Josh Jenkins was a standout for Adelaide on Saturday night. Jenkins kicked eight goals without miss, surpassing his previous-best haul of six goals against West Coast in Round 22 last season.
In doing so, the Crows key forward became the first player to kick eight goals in a losing team since Brendan Fevola against Hawthorn in 2009.
Jenkins' haul was the best by a Crow since Tom Lynch's bag of 10 against Greater Western Sydney in Round Seven, 2013. Jenkins is only the eighth player (behind Tony Modra, Scott Hodges, Lynch, Darren Jarman, Rod Jameson, Scott Welsh and Trent Hentschel) to kick eight or more goals in a game for Adelaide.
It equalled reigning Coleman Medallist Josh Kennedy's eight-goal haul in Round One this season. Jenkins is now equal-third in the AFL for goals this season with 23.
Jenkins, Lynch (three) and Charlie Cameron (two) were Adelaide’s only multiple goalkickers against the Western Bulldogs.
Adelaide’s score of 17.16 (108) was the biggest against the Bulldogs this season. Unfortunately for the Crows, the Dogs also recorded their best return of the year, 18.15 (123).
The 15 point defeat sees Adelaide slip to eighth on the AFL ladder as one of four teams with a record of four wins and three losses.
The Club’s three losses this season – to the unbeaten North Melbourne, reigning premiers Hawthorn and the fourth-placed Dogs – have been by a total of 28 points.
In a reflection of Adelaide’s low possession count, no player topped 25 touches on Saturday night. Lynch and young midfielder Matt Crouch led the way with 24 disposals apiece.
Lynch won a team-high 15 contested possessions and eight loose ball-gets. Adelaide’s link man was involved in 47.8 per cent of his team’s scores – the most of any player for the round.
Cameron laid an equal-game high nine tackles – ranked equal sixth for the round. Cameron and midfielder Rory Sloane each applied 29 pressure acts – the equal most of any player on the ground.
Mitch McGovern had an equal-game high four goal assists. Only Port Adelaide’s Justin Westhoff (five) had more on the weekend. Cameron and Walker each assisted directly in three Crows goals.
The highest-possession team in the AFL, the Western Bulldogs flicked the ball around to create space, winning the uncontested possession count 262 – 199.
The Crows were incredibly efficient inside 50m, kicking a goal from 45.9 per cent of their forward 50m entries – ranked No.1 for the Round. The Dogs were less efficient, but generated a remarkable 31 more forays into attack than their opponents to gain the scoreboard advantage.
Of the Dogs’ 68 inside 50ms, 20 came in the first quarter.
After trailing the clearances by four (15 – 19) at half time, the Crows won just 10 more clearances for the game compared to the Western Bulldogs’ 21. The stoppage clearances around the ground were level (17 apiece), but the Dogs dominated the centre bounce clearances 23 – 8.
Captain Taylor Walker took four contested marks – only Carlton forward Levi Casboult (seven) took more in Round Seven. Jenkins hauled in three contested grabs against the Dogs, and took a total of five marks inside 50m – the most for the game.
Adelaide defender Kyle Cheney took a team-high eight marks and collected 14 possessions at 92.9 per cent efficiency – the highest percentage of any Crow.
Ricky Henderson and Luke Brown each generated eight rebound 50ms – second only to Greater Western Sydney defender Heath Shaw (nine) for the round.
Match statistics
Disposals
Adelaide – 342
Western Bulldogs – 422
Disposal efficiency
Adelaide – 73%
Western Bulldogs – 76%
Kicks
Adelaide – 187
Western Bulldogs – 198
Handballs
Adelaide – 155
Western Bulldogs – 224
Clearances
Adelaide – 25
Western Bulldogs – 40
Inside 50ms
Adelaide – 37
Western Bulldogs – 68
Contested possessions
Adelaide – 142
Western Bulldogs – 163
Uncontested possessions
Adelaide – 199
Western Bulldogs – 262
Tackles
Adelaide – 56
Western Bulldogs – 59
Hit-outs
Adelaide – 30
Western Bulldogs – 38
