Coach Brenton Sanderson says Daniel Talia will receive ‘maximum votes’ for his outstanding performance against Hawthorn superstar Lance Franklin at AAMI Stadium on Saturday.

Talia held Franklin goalless in Adelaide’s 11-point lost to Hawthorn, limiting the three-time All Australian to a mere two behinds from 17 disposals.

The 2012 NAB Rising Star effected a team-high seven spoils and managed to work off his more fancied opponent, rebounding the ball from defensive 50m four times. He also collected a season-high 13 possessions.

“Talz had some help, but geez … he led Franklin to the ball at times,” Sanderson said.

“He was really up for this game. He owes a lot to Ben Rutten. He’s been mentored by ‘Truck’ early in his career and really wanted to play his role for the team. He’ll get maximum votes in our best and fairest this round because he just did his role. He was fantastic.”

“Our back six … gave everything for ‘Truck’. I know they idolise Benny Rutten. Those guys fought their hearts out for the big fella. They’ll be disappointed and hurting because they gave everything they had for him in his 200^th game.”

Sanderson also praised the efforts of young midfielder Sam Kerridge, playing only his fourth game. Kerridge has assumed a ‘run-with’ role in the absence of injured captain Nathan van Berlo. The 20-year-old limited the influence of Western Bulldogs prime mover Ryan Griffen in Round Four. A week later he kept Brownlow Medallist Chris Judd to 13 touches after quarter time, and on Saturday night he claimed the scalp of Hawks playmaker Grant Birchall.

Birchall, who was ranked No.2 in the AFL for disposals prior to Round Six, was kept to a season-low 18 touches. Kerridge also hurt the key Hawk ‘the other way’, kicking 2.2 from 13 touches and seven marks.

“Birchall’s numbers have been incredible early in the season,” Sanderson said.

“Kerridge should be running through our midfield, but we needed him to play a certain role for us as a defensive forward. He kicked two goals and hit the post twice. He tries his heart out. I like it when young players come in with really strong values about playing their role for the team.

“We’ll keep picking young players who want to have a crack and will make this Club proud.”

Kerridge was part of a new-look Crows forward line, minus spearhead Taylor Walker. In all, the Adelaide attack generated 23 scoring shots, but paid a price for inaccuracy in front of goals particularly in the first quarter (1.4).

Sanderson said the coaches would continue to tinker with the forward line structure until they found the right mix.

“It was a very different forward line. Our first centre bounce had Matthew Jaensch, David Mackay, Sam Kerridge, Shaun McKernan, Josh Jenkins and Jason Porplyzia, so there were some guys there who haven’t played much footy,” he said.

“It’ll be a work in progress for us. Jenkins kicked 2.4 and Kerridge kicked 2.2 playing a defensive role. There are plenty of positive there. At times, it looked really good. At times we fell down in a couple of areas … and it looked like we had some kids in there, but they’ll learn from that and get better.

“Otten was fantastic again down back, but maybe he’s an option for us going forward. He was pretty sharp last week in that role. We’ll try to settle it down and find a combination that looks comfortable.”