Adelaide’s 28-point win over Collingwood was its eighth in succession. It equalled the Club’s second longest winning streak set between Round 9 – 16 in 2006. The Crows’ best winning run is 10 games in 2005 (Round 13 – 22).
The victory lifted Adelaide to second spot on the AFL ladder, percentage ahead of the third-placed Western Bulldogs.
Brad Crouch topped Adelaide’s possession count on Saturday night with 29, including an equal team-high 16 contested possessions. Crouch laid 10 tackles – the most of any player on the ground and second only to Hawthorn star Shaun Burgoyne (11) for the round.
The promising midfielder won 11 hard ball-gets – the equal most of any player in the AFL over the weekend. He also generated five inside 50ms and won three clearances.
Jarryd Lyons was instrumental in Adelaide’s win. The in-form onballer was involved in more scores for his team (10) than any other player on Saturday night. He also gained the most metres (650) of any player on the ground – ranked fifth in the AFL over the weekend. Damaging defender Brodie Smith was sixth overall, gaining 647 metres.
Smith had the best retention rate (78.3 per cent) of any player ranked top 20 for metres gained in Round 17.
Smith had the most combined inside (six) and rebound (six) 50ms in the League on the weekend. Of Smith’s forward 50m entries, five were retained by his team – the equal-most of any player in Round 17, and four resulted directly in Adelaide marks.
Smith also took eight marks – the equal most of any Crow – and assisted in three goals.
Defender Ricky Henderson gathered a season-high 27 possessions at 88.9 per cent efficiency. Henderson also took six marks, rebounded the ball from defensive 50m four times and kicked a goal.
Rory Sloane won a game-high eight clearances from his 27 possessions (16 contested). Sloane also applied eight tackles and assisted directly in two goals.
Ruckman Sam Jacobs sent the ball inside Adelaide’s attacking 50m six times with his 17 touches. Jacobs also finished with 27 hit-outs, six clearances and a goal.
Eddie Betts was the leading goalkicker on the ground with three. Lyons and Tom Lynch (two each) were Adelaide’s only other multiple goalkickers.
Betts laid four tackles inside forward 50m – ranked equal No.1 for the round.
Captain Taylor Walker kicked one goal to draw level with Adelaide and AFL legend Mark Ricciuto in second spot in the Club’s all-time goalkicking with 292 goals.
Lyons and 300-gamer Scott Thompson applied an equal game-high 24 pressure acts at Adelaide Oval.
Defender Daniel Talia effected a game-high 11 spoils and had 11 intercept possessions – second only to West Coast star and brother of Crow Mitch, Jeremy McGovern (13) on the weekend.
The Crows held the Pies to only 10 goals on Saturday night.
Adelaide had the equal-highest marks inside 50 differential (+ 11) of any team in Round 17.
Match statistics
Disposals
Adelaide – 386
Collingwood – 405
Disposal efficiency
Adelaide – 71%
Collingwood – 71%
Kicks
Adelaide – 213
Collingwood – 201
Handballs
Adelaide – 173
Collingwood – 204
Clearances
Adelaide – 41
Collingwood – 38
Inside 50ms
Adelaide – 57
Collingwood – 48
Contested possessions
Adelaide – 158
Collingwood – 160
Uncontested possessions
Adelaide – 229
Collingwood – 247
Tackles
Adelaide – 65
Collingwood – 97
Hit-outs
Adelaide – 35
Collingwood – 45
