Josh Jenkins kicked an equal-career high five goals against Carlton on Saturday. The key forward also booted five in Adelaide’s loss to Hawthorn in Round 17 last season. Only Collingwood spearhead Travis Cloke (seven) kicked more goals for the round.
The Crows now have five players, Eddie Betts (32), Taylor Walker (26), Josh Jenkins (16), Tom Lynch (15) and Patrick Dangerfield (12) in double figures for goals this season.
Jenkins also took a team-high eight marks, including three contested in a dominant display. He had a personal best 16 kicks, but fell just short of his career-high possession tally of 20, finishing with 18.
Rory Laird and Patrick Dangerfield topped Adelaide’s possession count with 26 apiece.
Of Dangerfield’s 26 possessions, 18 were contested – a game-high and the third-highest of any player for the round. Rory Sloane was the next-best contested player on the ground with 17 of his 21 touches coming in a contested situation.
Dangerfield also won nine clearances, laid seven tackles, generated six inside 50ms and kicked a goal. Only teammate Scott Thompson won more clearances (10) than Dangerfield at the MCG. Thompson was also the leading tackler with 10 – double that of any Blues player.
Laird was the best attacking defender on the ground on Saturday, generating seven rebound 50ms. He ranked No.2 in the League for combined inside 50m and Rebound 50ms (11) on the weekend – one behind Sydney Swans skipper Jarrad McVeigh.
Of Laird’s 26 touches, 10 were intercept possessions gained from the opposition. No Crow has recorded more intercept possessions in a single game this season.
Laird also took seven marks, laid five tackles, sent the ball inside 50m five times and assisted in two goals against the Blues. The tough utility had six ground-ball gets (coach Phil Walsh’s favourite statistic) in defensive 50m – more than any other player in Round 10.
Substitute Matt Crouch was influential when he was introduced into the game late in the third quarter. In a game where both teams struggled to hit targets, Crouch collected nine possessions at 88.9 per cent efficiency and laid four tackles.
Ruckman Sam Jacobs was equally as polished with the ball recording the same efficiency rate in his 18 touches. Only Magpie Brodie Grundy (20) had more possessions for a ruckman in Round 10.
Former Blue Jacobs won 39 hit-outs – more than the entire Carlton team.
The Crows were the third-best team at scoring from their forward 50m entries in Round 10, but accuracy was an issue – ranked 11th at converting those entries into goals, with only 14 of their 56 inside 50ms resulting in goals.
Adelaide took 15 marks inside 50m on the weekend – ranked third in the League for Round 10.
The Crows ranked equal-fourth in marks from opposition kicks in Round 10. Unfortunately, Adelaide gave up just as many with Carlton also taking 18 intercept marks.
The nine-point win over the Blues was Adelaide’s lowest winning margin of the season. The Club has averaged a margin of 37 points across its six victories in 2015. The win was enough to see the Crows hold onto seventh spot on the AFL ladder heading into a bye this weekend.
It was Adelaide’s third win on the road following victories against Collingwood and Gold Coast.
Match statistics
Disposals
Adelaide – 322
Carlton – 410
Kicks
Adelaide – 195
Carlton – 220
Handballs
Adelaide – 127
Carlton – 190
Free Kicks
Adelaide – 13
Carlton – 15
Clearances
Adelaide – 42
Carlton – 37
Inside 50ms
Adelaide – 56
Carlton – 55
Contested Possessions
Adelaide – 137
Carlton – 140
Tackles
Adelaide – 67
Carlton – 51
Hit-outs
Adelaide – 44
Carlton – 31
