Adelaide has stormed to its biggest SANFL win of the season, punishing reigning premiers West Adelaide by 94 points in Berri on Sunday afternoon.

A record opening quarter set up the 27.17 (179) to 13.7 (85) victory. Adelaide bolted out of the blocks with nine goals in what was the SANFL Crows’ best opening term since entering the competition in 2014.

Adelaide built a 39-point advantage by the first change, and led by 10 goals at half-time to all-but end the contest.

West Adelaide showed great spirit in the third term, kicking three consecutive goals against the flow, but the damage was already done.

The Crows piled on another eight majors in the final quarter to notch its best SANFL score ever and build more momentum heading towards the team’s first ever finals campaign.

Adelaide grew its advantage at every break and had winners all over the park as expected in such a landslide victory.

Harrison Wigg continued to push his case for an AFL debut with another complete performance in the midfield. The left-footer amassed a game-high 31 possessions, five clearances and kicked a goal in a consistent four-quarter display.

Young gun Riley Knight also impressed in just his second game back from a long-term ankle injury. Knight, whose father Rob grew up in the Riverland and played with Berri, booted four goals from 19 possessions and four marks.

Development player Dylan Schoenmakers, who won the SANFL’s Star Search award last round, booted a career-best four goals and looked dangerous all afternoon.

Barmera boy Jonathon Beech relished his Riverland homecoming. The 25-year-old, who was promoted to Adelaide’s senior list during the week, kicked four goals from 16 possessions to continue his strong run of recent form.

West Adelaide lead ruckman Daniel Webb injured his left ankle in the opening minutes of the clash, but battled out the match manfully against Crows combination Reilly O’Brien and Paul Hunter.

O’Brien in particular dominated around the stoppages. The 21-year-old won 41 hit-outs and three clearances. Hunter also stamped his presence in the middle and up forward with 20 hit-outs, six marks and a goal.

Tough nut onballers Dean Gore (29 possessions, seven tackles) and Mitch Grigg (26 possessions, six inside 50ms and three goals) were irrepressible in arguably Adelaide’s most ruthless SANFL performance.

A healthy crowd of over 2,000 fans enjoyed the historic Riverland duel.Both the Crows and Bloods have strong ties to the region, past andpresent, with Tony Modra among several favourite sons in attendance.

SANFL Stats: Round 21 v West Adelaide

Crows SANFL coach Heath Younie praised his side's uncompromising approach to the match.

"It was a really professional effort in the end," Younie said.

"The boys came up here and got the job done. I thought our ball movement and our transition out of the back half was, at times, really slick."

The SANFL Crows finish their minor round campaign against South Adelaide on Saturday afternoon at Hickinbotham Oval, a clash which Younie feels will provide the perfect dress rehearsal for finals football.

"That's where it starts and it allows us to give ourselves the best preparation for the following week," Younie said.

"It's a great reward for all the Club's effort to get our first crack at it (SANFL finals). But first of all, we go to Hickinbotham (Oval) in six days time and come up against a real quality outfit."

Ricky Henderson was a late withdrawal from the clash at Berri Oval. The Club reported no new injuries from Sunday’s match.


ADELAIDE              9.3   14.7   19.10   27.17 (179)
WEST ADELAIDE   3.0    5.1     9.5     13.7 (85)

GOALS
Adelaide: Knight 4, Beech 4, Schoenmakers 4, Grigg 3, Dear 2, Menzel 2, Gore 2, Milera, Wigg, Spriggs, Greenwood, Hampton, Hunter
West Adelaide: Middleton 4, Wasley-Black 3, Slattery, Green, O’Brien, Rankine, Webb

BEST
Adelaide: Wigg, Schoenmakers, Gore, Knight, O’Brien, Grigg, Greenwood
West Adelaide: O’Brien, Caire, Middleton, Schiller, Stevens, Favretto

INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil
West Adelaide: Nil