As we reach the halfway mark of the season, afc.com.au takes a look back at Adelaide's performances round by round...
Round 1
ADELAIDE 7.8 11.10 15.16 19.23 (137)
GOLD COAST 3.1 5.3 8.6 10.8 (68)
GOALS
Adelaide: Walker 5, Tippett 4, van Berlo 2, Callinan 2, Dangerfield 2, Sloane, Douglas, Porplyzia, Lynch
Gold Coast: Ablett 2, Brown 2, Bennell 2, Smith, Swallow, Prestia, Caddy
BEST
Adelaide: Thompson, Sloane, Tippett, van Berlo, Walker, Jacobs
Gold Coast: Ablett, Harbrow, Bennell, Brennan, Brown, Iles
INJURIES
Adelaide: Henderson (concussion)
Gold Coast: Tape (mouth)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Pannell, Wenn, Ryan
Official crowd: 12,790 at Metricon Stadium
Adelaide kick-started season 2012 with a blistering 69-point victory over Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium.
The Crows set the tone early with a seven-goal opening quarter. Adelaide’s two forward-line pillars combined for nine goals (Walker 5, Tippett 4), while Scott Thompson led the way throughout the midfield with 39 disposals.
Round 2
ADELAIDE 4.4 7.8 7.11 11.16 (82)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 1.4 3.7 7.9 9.10 (64)
GOALS
Adelaide: Walker 3, Petrenko 2, Lynch 2, Callinan, Sloane, Porplyzia, Dangerfield
Western Bulldogs: Boyd 2, Jones 2, Djerrkura, Picken, Giansiracusa, Grant, Roughead
BEST
Adelaide: Thompson, Vince, van Berlo, Doughty, Dangerfield, Jacobs
Western Bulldogs: Boyd, Murphy, Griffen, Lake, Hargrave, Dahlhaus
INJURIES
Adelaide: Douglas (hamstring)
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Bannister, Hay, Schmitt
Official crowd: 34,021 at AAMI Stadium
Adelaide held off a competitive Western Bulldogs outfit to post an 18-point victory in the Club’s first outing for the year at home ground AAMI Stadium.
It was tough work for the Crows with the Bulldogs stealing the lead early in the final term, but two late goals from a previously well-held Taylor Walker (3 goals) saw the home side prevail.
The only negative was a serious hamstring injury to Richard Douglas, which would see the dangerous midfielder/half forward out with an extended stay on the sidelines.
Prolific Adelaide midfielder Scott Thompson was the star of round two, accumulating 34 disposals in a best on ground performance before being chaired off the ground by teammates Ben Rutten and Brent Reilly in his 200th game.
Round 3
HAWTHORN 5.3 10.7 15.9 21.14 (140)
ADELAIDE 4.3 6.8 9.10 12.12 (84)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Breust 3, Franklin 3, Suckling 2, Hale 2, Lewis 2, Rioli 2, Whitecross, Burgoyne, Cheney, Gunston, Osborne, Shiels, Mitchell
Adelaide: Tippett 3, Callinan 3, Lynch 2, Porplyzia, Doughty, Vince, Reilly
BEST
Hawthorn: Gibson, Lewis, Franklin, Whitecross, Suckling, Guerra, Breust
Adelaide: Dangerfield, Thompson, Tippett, Callinan, Doughty, Jacobs
INJURIES
Hawthorn: McCauley (stomach virus) replaced in selected side by Young, Birchall (calf), Breust (concussion), Hale (dislocated finger)
Adelaide: Henderson (soreness) replaced in selection side by Kerridge
SUBSTITUTES
Hawthorn: Shane Savage replaced Grant Birchall (corked knee) at three-quarter time
Adelaide: Sam Kerridge replaced Tom Lynch in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Margetts, Leppard, McInerney
Official crowd: 33,524 at the MCG
Adelaide was given a tough reality check in round three, suffering a 56-point defeat at the hands of the Hawks at the MCG.
The Crows were wasteful in front of goal and Hawthorn took full advantage, breaking the shackles and kicking away in the second half as Adelaide endured their first defeat under new coach Brenton Sanderson.
Kurt Tippett worked tirelessly, presenting well for eight marks. However, the key tall kicked an inaccurate 3.3. Opportunistic small forward and nominated rookie Ian Callinan also kicked three goals, while Patrick Dangerfield was solid with 27 possessions.
Round 4
ADELAIDE 5.4 7.8 10.13 13.18 (96)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 1.1 5.3 6.6 7.8 (50)
GOALS
Adelaide: Tippett 4, Porplyzia 2, Mackay, Henderson, Wright, Walker, Sloane, Smith, Thompson
Greater Western Sydney: Hampton 3, Edwards, Folau, Giles, Mohr
BEST
Adelaide: van Berlo, Sloane, Thompson, Tippett, Reilly, Doughty
Greater Western Sydney: Ward, Scully, Power, McDonald, Giles, Miles
INJURIES
Adelaide: Petrenko (concussion), Martin (cut head), Jaensch (cut head)
Greater Western Sydney: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: Ricky Henderson replaced Jared Petrenko in the first quarter
Greater Western Sydney: Jacob Townsend replaced Adam Tomlinson in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Ryan, Hosking, Hay
Official crowd: 28, 261 at AAMI Stadium
Adelaide needed to respond after its first defeat in 2012 and the Crows did just that with a 56-point home win against the AFL’s newest franchise GWS.
It was a scrappy affair, but the Crows started well shooting out to a 27-point lead at quarter time, despite losing Jared Petrenko to concussion in the opening seconds after he was collected by teammate Jason Porplyzia’s hip.
The Giants proved they were no slouches outscoring the Crows in the second term, but Adelaide rallied and ran away with the game in the second half in the greasy conditions.
Kurt Tippett seemed unfazed by the trying conditions booting 4.1, while Reilly, Thompson and van Berlo all enjoyed 27 disposals.
Round 5
ADELAIDE 4.3 10.4 12.7 16.14 (110)
PORT ADELAIDE 4.2 7.3 14.4 14.7 (91)
GOALS
Adelaide: Walker 6, Petrenko, Johncock 2, Thompson, Jacobs, McKernan, Tippett, Wright, Callinan
Port Adelaide: Westhoff, Butcher 4, Broadbent, Ebert 2, Jacobs, Schulz
BEST
Adelaide: Dangerfield, Sloane, Walker, Thompson, Johncock, Jacobs
Port Adelaide: Westhoff, Ebert, Chaplin, Rodan, Cornes, Boak
INJURIES
Adelaide: van Berlo (leg)
Port Adelaide: Schulz (eye)
SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: Ricky Henderson replaced Nathan van Berlo in the third quarter
Port Adelaide: Aaron Young replaced Jay Schulz at half-time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stewart, Nicholls, Hay
Official crowd: 41,649 at AAMI Stadium
Brenton Sanderson and his side embraced the hype going into Showdown XXXII and revelled in the state’s biggest clash, with Adelaide prevailing by 19 points over the Power.
It was a typically tight opening term with the Crows holding onto a slim one-point lead at the first break. Taylor Walker turned the game on its head in the opening minutes of the second term slamming on three goals in as many minutes.
However, Port rallied in the premiership quarter and owned the lead going into the last term.
Final-quarter goals to Ian Callinan and Taylor Walker sparked the Crows to their first Showdown victory under Brenton Sanderson in arguably Adelaide’s best performance for the year.
Along with Walker’s six goal haul, Patrick Dangerfield was absolutely magnificent with 39 disposals, including 15 contested possessions, and 14 inside 50m.
Round 6
Sydney Swans 1.2 7.6 12.7 14.10 (94)
Adelaide 5.2 8.3 11.6 15.9 (99)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Goodes 5, O'Keefe 3, Jack, Jetta 2, Bolton, Kennedy
Adelaide: Walker 5, Callinan, Petrenko 3, Jaensch 2, McKernan, Tippett.
BEST
Sydney Swans: Goodes, Bolton, Grundy, Jetta, Kennedy, Parker
Adelaide: Walker, Dangerfield, Petrenko, Thompson, Smith, Callinan
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Goodes (leg)
Adelaide: TBA
SUBSTITUTES
Sydney Swans: Adam Goodes replaced by Andrejs Everitt in the fourth quarter.
Adelaide: Shaun McKernan replaced by Jarryd Lyons in the fourth quarter.
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Ryan, Meredith, McInerney
Official crowd: 23,969 at SCG.
Adelaide handed the unbeaten Sydney Swans their first defeat for season 2012, stunning the home team in a nail-bitting five-point victory at the SCG.
Adelaide trailed by seven points at the final change, but managed to scrape over the line, with the Crows defence enduring attack after attack from the Swans.
Defensive acts late in the final term such as Brent Reilly’s mark running back with the flight and Taylor Walker’s desperate chase down on Lewis Jetta were crucial as Adelaide held on to win their toughest clash for the season to date.
Walker finished with five goals, while Scott Thompson collected 31 disposals.
Round 7
Adelaide 6.3 14.5 17.7 19.8 (122)
Geelong 3.2 4.2 6.8 10.12 (72)
GOALS
Adelaide: Walker 3, Johncock 2, van Berlo 2, Petrenko 2, Tippett, Thompson, Jenkins, Mackay, Jaensch, Tippett, Doughty, Porplyzia, Wright, Lyons
Geelong: Duncan 3, Christensen 2, Selwood 2, Podsiadly, Stringer, Chapman
BEST
Adelaide: Thompson, Petrenko, Reilly, van Berlo, Sloane, Johncock
Geelong: Selwood, Kelly, Duncan, Johnson, Corey, Chapman
INJURIES
Adelaide: Ricky Henderson (corked thigh)
Geelong: Tom Gillies (knee), Allen Christensen (calf)
SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: Ricky Henderson replaced by Jarryd Lyons at half time
Geelong: Tom Gillies (knee) replaced by Shannon Byrnes in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Farmer, Mitchell, McInerney
Official crowd: 35,535 at AAMI Stadium
Adelaide enjoyed one of its biggest victories of the season to-date in round seven, downing reigning Premiers Geelong by 50 points.
The Crows played a magnificent opening half booting 14 goals to lead by 63 points at the major break.
It was a tighter game in the second half, but nothing could prevent the Crows from taking the four points.
Adelaide’s dominance was evident through its 13 individual goal-kickers and 147-127 contested ball count.
Thompson led the way for the Crows with 34 disposals, while Jared Petrenko was a barometer with his fierce pressure and attack on the ball.
Rory Sloane was also a great contributor with 26 possessions and Taylor Walker also kicked three goals.
Round 8
CARLTON 5.2 5.4 7.6 8.7 (55)
ADELAIDE 4.5 9.6 13.9 19.10 (124)
GOALS
Carlton: Garlett 3, Simpson 2, Thornton, Henderson, Kreuzer
Adelaide: Callinan 3, Vince 3, Tippett 3, Mackay 2, Jenkins 2, Dangerfield 2, van Berlo, Thompson, Porplyzia, Petrenko
BEST
Carlton: Scotland, Judd, Ellard, Jamison, Walker
Adelaide: Dangerfield, Thompson, Sloane, van Berlo, Callinan, Jacobs
INJURIES
Carlton: Murphy (shoulder/AC joint), Henderson (groin), Duigan (soreness)
Adelaide: Mackay (corked back)
SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: Marc Murphy (shoulder/AC joint) replaced by Chris Yarran at half-time
Adelaide: David Mackay (back) replaced by Tom Lynch at three-quarter time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Farmer, Leppard, McInerney
Official crowd: 35,917 at Etihad Stadium
Adelaide snapped a 15-game losing streak in Melbourne, defeating Carlton by 69 points at Etihad Stadium.
The Crows kept the Blues to just two behinds for the first term and pushed out to a 39-point lead at three quarter time.
Adelaide was dominant around the stoppages, with Patrick Dangerfield leading the way with 35 disposals. Ian Callinan, Bernie Vince and Kurt Tippett all booted three goals.
Round 9
ADELAIDE 3.1 4.5 6.10 6.13 (49)
COLLINGWOOD 3.2 5.6 5.10 10.15 (75)
GOALS
Adelaide: Tippett 2, Smith, Wright, Petrenko, Henderson
Collingwood: Goldsack, Beams, Sidebottom 2, Shaw, Didak, Pendlebury, Wellingham
BEST
Adelaide: Reilly, van Berlo, Rutten, Sloane, Tippett, Dangerfield, Jaensch
Collingwood: Beams, Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Thomas, O'Brien, Blair
INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil
Collingwood: Keeffe (knee)
SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: Richard Douglas replaced Graham Johncock in the fourth quarter
Collingwood: Jamie Elliott replaced Alex Fasolo in the fourth quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stevic, Meredith, Bannister
Official crowd: 44,238 at AAMI Stadium
On the back of a record best start in the opening eight rounds, Adelaide was humbled by a fierce Collingwood outfit in round 10.
The Crows led for the majority of the game and took a slender seven-point lead into the final term, only to be held goalless in the fourth quarter as the Magpies ran away with a 26 point win.
Adelaide was wasteful in front of goal, particularly in the third term as the team booted 2.5.
Despite the result Ben Rutten was brilliant, holding gun Collinwood forward Travis Cloke goalless.
Round 10
FREMANTLE 3.3 6.6 10.9 12.10 (82)
ADELAIDE 5.2 10.5 12.6 17.9 (111)
GOALS
Fremantle: Pavlich 3, Crowley 2, Barlow 2, Mayne 2, Ballantyne, Mundy, Hill
Adelaide: Walker 4, Sloane 3, Wright 3, Callinan 2, Petrenko, Dangerfield, Jenkins, Porplyzia, Johncock
BEST
Fremantle: de Boer, Barlow, Crowley, Johnson, Pavlich, McPharlin
Adelaide: Sloane, Dangerfield, Petrenko, Wright, Jacobs, Walker
INJURIES
Fremantle: Stephen Hill (shoulder)
Adelaide: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: Hayden Crozier replaced Jack Anthony in the third quarter
Adelaide: Graham Johncock replaced Josh Jenkins in the third quarter
Reports: Bernie Vince (Adelaide) for striking Zac Clarke (Fremantle) in the third quarter
Umpires: Margetts, Stewart, Pannell (replaced by Dalgleish at quarter-time)
Official crowd: 31,392 at Patersons Stadium
The Crows held their nerve to record an important away win over Fremantle at Patersons Stadium by 29 points.
Adelaide kicked the last five goals of the game to win their fourth match on the road.
Fremantle hit the lead early in the third quarter, but inspirational efforts from Jared Petrenko, Matt Wright and Rory Sloane saw the Crows run away with the game.
Sloane (33 disposals) and Patrick Dangerfield (32 disposals) were fantastic for the Crows, while Taylor Walker kicked four goals in his return from suspension.
