An inspired second half has helped Adelaide to an important 47-point win over Norwood at Coopers Stadium on Sunday and consolidate the Crows’ spot inside the SANFL’s top five.

After a competitive opening half which saw the lead swap three times, the Crows held Norwood goalless in the third term and piled on four goals of their own as part of an unanswered seven-goal spree.

The Redlegs didn’t kick a goal for over a half of footy and managed just three majors in the second half, compared to Adelaide’s nine-goal avalanche. A 33-point margin at three-quarter time effectively ended the game with a quarter to play.

It was the Crows’ second consecutive win over the Redlegs but only Adelaide’s second win from its past five outings. The victory cemented the Club’s spot within the top five heading into next week’s bye.

Adelaide moved up into fourth place on the SANFL table with a 6-3 record, just two wins behind ladder leaders Sturt.

SANFL Stats: Round 11 v Norwood

The Crows dominated possession all afternoon against the Redlegs, finishing with a 448-288 disposal advantage and five players recording 25 touches or more. Norwood did not have a player reach the 25-possession mark.

Strong-bodied midfielder Cam Ellis-Yolmen continued his impressive SANFL season with a 39-disposal display. The 23-year-old also earned five clearances and kicked a goal in a complete performance as he pushes his case for his first AFL appearance of the year.

Ricky Henderson also starred in his return to SANFL action. The veteran amassed a career-best 41 disposals at 85 per cent efficiency working hard up and down the ground. It was Henderson’s biggest possession haul at either SANFL or AFL level.

Brad Crouch (37 disposals, seven clearances) moved well and worked an effective tandem with ruckman Reilly O’Brien around the stoppages, who had 21 hit-outs along with 21 possessions and seven clearances of his own.

Left-footer Troy Menzel continued his rich run of recent form with an eye-catching 21-possession performance, which also included seven tackles and a long-range goal in the final term.

While there were some standouts on the stats sheet, Crows SANFL coach Heath Younie applauded his team’s overall effort to stay on task after the first-half arm wrestle.

“There were some big numbers, but in the end it was a team contribution,” he said.

“The energy of Crouch, Ellis-Yolmen, Grigg and Wigg set the standard, but then I thought the guys in the back half were able to intercept the ball coming the other way. It was a team performance.

“The great thing about our footy club at the moment is we have three injuries in our footy club. We’ve got some great depth, we’ve got some really good pressure coming up and that forces guys at the AFL level to play well.”

Forward/ruckman Luke Lowden booted his biggest bag as a Crow with four majors from 16 possessions and five marks.

Development player Dylan Schoenmakers, who is the cousin of Hawthorn premiership player Ryan, contributed strongly with two goals, 18 disposals and nine marks in his first SANFL game of the season. Jonathon Beech and Paul Hunter also kicked two goals apiece.

Young backmen Tom Doedee and Jake Kelly, and Category B rookie Alex Keath were irrepressible in defence, particularly during the opening half when the game was in the balance.

Acting captain Andy Otten was once again impeccable down back. Otten held former teammate Lewis Johnston to his first goalless game of 2016 and claimed five intercept marks patrolling the half-back line.

The only blemish on the result was a misconduct report laid against Henderson in the final quarter. The Club reported no new injuries from the contest.

Both Adelaide’s AFL and SANFL teams have a bye next week.


ADELAIDE   3.3   5.8   9.12   14.16 (100)
NORWOOD   2.3   4.6   4.9   7.11 (53)

GOALS
Adelaide: Lowden 4, Hunter 2, Schoenmakers 2, Beech 2, Dear, Ellis-Yolmen, Menzel, O’Brien           
Norwood: Miller 2, Persinos 2, Derham, Bampton, Bartlett

BEST
Adelaide: Ellis-Yolmen, Crouch, Henderson, O’Brien, Doedee, Schoenmakers, Lowden
Norwood: Wilson, Webber, Forster, Miller, Bartlett, Baulderstone

INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil
Norwood: Bode (foot)

REPORTS
Adelaide: Ricky Henderson reported by umpire Hosking for misconduct in the fourth quarter
Norwood: Nil