Adelaide’s AFL and SANFL teams both won on the same weekend for the first time over Easter.
The crowd of 44,700 at Adelaide Oval on Sunday was the biggest crowd Greater Western Sydney has played in front of in its three-year history. It eclipsed the previous biggest attendance of 38,203 in the Giants’ first-ever game against Sydney in Round One, 2012.
Scott Thompson collected a game-high 38 disposals and nine clearances (including a Round Five-high six centre clearances) against GWS. It was the 57th time in the All Australian’s career he’s amassed in 30 or more possessions in a game.
Patrick Dangerfield kicked five goals for the second time in his career. Dangerfield’s best return was six goals against Gold Coast in Round Eight, 2011. The two-time All Australian is now level with Eddie Betts (nine goals) as Adelaide’s leading goalkicker in 2014.
Dangerfield also gathered 33 possessions (18 contested), nine clearances and six inside 50ms in a dominant display against GWS.
The Crows were the most efficient team inside 50m in Round Five, kicking a goal from every 2.6 forward 50m entries.
Josh Jenkins equalled his personal best of four goals. This follows a four-goal haul against St Kilda in Round Four. After an inaccurate return of 1.4 in his first game of the season in Round Three, Jenkins has slotted an impressive 8.2.
Defender Kyle Hartigan ranked equal-first in marks from opposition kicks (five) in Round Five. Of Hartigan’s 14 possessions, nine were ‘intercept possessions’ gained from the opposition.
Adelaide’s defensive unit kept Greater Western Sydney’s tall trio, Jeremy Cameron, Jon Patton and Tom Boyd, to a combined total of three goals.
Rising Star nominee Matt Crouch gathered 28 possessions and 10 marks in three quarters before cramping and being substituted out of the game. That equates to a disposal every 2.5 minutes – ranked No.1 of any player in the competition to have played more than a half in Round Five.
Matthew Jaensch won a career-high 29 disposals in his 50th game, including 19 effective kicks – ranked No.1 in Round Five. The rebounding defender also took a game-high 13 marks.
Ruckman Sam Jacobs also had a career-high 25 touches, to go with 20 hit-outs and eight marks.
Match statistics
Disposals
Adelaide – 429
GWS – 330
Kicks
Adelaide – 244
GWS – 176
Handballs
Adelaide – 185
GWS – 154
Free Kicks
Adelaide – 19
GWS – 8
Clearances
Adelaide – 40
GWS – 31
Inside 50ms
Adelaide – 54
GWS – 47
Contested Possessions
Adelaide – 129
GWS – 117
Tackles
Adelaide – 41
GWS – 49
Hit-outs
Adelaide – 27
GWS – 34
Interchanges
Adelaide – 119
GWS – 116
