Midfielder Rory Sloane says Adelaide must build on its improved team defence for the Club to continue its climb up the ladder in the second half of the year.

Even in early-season wins, the Crows acknowledged they were giving up too many forward 50m entries. In Rounds 1 – 8, Adelaide averaged 51.4 inside 50ms, while conceding 59.6 to its opposition.

Over the past month, the Crows have been able to turn an inside 50m differential of minus 8.2 to plus 28.8. The team with the next-best inside 50m differential in this period is Hawthorn (+16).

Since Round Nine, Adelaide is averaging a League-high 66.8 forward 50m entries.

On Saturday night, the Crows sent the ball inside their attacking 50m on 65 occasions, while restricting West Coast to a mere 35 entries – the club’s lowest count since Round Two. 

Adelaide, which laid a season-high 89 tackles, also held the Eagles to their lowest score at home this year.

Sloane identified team defence as the Club’s biggest area of improvement in 2016.

“The last month our defensive side of the game really went up another level, but we’ve got to be able to sustain that for the rest of the year and do it week-in and week-out,” Sloane said.

“… We’ve worked on our defensive side of the game and not giving up so many inside 50ms. As you saw at the start of the year, we were giving up way too many, which was really hurting us.

“That’s probably been the best part, especially, in this last month and is probably the most improvement we’ve had (in one area this season).”

The Crows go into this weekend’s ‘bye’ in seventh spot on the ladder with eight wins, including the last four in succession.

The players and coaches will enjoy a few days off before returning to the Club late in the week ahead of next Thursday night’s blockbuster clash with league-leaders North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval

“We built up a solid block to finish really strongly coming into the bye,” Sloane said.

“I think most boys will just take some time off to relax with their partners or families. It should be a nice few days to get the heads right and the bodies right, and look forward to the second half of the year.

“We’ve still got a lot of good teams to play in the second part of the year and if we want to be a really solid team, we’ve got to perform.”

Sloane was instrumental in Adelaide’s come-from-behind win over West Coast.

The tenacious onballer amassed 29 possessions, including 11 in the last quarter, as well as a game-high nine clearances, five inside 50ms and six tackles.

He’s averaging a career-high 24.5 disposals and 4.7 clearances this season, and is currently fourth in the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year award.

The 26-year-old played down his own form, saying he was just enjoying being part of a winning team.

“It’s nice to play some solid footy and be winning a fair few games too. It’s never been about individuals,” he said.

“On the weekend, if you look at the midfield numbers I think most if not every guy has over 20 touches and all contributed defensively too with their tackles. (We’ve got) Matty Crouch and Jarryd Lyons playing some really solid footy. Scotty Thompson is still leading the way too.

“That’s what is the most exciting, that we’re all chipping in and playing our role.”