ADELAIDE coach Brenton Sanderson has implored his club to remain humble after the Crows demolished reigning AFL premiers Geelong by 50 points on Saturday.
Sanderson praised an "incredible" opening half which laid the platform for Adelaide's thumping home win, 19.8 (122) to 10.12 (72).
"That is as good as I have seen these boys play this year," Sanderson said.
"That first half was incredible really."
Adelaide stunned Geelong with an early blitz that led to a match-winning 63-point half-time lead, with the Crows booting 14 goals in the first half.
The Crows were remarkably efficient, scoring 19 times from 26 entries into their attacking 50 metre arc in a devastating opening half.
Adelaide has now won six games in seven rounds to be the league's big improvers in Sanderson's first year as head coach.
The Crows finished 14th last season with just seven wins.
Sanderson, a former Geelong assistant, said the victory was sweet against his former club, but urged the Crows not to get carried away with their early season success.
"We're taking quite a humble approach," Sanderson said.
"But the boys do deserve some credit because they're playing some good footy ... but we won't get ahead of ourselves."
Geelong's dismal day was magnified by injuries to Tom Gillies (knee) and Allen Christensen (calf).
Their losses compounded the pre-game withdrawals of stars Jimmy Bartel (ankle) and Matthew Scarlett (thigh) as the Cats slipped to a 4-3 win-loss record.
The Cats have yet to win a contested ball count this season, with Adelaide prevailing 147 to 127 in the key statistic.
"It's a serious problem and we have got to improve it," coach Chris Scott said.
Geelong's vaunted midfield had their colours lowered by Adelaide, who were again inspired by club champion Scott Thompson.
The tenacious Thompson gathered 34 disposals, had 17 clearances and laid seven tackles in a standout display.
He received superb support from midfield colleague Rory Sloane (26 possessions), while Adelaide's forward line again functioned smoothly.
Spearhead Taylor Walker kicked three goals and fellow tall Kurt Tippett kicked two, as did livewires Jared Petrenko and Graham Johncock, who relished being released from his usual defensive post.
The Crows had 13 individual goal-kickers while Geelong had just six, headed by Mitch Duncan's three goals.
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
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the club.
