Wilson got plenty of the footy, with 30 disposals, eight clearances and seven tackles to end his season in strong form.
In the ruck, Paul Hunter competed hard with 39 hit-outs, six clearances and five marks, while Lachlan Murphy also had an impact with 19 disposals, three tackles and three clearances.
Former Crow Jonathan Beech kicked five goals for the Bloods, while Jason Porplyzia kicked a goal in his final game, having previously played 130-games for Adelaide.
State League coach Ryan O’Keefe said that despite the disappointing year that only wielded one win, positives did come out of it.
“Our AFL players have improved, guys that have got AFL games have gone in and showed that they are up to the level and they can play,” O’Keefe said.
“The positive sign is that individually, they have improved, which is part of what being a development team is.”
Reflecting on his side’s season, O’Keefe said success came down to the talent within each team.
“This year we just didn’t have the manpower to be able to sustain, we never had the same team once this year,” he said.
“Without that synergy it is obviously very difficult to do that compared to the standalone teams.”
The SANFL finals get underway next week.
ADELAIDE 3.1 3.2 5.2 10.7 (67)
WEST ADELAIDE 3.5 9.9 12.14 19.1 (131)
GOALS:
Adelaide: Davis 2, Boxer, Hadden, Hunter, Jarman, Offe, Wilson, Weetra, Fogarty
West: Beech 5, Rankine 3, Karpany 2, Middleton 2, Burgess 2, Bates, Keough, Porplyzia, Turner, Wasley-Black
BEST: Gibson, Cheney, Signorello, Hunter, Wilson, Murphy
