Patrick Dangerfield was at his influential best against West Coast. Dangerfield collected an equal-game high 36 possessions, including 21 contested – seven more than the next-best player. The two-time All Australian won more clearances (12) than any other player in Round 15, and laid a team-high eight tackles. He took six marks, generated five inside 50ms and had a goal assist.
In-form utility Rory Laird amassed a career-best 31 possessions on Saturday night. Laird also took seven marks and had two rebound 50ms and two inside 50ms. Matt Crouch also equalled his personal best of 28 touches.
In his first AFL game since Round Nine, first-year defender Jake Lever hauled in a team-high eight marks. Only Eagles half-forward Jamie Cripps (nine) took more for the match. Big Crow Josh Jenkins took four marks inside 50m – level with Coleman Medal leader Josh Kennedy.
Adelaide took 15 contested marks – only Richmond (16) took more in Round 15.
Jenkins was one of five Adelaide players to kick multiple goals. Captain Taylor Walker led the way with three, while Jenkins, Eddie Betts, Charlie Cameron and debutant Riley Knight each slotted two. The Eagles had a remarkable 13 goalkickers in their 56-point win.
Crow Tom Lynch had an equal-round high four score assists on the weekend.
Adelaide actually had the highest percentage of goals per inside 50m in Round 15, registering a major with 37.8 per cent of its forward 50m entries. Unfortunately, the Crows didn’t give themselves enough opportunities, mustering only 37 inside 50ms – the second-least of any team for the round.
Knight made a promising debut, also gathering 13 possessions at 92.3 per cent efficiency, taking five marks and laying three tackles. He was third Crow to make his AFL debut this season following defenders Lever and Jake Kelly, not including Kyle Cheney who made his Club debut in Round One.
The Crows led by 14 points at the first break, but the Eagles took control of the game in the second term, piling on eight goals to Adelaide’s one point to take a 40-point lead into half time. The visitors fought back to reduce the margin to 28 points late in the third quarter, but the home team kicked the first four goals of the last term to put the game beyond Adelaide’s reach.
The Eagles got on top through their ascendancy in the midfield, winning the clearances 51-35. A dominant West Coast almost doubled Adelaide’s forward 50m entries, 73-37.
The loss saw the Crows slip out of the top eight for the first time this season. Adelaide is now ninth on the AFL ladder, two points behind seventh-placed Collingwood and Greater Western Sydney, who sit in eighth position.
Match statistics
Disposals
Adelaide – 331
West Coast – 453
Kicks
Adelaide – 194
West Coast – 244
Handballs
Adelaide – 137
West Coast – 209
Free Kicks
Adelaide – 7
West Coast – 17
Clearances
Adelaide – 35
West Coast – 51
Inside 50ms
Adelaide – 37
West Coast – 73
Contested Possessions
Adelaide – 132
West Coast – 153
Tackles
Adelaide – 57
West Coast – 51
Hit-outs
Adelaide – 38
West Coast – 57
