Adelaide’s backline turned defence into attack against St Kilda on Sunday.

Five Crows defenders racked up 20 or more possessions in the 88-point win over the Saints.

Key-position players Jake Lever and Daniel Talia both recorded personal bests.

Lever amassed 30 possessions and 13 marks, while Talia collected 26 touches as well as 17 marks – the most marks of any player in the competition in Round 11. 

Both players took five intercept marks. Only young Carlton star Jacob Weitering took more (seven) across the AFL on the weekend. 

Regular ball winners Rory Laird (30 possessions and eight marks) and Brodie Smith (24 possessions and seven marks) found plenty of the Sherrin, while unsung small Luke Brown had 24 disposals. 

The two Kyles, Hartigan and Cheney, finished with 19 and 18 possessions, respectively.

The Adelaide backline’s use of the ball was also a feature, as they regularly hit precise, short passes to shift the opposition defence and try and find a teammate in a better position.

Brown (95.8), Talia (92.3) and Lever (90) all operated at or above 90 per cent disposal efficiency, while Hartigan and Cheney went at around 89 per cent.

Lever said the Crows defenders had worked hard with assistant coach James Podsiadly to improve their foot skills and become offensive options.

“It was one big focus over the pre-season for the backs, just to be able to get a bit better ball use,” Lever said after the game.

“I think it helps when blokes create multiple options for everyone (to kick to). It helps the kicker.”

Adelaide limited St Kilda to a mere 30 forward 50m entries on Sunday.

Lever praised his forwards and midfielders for helping to limit the pressure on the backline.

“When you lock the ball in your half, it really helps the defenders because we can come off our man and support each other,” he said.

“On the flip side, we can also get on the attack and really drive the ball forward … because when you’ve got ‘Tex’ (Taylor Walker), ‘JJ’ (Josh Jenkins), Lynchy (Tom Lynch) and Eddie (Betts) in there, it’s pretty good!”

Jenkins finished with seven goals against the undermanned St Kilda defence.

The athletic key forward got on the end of some good team play, but also helped set up goals.

First-year Crow Wayne Milera Junior had three goal assists, while Mitch McGovern and Eddie Betts had two apiece on the way to Adelaide recording another 10 individual goalkickers in the 88-point win.

“The forwards are just so unselfish,” Lever said.

“They always give goals over the top and that’s what you want to see.

“I wouldn’t mind ‘JJ’ giving me one because I haven’t kicked one yet!”

Emerging midfielder Matt Crouch, who replaced Scott Thompson (general soreness) in the selected 22, made the most of his late call-up.

Crouch, 21, amassed a career and game-high 36 possessions, including 17 in a dominant first-quarter display. He also won nine clearances – twice as many as the next-best player on the ground.

Lever said Crouch’s performance was testament to the depth of talent developing at West Lakes.

“Matty is a really class footballer and class character,” he said.

“It just showed tonight, when he gets his opportunity he comes out and executes. That’s all we expect from the blokes that come into the team.

“‘Thommo’ missed tonight, but he’ll be fit and firing next week.”

Adelaide kicked six goals in the opening term to lead by 33 points at quarter time.

The home team built on its lead at each term, and could’ve won by more if not for inaccuracy – 19.19 (133) – in front of goals.

“It was really good to be able to start well. That was one of our focuses going into the match,” Lever said.

“To have a four-quarter effort was just fantastic. I think the best thing about tonight’s win was the even contribution and also just not letting them (St Kilda) score.”

The eighth-placed Crows will now prepare to take on the seventh-placed West Coast at Domain Stadium on Saturday. Lever said it would be another big test for his team.

“Any time you play away it’s always a challenge,” he said.

“We’ll be going over there to win and to execute like me did tonight – that’s the standard now because if we can execute like that every week we’re going to be a tough side to play against.”