Kyle Cheney’s “seamless” transition from Hawk to Crow continued on Sunday.
Cheney, 25, played 41 games for Hawthorn and Melbourne before joining Adelaide on the final day of the AFL trade period last October. The 187cm, 90kg, third tall defender was recruited to help bolster a developing Crows backline, minus retired stalwart Ben Rutten and injured duo Andy Otten (knee) and Sam Shaw (hamstring).
After a strong pre-season, Cheney made his Crows debut against North Melbourne in front of 46,491 fans at Adelaide Oval.
The versatile backman had a variety of opponents including the match winner from Adelaide’s Round 22 clash with the Kangaroos last season Jack Ziebell, who went goalless on Sunday.
Cheney attacked the contest and mopped up across half-back, gathering 14 disposals at 93 per cent efficiency and taking seven marks. He also generated some attack, with three rebound 50ms and one inside 50m.
Despite having been in the AFL system for eight years, Cheney admitted to feeling butterflies before his first game for Adelaide.
“I wasn’t too bad leading up to the game,” Cheney said.
“I was fortunate enough to have my parents come into the rooms and present me with my Crows jumper before the game. When they did that, I got a little bit nervous.”
It was also Cheney’s first game at Adelaide Oval.
“It was pretty exciting,” he said.
“To run out as a team and have the fireworks going off and all that sort of stuff … there was a bit happening! It was pretty good. It was very loud out on the ground. I've played in front of some big crowds before, but I don't think they've ever been that loud."
The Crows limited to potent North Melbourne attack to just nine goals in the emphatic 77-point win.
The Kangaroos failed to kick a goal in the final term and went scoreless until the 29-minute mark of the second term, as Adelaide piled on 10 unanswered majors in the second quarter to set-up the victory. The visitors had a mere 18 inside 50ms in the first half, unable to penetrate the home team’s defensive press.
Cheney said pressure from Adelaide’s forwards and midfielders made life easier for the defenders.
“Our pressure was right up from the start of the game and in Round One, you’ve got to bring that,” he said.
“We’re a pretty inexperienced defensive group, but we know we’ve done the work over the pre-season. We’ve spent a whole summer together and we’re gelling pretty well at the moment.
“When there’s pressure up the field and we can set up the way we want to, it helps us a lot.”
Shaun Higgins (four) and Lindsay Thomas (two) were North Melbourne’s only multiple goalkickers. Thomas kicked his two goals while direct opponent Luke Brown, who was eventually subbed out, was off the ground receiving treatment for a corked thigh.
Tall forwards Drew Petrie and Jarrad Waite were held to one goal-combined by Daniel Talia and Kyle Hartigan. Teammate Patrick Dangerfield praised the Crows defenders.
“Our defenders are really a team within a team,” Dangerfield said.
“It can’t just be up to the back six, it’s the responsibility of the entire 18 on the field but the defenders were superb today. They really helped each other out.
“I think we’ve just seen the tip of the iceberg of what I think Kyle Hartigan is going to be able to produce at AFL level … and Kyle Cheney has slotted seamlessly into the side.”
North Melbourne broke the shackles with a five-goal burst early in the third term to cut the margin to 30 points. Adelaide steadied through captain Taylor Walker and the home team’s lead was back out to 44 points at the final change.
The Crows kept the foot on the throat in the last quarter, piling on another six majors to give Phil Walsh a win in his first game as coach. Walker was the hero with six goals from 22 possessions and a game-high 15 marks, while Eddie Betts slotted four and Josh Jenkins three.
“To watch ‘Tex’ and Eddie do their thing from half back was not too bad. If they can play like that every game and I can sit back, that would be ideal,” Cheney said with a laugh.
