Adelaide strayed from its fundamentals in the Club’s heavy SANFL loss to Central District on Saturday, says midfielder Cam Ellis-Yolmen.
The Crows were completely outplayed at Elizabeth in the team’s most disappointing performance of the season. Adelaide conceded 10 goals in the opening half alone and, despite a mini-resurgence early in the third quarter, never looked like challenging for victory.
The final 55-point margin equalled the Club’s worst SANFL defeat since Adelaide entered the competition in 2014.
“We’ve just got make sure we go back to our fundamentals,” Ellis-Yolmen said after the loss.
“Today was a bit about effort and a bit about concentration. Our midfield got out-worked. We’ve got to make sure we’re always concentrating and looking behind to give cover to our defenders a bit more rather than just running forward to try to get a kick.
“When we do have it, we have to hit our kicks and make sure we get ball on body, be clean in the hands and not over-use the ball.
“It was a really disappointing day for us.”
Adelaide had 50 less disposals, lost the inside 50m and clearances tallies, and was well-beaten in uncontested marks 117-141 as the Bulldogs ran the Crows ragged on the wide expanses of My Money House Oval.
The SANFL Crows also couldn’t contain Centrals’ spread of goalkickers, with five Dogs kicking multiple majors off the back of the home side’s fast-paced brand of football.
Adelaide hasn’t beaten Central District since the Club’s inaugural win back in Round Three, 2014.
“They play really well on this ground and they use it to their advantage,” Ellis-Yolmen said.
“It’s always a tough trip out here to ‘Doggy-land’ to try and beat them. We haven’t won here in awhile and it’s a hard ground for any opposition team to come and win here.”
Ellis-Yolmen has been a consistent ball-winner for Adelaide at SANFL level all season, averaging 29 possessions and seven clearances a game. The 23-year-old topped the team’s possession count once again against the Bulldogs on Saturday with 37 disposals, eight clearances and seven marks.
But it has proven difficult for anyone to break into Adelaide’s in-form AFL midfield this year. The Crows are blessed with a plethora of inside onballers in strong form, including Rory Sloane, Scott Thompson, Jarryd Lyons, Richard Douglas and both Crouch brothers.
Ellis-Yolmen, who hasn’t played at AFL level since Round 15 last season, said he was focused on improving his game while waiting for his next opportunity at the elite level.
“I’m just trying to focus on playing team footy and playing as well as I can in the SANFL,” he said.
“I want to be a real team player and bring blokes with me to help the side win. I don’t like losing, no matter what level I’m playing at.
“We’ll go back to training after today and review those things we didn’t do well and look forward to hopefully rebounding against North Adelaide next week.”
