Taylor Walker led the way with five goals, but the Crows captain was one of 13 different goalkickers in his team’s 75-point win over an undermanned Gold Coast on Saturday.
As well as Walker having a day out, promising young players Mitch McGovern and Wayne Milera Junior each kicked a career-best three goals. Tom Lynch slotted two as he continued his consistent start to the season, while livewire Charlie Cameron kicked one and created plenty more.
The selfless Eddie Betts handed off three goals instead of kicking them himself, while the Club’s eight-goal star of a fortnight ago and leading goalkicker, Josh Jenkins, finished with just one major.
Involved in a total of 13 scores, Lynch said the forward line’s ability to share the ball was one of if its strengths.
“Eddie and ‘JJ’ (Jenkins) probably could’ve kicked four or five between them if they wanted to. They’re very unselfish players,” Lynch said after the game.
“I’m extremely lucky, as are a number of players in our side, to play with those sort of guys. Eddie took a few marks inside 50m and chose to give them off and get his teammates involved instead.”
Three defenders, Brodie Smith, Daniel Talia and Luke Brown, were also among the goalkickers.
The dashing Smith regularly hits the scoreboard, but Brown and Talia kicked just their fifth and sixth career goals, respectively.
Talia impressed offensively and defensively, collecting 23 disposals and taking nine marks, while keeping Gold Coast star Tom Lynch to two goals from 13 touches.
Adelaide’s Lynch said it was pleasing to see the backmen pushing forward from time to time.
“Browny has already kicked one this year, so he fancies himself,” Lynch said.
“It was great to see ‘Tals’ get a goal. He hit it flush too. He’s probably sitting on the massage table right now watching highlights of it!
“He played a fantastic game today on my namesake.”
Cameron helped set the tone early with his relentless defensive pressure.
He only had 10 possessions, but laid eight tackles and was involved in nine Adelaide scores.
“Charlie’s been electric since he’s come back into the team with his forward pressure and tenacity,” Lynch said.
“He creates havoc in our forward line. His defence is his strength and his offence bounces off that.”
The Crows midfield provided plenty of supply to their forwards.
Adelaide won the clearances 41 – 30 and doubled Gold Coast’s inside 50m entries (71 – 35).
After a couple of quiet weeks, Richard Douglas was involved in 15 scores – second only to Walker (17) for the game – from his 21 possessions. Scott Thompson won a team-high seven clearances, while Rory Sloane was solid as always.
Rory Atkins and Paul Seedsman generated run, and Jarryd Lyons made the most of his recall with 20 possessions at 90 per cent efficiency, to go with seven inside 50ms.
Lynch also paid credit to Gold Coast’s onball brigade, which was without the first-choice players Gary Ablett Junior, Aaron Hall, David Swallow and Jaeger O’Meara.
“Gold Coast’s mids really did take it to us. They hunted the ball well,” he said.
“Fortunately, we were able to get our fair share and supply inside 50m. I thought at times we were able to move the ball quickly and slice it through them.”
Adelaide won all four quarters in warm conditions at Metricon Stadium. The win was set-up by an eight-goal second quarter from the visiting team.
Lynch said it was an improved performance, but that there was still room for improvement.
“The last couple of weeks, even though we’ve gone close (to winning), we feel as if we were a long way off with our footy,” he said.
“It wasn’t perfect today by any stretch, but we started to play some patches of nice footy.
“I don’t think we’ll be satisfied with that performance though. We don’t think our problems have all been fixed on the back of that one game.”
The Crows will now prepare to take on the in-form Greater Western Sydney in a big Indigenous Round clash at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
The Giants are yet to beat the Crows at home, but are a vastly improved team to recent years.
“GWS are having a very good season to-date,” Lynch said.
“We’re really looking forward to getting back in front of our great fans. You can almost book it in that we’ll get 50,000 there again. It’s a real privilege to play in front of our members and supporters, they keep coming out each week.
“We’ll be looking forward to that on Saturday night.”