The crowd of 50,094 at Adelaide Oval on Friday night was the highest attendance in Round 19 and the 18th highest crowd of Season 2015.
The Adelaide Football Club has had the highest attendance for the round in its past two home games against Richmond and also Gold Coast in Round 17 when 41,715 fans turned out to watch their team. The Round 16 Showdown, which was a Port Adelaide home game, also boasted the highest attendance of the weekend in Round 16.
The Crows have an average crowd of 45,847 fans across eight home games this season – ranked third in the AFL behind Richmond and Collingwood.
Adelaide’s 36-point win over the Tigers wasn’t enough to see the Club retain a place in the top eight at the completion of the round. The Crows sit ninth, slight percentage behind the eighth-placed Geelong.
Scott Thompson topped the possession count at Adelaide Oval on Friday night with 30. It was the 70th time in the consistent midfielder’s career that he’s amassed 30 or more disposals in a game. Of Thompson’s 30 possessions, 17 were contested – a game high. The two-time Crows Club Champion also laid 10 tackles – more than any other player on the ground.
Adelaide won 151 contested possessions, second only to Hawthorn (154) for the round.
The Crows restricted Richmond to a mere 12 scoring shots – the Tigers’ fewest number of scoring shots in a match in coach Damien Hardwick’s six-year tenure.
Taylor Walker took a game-high 10 marks on Friday night, one more than wingman Ricky Henderson (nine). Walker and fellow forward Eddie Betts both took five marks inside Adelaide’s forward 50m.
Adelaide generated 74 inside 50ms in Round 19 – the most of any team. The Crows also held Richmond to a round-low 39 forward 50m entries.
Adelaide also limited Richmond to 68 uncontested marks, which was well below the Tigers’ average of 91.5 in their previous six matches.
Walker and Patrick Dangerfield sent the ball inside 50m an equal-game high seven times and were each involved 10 Adelaide scores. Rory Sloane, Brodie Smith and Henderson each generated six forward 50m entries.
Walker had seven scoring shots against one of the best defenders in the competition, Alex Rance. Unfortunately, the Crows skipper kicked inaccurately, posting a return of 2.5. Eddie Betts was also unusually wayward in front of goal, booting 2.3.
Adelaide finished with an inaccurate score of 11.22 (88). Although, seven of the behinds were rushed. It was the Club’s highest number of scoring shots since Round One.
All-Australian defender Daniel Talia limited Coleman Medallist Jack Riewoldt to a season-low seven possessions and one goal.
After laying a season-low 38 tackles against Sydney last weekend, Adelaide responded with 76 tackles on Friday night – the third-most of any team for the round.
In his first full AFL match, Rory Atkins collected 24 touches at an equal-team high 87.5 per cent efficiency. The left-footer, who was the substitute in his first two games, also took six marks and generated four inside 50ms and four rebound 50ms.
Sam Jacobs dominated the ruck contest, winning 38 hit-outs including a round-high 18 to advantage. Jacobs also won four clearances, generated four inside 50ms, laid four tackles and assisted in a goal.
Matt Crouch and Dangerfield won an equal-game high eight clearances against Richmond. The Crows dominated the clearances 49-28.
Jarryd Lyons also impressed across half-forward, gathering 23 possessions, six clearances, five tackles, four inside 50ms and a team-high two goal assists.
The Crows fielded seven players with 30 or fewer games of AFL experience on Friday night: Lyons (30), Charlie Cameron (23), Kyle Hartigan (22), Matt Crouch (19), Jake Lever (9), Riley Knight (5) and Atkins (3).
Match statistics
Disposals
Adelaide – 368
Richmond – 308
Kicks
Adelaide – 222
Richmond – 186
Handballs
Adelaide – 146
Richmond – 122
Free Kicks
Adelaide – 21
Richmond – 18
Clearances
Adelaide – 49
Richmond – 28
Inside 50ms
Adelaide – 74
Richmond – 39
Contested Possessions
Adelaide – 151
Richmond – 119
Tackles
Adelaide – 76
Richmond – 56
Hit-outs
Adelaide – 41
Richmond – 42
