Patrick Dangerfield overcame a heavy tag to amass a season-high 32 possessions against Collingwood on Thursday night.
Dangerfield, who was shadowed by renowned Magpies stopper Brent Macaffer, also won a career-best 12 clearances. Of Dangerfield’s 32 disposals, 20 were contested – a game high. The two-time All Australian also gained a game-high 669 metres and an equal team-high nine inside 50ms and eight tackles.
Scott Thompson also helped Adelaide to control the midfield battle. The dual Crows best and fairest-winner picked up 30 possessions, 12 clearances, nine inside 50ms and seven tackles in a vintage display.
In-form defenders Brodie Smith and Matthew Jaensch continued their impressive seasons. Smith collected 25 possessions, five rebound 50ms and three inside 50ms, while Jaensch gathered 24 possessions, six rebound 50ms and a goal. Jaensch was involved in more scores (nine) than any other Crow.
Acting co-captain Rory Sloane set an example with and without the football. Sloane won six clearances with his 24 disposals. He also generated six inside 50ms and laid eight tackles.
Full-back Daniel Talia claimed another scalp, limiting Collingwood spearhead Travis Cloke to one goal from 11 possessions and effecting a team-high five spoils. Cloke also took a season-low three marks. Small defender Luke Brown also won his contest with dangerous Magpies forward Jamie Elliott. Brown kept Elliott – Collingwood’s leading goalkicker this season – goalless for the first time in 2014 and to a season-low 10 touches.
Taylor Walker’s return helped fellow forwards Josh Jenkins and James Podsiadly to get on top of their opponents on Thursday night. Podsiadly worked hard at both ends of the ground, kicking a goal and floating back to take an important mark in defence late in the game. He finished the match with 17 disposals and nine marks. Jenkins kicked multiple goals for the fifth straight week, slotting his third bag of four this season. He also took five marks and laid five tackles.
According to Champion Data statistics, the Crows laid a season-high 93 tackles against the Pies. This is six shy of Adelaide’s record 99 tackles set in a wet slog against the Western Bulldogs in Round Four last season. The Club’s previous best tackle count this year was 72 against Melbourne.
Adelaide’s win broke a run of six straight losses against the Pies. A non-Showdown record crowd of 50,051 fans packed Adelaide Oval to watch the Crows upstage the Pies. The turn-out eclipsed the previous best Adelaide attendance for a Crows v Pies game, which was 48,522 at AAMI Stadium in 1993. The match was the first night AFL game at the redeveloped Adelaide Oval and the first Thursday night ‘home game’ in the Crows’ history.
Match statistics
Disposals
Adelaide – 389
Collingwood – 344
Kicks
Adelaide – 231
Collingwood – 184
Handballs
Adelaide – 158
Collingwood – 160
Free Kicks
Adelaide – 15
Collingwood – 9
Clearances
Adelaide – 50
Collingwood – 33
Inside 50ms
Adelaide – 60
Collingwood – 50
Contested Possessions
Adelaide – 143
Collingwood – 146
Tackles
Adelaide – 93
Collingwood – 71
Hit-outs
Adelaide – 38
Collingwood – 52
Interchanges
Adelaide – 119
Collingwood – 117
