Adelaide has put on a polished display of running football to outclass Fremantle 22.13 (145) to 13.11 (89) at AAMI Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Crows burst out of the blocks early and were never seriously challenged by the Dockers – eventually running out 56-point victors.

Adelaide’s midfield dominance ensured that scoring opportunities were limited for the Dockers and when they were able to manufacture a forward thrust the Crows’ defenders ran off their opponents to turn defense into attack time and time again.

Tyson Edwards was outstanding for the home side – finishing the game with 25 telling disposals and three goals. Wayne Carey didn’t disappoint in his much-anticipated return to the AFL – working into the game well and bagging four goals in his first home-and-away game for more than 12 months.

Fremantle captain Peter Bell led from the front all day – toiling hard for his 33 possessions and kicking a goal just before half time – and Matthew Pavlich provided occasional flashes of brilliance as he tried to spark an unlikely comeback in the second half.

His checkside goal from an impossible angle - deep in the pocket - is an early contender for goal of the year but too many of his teammates just couldn’t match his intensity.

Adelaide set the tone early with its superior work-rate in the midfield giving its forwards ample opportunity. Ian Perrie and Mark Stevens looked particularly dangerous up forward and each booted two first-quarter goals to help the Crows establish a 28-point lead at the first break.

Paul Hasleby tried to spark Fremantle into action with his second goal in the first minute of the second term but it was to no avail as Adelaide piled on five goals –including Carey’s first for his new club – to extend its lead to 40 points at half-time.

Pavlich was instrumental with two goals as the Dockers managed to stem the tide early in the third – keeping Adelaide goalless for the first 14 minutes while adding three majors of their own.

However, the Crows simply soaked up the pressure and hit back hard with Carey exploding into action for three goals and Andrew McLeod bobbing up for two.

The Dockers were looking down the barrel of a comprehensive drubbing as the last quarter commenced but to their credit they ran the game out well – matching Adelaide’s five goals for the term.

Former club captain Shaun McManus booted two last-quarter goals, while Paul Medhurst also added a couple to finish the game as Freo’s leading goal-kicker with three majors.

The largest applause of the day came when Carey was taken from the field for a rest 12 minutes into the last quarter – Crows fans clearly appreciating the efforts of their boom recruit.


ADELAIDE: 6.1, 11.5, 17.11, 22.13 (145)
FREMANTLE: 1.3, 4.7, 8.8, 13.11 (89)

Goals: Adelaide: Carey 4, Perrie 3, Stevens 3, Edwards 3, McLeod 3, Reilly 2, Johncock, Torney, Bode, Goodwin. Fremantle: Medhurst 3, Hasleby 2, McManus 2, Pavlich 2, Carr, Simmonds, Bell, Sandilands.
Best: Adelaide: Edwards, McLeod, Ricciuto, Torney, Stevens, Perrie, Bode, Burton. Fremantle: Bell, Pavlich, Hasleby, McManus, Headland.
Crowd: 45,436
Injuries: Adelaide: Smart (dislocated finger). Fremantle: Farmer (rolled ankle)
Reports: Nil.
At AAMI Stadium