Unsung Crows defender Kyle Cheney was tasked with stopping the ‘Stevie J Show’ on Saturday night.

Steve Johnson has been an integral part of Greater Western Sydney’s impressive start to the season. The clever forward was averaging 19 possessions and two goals in his nine games for the Giants prior to the clash with Adelaide.

Defensive coach James Podsiadly, who played in a premiership with the former Geelong great, assigned Cheney the job of nullifying Johnson and the reliable backman didn’t let Podsiadly down.

With the help of his fellow defenders, Cheney held Johnson goalless for the first time this season from just 15 possessions. Cheney also had 14 disposals and took six marks of his own.

“I had a bit of a match-up on Stevie J … but you’ve probably heard it too many times that our backline works together as a back six or seven,” Cheney said after the game.

“We help each other out. I know ‘VB’ (Nathan van Berlo) helped me out on numerous occasions and got a good spoil in.”

Through improved team defence, Adelaide kept GWS to their lowest score – 13.7 (85) – since the Round Three loss to cross-town rivals, the Sydney Swans.

It was well below their season average of 112 points.

The Giants, who averaged 57 inside 50ms in the first nine rounds, managed 52 forward 50m entries against the Crows, including just 32 to three-quarter time.

Daniel Talia held Jeremy Cameron, who had kicked eight goals in the previous fortnight, to a solitary goal, while Kyle Hartigan and Jake Lever teamed up to limit Rory Lobb and swingman Jon Patton to one goal-combined.

Small Toby Greene was the only Giants forward to kick multiple goals. Greene finished with three including two in his team’s last-quarter surge. Midfielders Dylan Shiel and Tom Scully kicked two goals each.

Cheney was full of praise for his fellow defenders and, in particular, the much-improved Hartigan.

“Unfortunately, he (Hartigan) missed Round One but since then he’s come in and probably been the pick of our defenders,” Cheney said.

“He’s been outstanding with the way he competes one-on-one, and he’s taken his game to another level with his ball use and run and attack. He’s a pretty rounded player.”

The Crows defenders were assisted by the form of their midfield teammates up the ground.

Adelaide’s onball brigade got on top of the dangerous GWS midfield, winning the clearances 38 – 27, and the contested possessions 155 – 145. 

The home team led by 23 in the latter statistic before Greater Western Sydney’s brave fight back in the final term.

“We needed to get back to winning the contest,” Cheney said.

“Our midfielders did an absolutely amazing job and got the ball in our half right from the start. They led the way.

“It was pretty tense times towards the end. We knew they were going to come at us … fortunately enough, we were able to hold up and get a good win.”

In a well-rounded performance, Adelaide’s forwards also did their job, overcoming an inaccurate start to pile on 15 goals. Taylor Walker and Eddie Betts, who kicked another Goal of the Year contender, each finished with five.

“I don’t know if anyone’s ever gone back-to-back with Goal of the Year, but I think he (Betts) might’ve sewn that one up!” Cheney said.

“He’s unbelievable. It’s not a bad spot sitting in the back half and watching Eddie do his thing.”