Forward Jason Porplyzia has rewarded the Crows coaching staff for their persistence, putting in his best performance of the season against Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium.

Porplyzia was used as a substitute, to reasonable effect, several times in the first half of the season in a bid to spark his form. On Saturday, the 28-year-old started on the ground and showed glimpses of the Porplyzia of old.

The classy goalkicker provided a strong target in attack, displaying his trademark clean hands and marking ability. He took four marks inside 50m, including a brilliant grab in the second quarter where he guided the ball to his advantage in the air and lunged forward to complete the mark.

Porplyzia kicked 2.2 (his first multiple-goal return this season) and set-up another three goals. He also collected 19 possessions (10 contested), seven marks and four inside 50ms.

“I think I took a step forward today, which was nice,” Porplyzia said after the game.

“I think the break was good for me. I was able to freshen up and re-assess where I was at. I want to continue on, keep improving in the second half of the year and be a real influence in the side.”

Teammate Brad Crouch said the midfielders didn’t hesitate in kicking to Porplyzia.

“Porps looked super dangerous when we went forward,” Crouch said.

“He looked like he was going to mark everything and Wrighty did well even though he was injured.”

Coach Brenton Sanderson also praised the efforts of Jenkins, who also finished with two goals from four marks inside Adelaide’s attacking 50m, and Matt Wright, who played out the game despite a badly corked thigh.

“Jenkins’ stats won’t look awesome, but he certainly competed for us. He took contested marks, kicked two goals and was a target for us,” Sanderson said.

“Matty Wright was unbelievable. He kicked three goals with a really nasty corked (leg). He could hardly move at half-time. We pretty much just put him in the goal square and said, ‘if the ball comes your way, try to grab it’. He was exceptional.”

The Crows were unable to fully capitalise on their dominance at different stages of the game, breaking down across half-forward on a few occasions. Sanderson said the forward line, which generated a triple-figure score – 16.15 (111) – for the fourth time this season and the first since Round Nine remained a work in progress.

“We just keep putting different looks (in attack) for the opposition,” he said.

“Today, it was Matty Jaensch, Aidan Riley, Porplyzia, Tom Lynch, Patrick Dangerfield and Scott Thompson in the second half. We’re trying to find the right mix and balance, and find out what our best method is going forward.”

The form of Porplyzia, Wright, ruckman Sam Jacobs, utility Ricky Henderson, midfielder Brad Crouch and skipper Nathan van Berlo was a significant positive out of the 28-point win.

Van Berlo had the unenviable job of tagging champion Gary Ablett. Ablett got away, kicking two goals in the first term, but didn’t add to the scoreboard after quarter time. He still amassed (CHECK) 30 possessions, but van Berlo was able to limit the Brownlow Medallist’s influence and impact.

“Ablett is a freak. He’s the best player in the competition. Before the game, if you’d said to me, ‘Ablett is going to have 30 possessions and kick two goals’, I would’ve taken that,” Sanderson said.

“I really liked Nathan’s game. He stuck to his task. He got some help from his teammates, but he played the full 120 minutes. He limited Ablett’s clearance strength.”