Round One v North Melbourne, Etihad Stadium

In the first game of Adelaide’s 2016 AFL season, the Crows fell short of the mark in a thrilling contest against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.

In Don Pyke’s maiden match as Senior Coach, the Crows impressed early but failed to capitalise on a 24-point lead in the third term as the Kangaroos fought back to snatch a 10-point victory.

The win broke a seven-year Round One hoodoo for the Kangaroos who had not won their opening game of the season since 2009.

Three third-quarter goals to veteran Roo Brent Harvey turned the tide as North Melbourne ran out the game with 10 goals to five in the second half.

Josh Jenkins kick-started his 2016 campaign in style with five goals in a losing side, whilst captain Taylor Walker chipped in with two majors.

Rory Laird and Brodie Smith tried hard with 24 disposals each, while Brad Crouch had 20 touches in his first senior game in over a year.

ADELAIDE                   3.5   9.6    13.8   14.13 (97)          
NORTH MELBOURNE   2.3   6.6    13.7   16.11 (107)

BEST: Jenkins, Thompson, Laird, Smith, M.Crouch, Walker
GOALS: Jenkins 5, Walker 2, Betts, M.Crouch, Douglas, Jacobs, Lynch, Mackay, Seedsman

Round Two v Port Adelaide, Adelaide Oval

Adelaide banked its first win of 2016 in style, romping to its biggest Showdown victory in seven years by defeating Port Adelaide by 58 points in Round Two.

The result was put beyond doubt early by the Crows, who kicked 13 goals to the Power’s four in opening half to secure Don Pyke’s first win as Senior Coach.

Port couldn’t control Adelaide’s spread as the Crows won the uncontested possession count by 56 in the first half alone.

The win showcased Adelaide’s potent attacking capability with forwards Tom Lynch (six goals), Eddie Betts (five) and Josh Jenkins (four) all strong contributors.

Rory Laird dominated across half-back with 33 possessions and four rebound 50s, while Scott Thompson (29 disposals, 10 tackles, six clearances) controlled the midfield.

Lynch was awarded the Showdown Medal for his six-goal performance that included 21 possessions and eight marks.

ADELAIDE             6.4   13.5  19.7   22.12 (144)
PORT ADELAIDE   1.2   4.8    7.12   11.20 (86) 

BEST: Lynch, Laird, Talia, Lever, Betts, Mackay, Thompson
GOALS: Lynch 6, Betts 5, Jenkins 4, Walker, McGovern 2, Laird, B. Crouch, Milera

Tom Lynch kicked six goals to claim the Showdown Medal in Round Two

Round Three v Richmond, Etihad Stadium

Adelaide continued its winning ways with a clinical 36-point victory over Richmond at Etihad Stadium in Round Three.

Richmond came out firing early, holding the Crows scoreless for the opening eight minutes of the game, but Adelaide settled and worked back into the contest to earn a 13-point lead at the first break.

From the time Adelaide shot out to a 39-point lead at the 20-minute mark of the second quarter, Richmond never seriously threatened the Crows, who led by 52 points early in the final term before conceding four of the final five goals of the match.

Veteran Scott Thompson (28 disposals, seven clearances, two goals) again led the midfield charge, Brodie Smith (26 possessions and two goals) and Rory Laird (25 possessions) were damaging off half-back.

Captain Taylor Walker kicked three goals, including a 60-metre bomb from inside the centre square midway through the third term, while the opportunistic Eddie Betts and midfielder Richard Douglas also kicked three majors.

ADELAIDE     4.4   11.6   17.9   19.14 (128)
RICHMOND   2.3    7.5    9.10    13.14 (92)

BEST: Thompson, Laird, Betts, Smith, Walker, M. Crouch, Seedsman
GOALS: Walker, Betts, Douglas 3, Thompson, Sloane, Lyons, Smith 2, Jenkins, McGovern

Round Four v Sydney, Adelaide Oval

Adelaide announced itself as a genuine finals threat by toppling the Sydney Swans by 10 points in a pulsating Round Four duel at Adelaide Oval.

The lead changed hands 11 times in what proved to be one of the games of the season as the Crows handed Sydney its first loss of the year.

The game was centered on the thrilling final quarter, with the Swans hitting the lead at the 12-minute mark thanks to Dan Hannebery before Tom Lynch (three goals) and Rory Atkins (25 disposals, one goal) hit back quickly for Adelaide.

The Swans surged yet again, with two late goals to Isaac Heeney dragging the margin back to under a goal, but Eddie Betts (four goals) sealed the win in the dying moments of the match.

Scott Thompson (27 disposals, 10 tackles) was once again amongst the best players on the ground in his 250^th Crows game, while Rory Sloane (24 disposals, 10 tackles) was instrumental battling against the powerful Sydney midfield.

ADELAIDE             3.1   5.8    11.13   16.17   (113)
SYDNEY SWANS   3.4   5.6      12.8   15.15   (103)

BEST: Thompson, Atkins, Sloane, Lynch, Betts, Douglas
GOALS: Betts 4, Lynch 3, Walker, McGovern, Seedsman 2, Douglas, Jenkins, Atkins

Eddie Betts celebrates after kicking the sealing goal against Sydney in Round Four

Round Five v Hawthorn, MCG

Adelaide was involved in another thriller in Round Five, but unfortunately the result went the other way, with the Crows falling to reigning premier Hawthorn by three points at the MCG.

After leading by 15 points at the 18-minute mark of the final term, Adelaide was unable to hold on as Hawthorn kicked the final three goals of the contest to steal victory.

Hawk Paul Puopolo nailed the match-winner after a free kick with just 18 seconds remaining in the match.

Adelaide got off to a flying start thanks to Eddie Betts, who kicked three first-quarter goals, and Rory Sloane, who had 12 of his 26 possessions in the opening term.

Scott Thompson continued his blistering early-season form with a game-high 33 disposals, while Rory Atkins (27 possessions) and David Mackay (23) were damaging in open space.

ADELAIDE         7.1   10.3   14.6    17.7  (109)
HAWTHORN      4.3   10.5   12.6   17.10 (112)         

BEST: Sloane, Thompson, Atkins, Mackay, Lynch, Jacobs
GOALS: Betts 3, Jenkins, Walker, McGovern, Lyons, Lynch 2, Brown, Cameron, Seedsman, Sloane

Round Six v Fremantle, Adelaide Oval

The Crows handed last season’s minor premiers Fremantle its sixth consecutive loss, running out 33-point victors at Adelaide Oval in Round Six.

But the win was not one to remember as both sides were sloppy with the ball and failed to build any genuine momentum.

Despite the errors, it was Crows who made more of their opportunities, particularly through the second and third quarters.

From midway through the second when Fremantle held a two-point lead, to early in the third term, each side had six shots on goal – Adelaide kicked five goals and the Dockers missed all six.

Rory Sloane was the pick of the midfielders with 31 possessions and a goal, while Scott Thompson picked up 30 disposals for the 73^rd time in his career.

Eddie Betts continued his electric run of form, booting four goals to take his season tally to 20.

The match also marked AFL game No.150 for Crows wingman David Mackay.

ADELAIDE      2.4    5.5    9.10   14.13 (97)
FREMANTLE   1.3    2.11   3.14    8.16 (64)

BEST: Sloane, Lynch, Laird, Jacobs, Betts, Hartigan
GOALS: Betts 4, Lynch, Jenkins 2, Douglas, Atkins, Lyons, Smith, Sloane, McGovern

David Mackay leads Adelaide off the ground after his 150th AFL game in Round Six