A midfield master class from Jarryd Lyons and Matthew Crouch has led Adelaide to a stirring 68-point win over Woodville-West Torrens.
The Crows trailed by 17 points at quarter time, but motored home with 10 goals to two through the second and third terms to notch the Club’s biggest SANFL win of the season.
Lyons was impeccable for the Crows in another dominant state league performance. The 22-year-old finished with 38 possessions, nine inside 50ms and two goals in a best-on-ground display.
Crouch was also influential in close against a hardened Woodville-West Torrens outfit. The prolific left-footer finished with 38 possessions of his own along with seven clearances. Crouch has now amassed a minimum of 24 disposals across all seven of his SANFL appearances this season.
Jason Porplyzia was at his crafty best with 28 disposals, two goals and several score assists, while Charlie Cameron chimed in with two goals in his return from a groin injury.
Ben Rutten held 2011 Ken Farmer Medallist Michael Wundke goalless, while emerging defender Sam Siggins conceded just five disposals and one goal opposed to dangerous forward Andrew Ainger.
Sam Shaw was another defender who won his position. The versatile tall nullified Adam Grocke and finished with 23 possessions, seven marks and four rebound 50ms.
AFL regulars Brent Reilly (25 possessions, 10 marks) and Tom Lynch (26 possessions and a goal) were also impressive as the SANFL Crows surged to their sixth win of the year.
Click here to see the full list of stats from Sunday’s big SANFL win.
It was the second time this season that the Crows have downed the Eagles, following Adelaide’s 48-point victory over the Eagles in Round Nine.
Skilful rookie Alex Spina was a late withdrawal from the matchup, but Adelaide reported no new injuries from the contest.
Coach Heath Younie said he was proud of the way his younger charges stood up after quarter-time.
“We came of the blocks really slowly in that first term, which was really disappointing,” Younie told afc.com.au.
“But what pleased me the most was the intent of guys like Rory Atkins, Sam Siggins, Matt Crouch, Riley Knight and Jake Kelly. This group is the future of the Club and they really put their hands up today.”
It was Adelaide’s biggest score of the season and the fourth triple-figure total for the SANFL Crows in 2014.
But Younie said he was more impressed with Adelaide’s defensive game in shutting down the Eagles’ dangerous forward line.
“Our back six were terrific today,” Younie said.
“But a lot of that comes from further up the field as well. Our midfield pressure was probably the best it’s been all season.
“It was a great team performance. That has to be the standard for us now moving forward this season and beyond.”
Adelaide blew several early opportunities, with Jarryd Lyons, Cam Ellis-Yolmen, Gene Robinson and Matt Crouch missing the mark in perfect conditions at Woodville Oval.
The Eagles were far more efficient with their forward entries in the first quarter. Easy goals to Adam Grocke and Luke Powell gave the home side the early break.
Adelaide soon lifted its intensity, with an aggressive tackle from veteran Jason Porplyzia setting up the Crows’ first goal to Gene Robinson.
An Eagle major on the siren left Adelaide 17 points astray at quarter-time.
The Crows found their groove in the second quarter, with Porplyzia again involved. The 2009 Crows leading goalkicker provided a great lead up target for Adelaide, with Cam Ellis-Yolmen the first beneficiary.
Shaun McKernan hauled in a big contested mark in the goalsquare, before a third-straight Crows goal to Jarryd Lyons gave the visitors the lead for the first time since the opening minutes.
Lyons and Crouch continued to impose themselves on the contest in the second stanza. Crouch was particularly damaging, with a clever long-range pass to Ian Callinan at the 15-minute mark ensuring Adelaide maintained its advantage at the main break.
It was one-way traffic after half-time. The Crows blitzed the opposition with 12 goals to two in the second half to cruise to victory.
ADELAIDE 1.3 5.5 11.10 17.16 (118)
WOODVILE-WEST TORRENS 4.2 5.4 6.6 7.8 (50)
GOALS
Adelaide: McKernan 3, Lyons 2, Porplyzia 2, Cameron 2, Robinson 2, Callinan 2, Ellis-Yolmen, Lynch, Battersby, Osborn
Woodville-West Torrens: Grocke, Powell, Ainger, McGregor, Kane, Jarrad, Goldsworthy
BEST
Adelaide: Lyons, Porplyzia, Reilly, Shaw, Atkins, M. Crouch, McKernan, Siggins, Battersby, Rutten
Woodville-West Torrens: Lewis, Jarrad, Boyd, Batley, Powell
INJURIES
Adelaide: Alex Spina (cork) withdrawn pre-game
Woodville-West Torrens: Nil
