Billy Frampton led the way in one of the victories of Adelaide’s SANFL season, defeating Port Adelaide by 13 points in the State League Showdown at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
Thriving in his new key defender role, Frampton had 30 disposals and took 13 marks, while in his first SANFL Crows outings James Rowe finished with 25 disposals and two goals.
Lachie Sholl also impressed with 22 disposals while Sam Berry added in 19 touches and 11 tackles.
The Crows kicked the first four goals of the contest and managed to hold their lead for the entire match to register the sixth win of their 2021 campaign.
Holding off a fast-finishing Port Adelaide, Crows SANFL coach Michael Godden said it was a memorable victory.
“I was really proud of the players in the second half,” Godden said.
“They were challenged consistently and they rallied.
“Even late in the game it could have gone either way – it was goal-for-goal and the boys showed some really good maturity.
“Billy’s couple of games back at SANFL level have been really good, he's taking contested marks and he's a good user of the ball.
“It's not always easy to go from one end to the other but sometimes you find a new avenue and it's something you didn't know before.”
Young forward Lachie Gollant finished with four majors, 13 disposals and six marks (four contested), while McAdam also managed multiple goals (two) from 13 touches.
Unfortunately, Luke Pedlar’s day was cut short as he was helped from the ground during the first term with an ankle injury.
The half time scoreboard read 6.3 (39) to 4.5 (29).
Frampton continued to lead Adelaide’s disposal count with 15 touches and five marks, ahead of Cameron Hutchens (14 disposals) and Ronin O’Connor, Rowe and Josh Worrell who each had 12 disposals to half time.
The Magpies again found an early goal in the third term when tall forward Ollie Lord marked 20m out in the scoreboard pocket, but Adelaide hit back with the immediate response when Fischer McAsey finished from 50m following a strong mark on the lead.
Rowe proved important in the third term and with his sixth touch of the quarter booted Adelaide 22 points clear of its rivals.
Gollant’s fourth goal delivered the nail in the coffin at the 18-minute mark of the final term as Adelaide went 14 points clear.
Jarrod Lienert and Rowe registered late goals for their sides, but the Crows proved too strong in the Round 16 clash.
Five players made their SANFL Crows debut’s on Saturday, including Berry, Sholl, Rowe and development squad players Hutchens and Hayden Kernahan.
The Crows travel to Maughan Thiem Kia Oval next Sunday to face Woodville-West Torrens.
Adelaide 4.0, 6.3, 9.4, 13.4 (82)
Port Adelaide 2.2, 4.5, 6.7, 10.9 (69)
Goals: Gollant 4, McAdam, Rowe 2, Hutchens, Kennedy, Marshman, McAsey, Newchurch
Best: Frampton, Rowe, Gollant, McAsey, McAdam, Berry
