It was a tough Saturday afternoon at Elizabeth for the SANFL Crows, suffering a 70-point loss to Central Districts.
At My Money House Oval, Adelaide conceded the first three goals and never got back into it, losing 10.7 (67) to 21.11 (137).
Jackson Edwards was a standout for the Crows with 23 disposals, nine contested and six clearances.
State League coach Ryan O’Keefe was satisfied with Edwards’ progress.
“It was an improvement for Jackson. He was clean around the ball,” he said.
O’Keefe was also impressed by the impact Ben Davis had, kicking three goals from his eight touches and took five marks. Promising forward Darcy Fogarty also showed glimpses with 16 disposals, eight clearances and a goal.
“Benny Davis, he had plenty of energy, he was good,” O’Keefe said.
“Fogarty was good up around the ball and he is working on his ability to keep doing it.”
Development squad members Blake Launer, Doug Hadden and Michael McMahon all competed hard all day.
While O’Keefe acknowledged the difficulty of having limited AFL listed players at his disposal, he focused on the opportunity it creates.
“It’s giving guys opportunities to have a crack. Some of these players have had dreams of playing at this level and it’s good to give them the chance to play the highest footy that they can,” he said.
Despite the score, O’Keefe was happy that the team kept persisting, going on to win the final quarter.
“We won the last quarter which is positive, we just had to keep chipping away at it,” O’Keefe said.
“Centrals got the jump at quarter time and it was hard, they got their tails up.”
Midfielder Curtly Hampton was a late withdrawal from the Round Four side after pulling up sore during training on Thursday, replaced by development squad member Aidan Offe. No new injuries were reported from the game.
ADELAIDE 1.1 3.4 6.7 10.7 (67)
CENTRAL DISTRICTS 8.2 13.4 19.6 21.11 (137)
GOALS:
Adelaide: Davis 3, Launer 2, McMahon 2, Himmelberg, Fogarty, Offe
Centrals: McLean 4, Hately 2, Presbury 2, Hoskin, 2, Goodrem 2, Schiller 2, D. Fort 2, F. Fort, Hanna, McKenzie, Barmby, White
BEST: Launer, Edwards, Davis, McMahon, Jarman
