Adelaide’s seventh straight win on Sunday equalled the third-longest streak in the Club’s history. The Crows’ best winning streak was 10 matches between Round 13 and Round 22, 2005. The Club’s second longest run of wins was eight in 2006 (Rounds Nine – 16).
The 10-goal win was Adelaide’s third biggest of the season behind an 88-point victory over St Kilda, and 75-point triumph over Gold Coast.
The Crows climbed two spots on the AFL ladder at the completion of Round 16, moving up to third spot with a record of 11 wins and four losses. The top four teams are currently one game clear of the fifth to eighth-ranked sides.
A couple of Crows defenders set new personal bests against Carlton at the MCG. Rory Laird racked up a career-high 35 possessions at an elite 88.6 per cent efficiency. Laird also had a game and round-high nine rebound 50ms and gained 518 metres – more than any other Crow.
Daniel Talia continued his push towards a second All-Australian crown with a career-best 28 possessions. Talia also effected 17 spoils and held opponent Levi Casboult – the third-ranked contested marking player in the League – to one goal from seven possessions.
Talia also won 13 intercept possessions – equal with Sydney Swans running defender Dane Rampe as the most of any player in Round 16. Jake Lever finished with 12 intercept possessions just ahead of Laird (11) and Kyle Cheney (10).
Ruckman Sam Jacobs equalled his personal best of three goals. The former Blue also bagged three goals against Port Adelaide in Round 15, 2014, on his way to winning the Showdown Medal.
On Sunday, Jacobs also notched up 36 hit-outs, 15 possessions and five tackles to be the dominant ruckman on the ground.
Rory Sloane won an equal-game high 20 contested possessions against the Blues. Sloane finished with 34 touches in total to go with a team-high 10 clearances, eight tackles and four inside 50ms. The 2013 Crows Club Champion also won 10 loose ball-gets – ranked No.1 for the round.
Promising midfielder Brad Crouch gathered a season-high 29 possessions, seven clearances, three inside 50ms and a goal.
Younger brother Matt had 32 disposals, four inside 50ms and three clearances. Matt Crouch played 77 per cent game time, which averaged out to a possession every 2.4 minutes – the best average of any player for the round.
Ten Adelaide players had 20 or more disposals against Carlton: Laird (35), Sloane (34), Matt Crouch (32), Brad Crouch (29), Talia (28), Ricky Henderson and Jake Lever (26), Jarryd Lyons, Scott Thompson and David Mackay (20).
The Crows also had 10 different goalkickers including Jacobs, Eddie Betts and Josh Jenkins, who each kicked three goals.
Jenkins had 10 score involvements, which equated to 37 per cent of Adelaide’s scores on Sunday. The explosive goalkicker also took four marks inside 50m – Carlton took six for the game.
Betts and wingman Rory Atkins each assisted in three goals.
Forward Tom Lynch took an equal game-high eight marks.
Experienced midfielder Scott Thompson was Adelaide’s leading tackler with nine. Thompson also led his team in pressure acts (28).
Charlie Cameron applied three rundown tackles – more than any other player for the round.
The Crows had the highest contested possession differential (+40) of any team on the weekend.
Adelaide has now won five of their last seven games at the MCG.
The Crows held the Blues to only 1.3 (9) in the second half on Sunday.
In their past five games, the Crows have conceded a total of only 4.11 (35) in last quarters.
Match statistics
Disposals
Adelaide – 452
Carlton – 350
Disposal efficiency
Adelaide – 72%
Carlton – 68&
Kicks
Adelaide – 237
Carlton – 200
Handballs
Adelaide – 215
Carlton – 150
Clearances
Adelaide – 43
Carlton – 35
Inside 50ms
Adelaide – 59
Carlton – 51
Contested possessions
Adelaide – 182
Carlton – 142
Uncontested possessions
Adelaide – 274
Carlton – 205
Tackles
Adelaide – 75
Carlton – 66
Hit-outs
Adelaide – 40
Carlton – 37
