ADELAIDE 6.4 13.5 19.7 22.12 (144) PORT ADELAIDE 1.2 4.8 7.13 11.20 (86)
GOALS: Adelaide: Jenkins 5, Betts 5, Lynch 4, Walker 2, McGovern 2, Laird, Milera, Port Adelaide: Wines 2, Young 2, Wingard, Boak, Howard
BEST: Adelaide: Lynch, Laird, Jenkins, Thompson, Jacobs, M. Crouch. Port Adelaide: R. Gray, Wines, Young, S. Gray, Lobbe, Homsch.
Injuries: Port Adelaide: C Wingard (hamstring).
CROWD: 51,585 at Adelaide Oval.
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Adelaide register first win of season
The Adelaide derby ends with the Crows registering a big win over the Power.
ADELAIDE:Â Some bright spark came up with the line "We fly as one" during a workshop at the Adelaide Football Club early last year, and the catchy phrase summed up the Crows' stunning 58-point win over Port Adelaide on Saturday.
They did everything as one – their impeccable teamwork, their tenacious approach on the ball, their relentless pressure. And they celebrated as one, their first successive victory over their greatest enemy since three in a row in 2011-12.
Their 22.12 (144) was identical to their equal-highest score against Port, and the awesome 6.4 opening term was also their best against the Power.
And given the fact almost everyone had written the Crows off pre-season with their 'horror draw" and the loss of Patrick Dangerfield, this was probably their finest home-town battle triumph.
The ease of this win made a mockery of the widely held belief the Power would simply bounce back into grand final contention. For most part, they were awful.
Something is terribly wrong with the Power including a suspect game plan that was outmanoeuvred for three quarters by St Kilda the previous week, and an ineffective forward structure with big-name recruit Charlie Dixon offering next to nothing.
Incredibly, Port went inside-50 15 more times than Adelaide, had only two fewer clearances, and three fewer scoring shots, yet were crushed. Adelaide were simply far more skilful and creative, and were far superior with their marking – 109-44. However, this wasn't about poor kicking for goal by Port, just incredibly poor effort.
New coach Don Pyke has taken these young Crows to an exciting new level based on the oldest and always the most vital ingredient – teamwork. Their game plan is filled with run-on play, teammates knowing where each other are, and most of all belief that it can be executed. But then, with little pressure bordering on laziness, anything works.
Adelaide's rampant ease of controlling the play was highlighted with the uncontested possessions 248 to164, and 64 more uncontested marks. Port had 13 individual players who kicked a behind; Adelaide had eight goalscorers including Tom Lynch with six, Eddie Betts (five), a brilliant Josh Jenkins (four) and Mitch McGovern and Wayne Milera who are exciting new inclusions this season.
Lynch really lifted from the previous week, and deserved to win his Showdown Medal as best-on-ground.
Adelaide's defence was solid, especially Rory Laird, who continues to get under the radar of most, and Talia, who beat Dixon. In contrast, Jack Homsch was one of few Port defenders who put in a good four-quarter effort, compounded by the fact the Crows, like the Saints, jumped their zone far too easily.
Port had their injury concerns, including two of their finest players, captain Travis Boak and Chad Wingard, but there are no excuses for this insipid effort. They were lauded for their fitness the previous week, but at no stage did they threaten to control any of the quarters.
The Power still leads the Showdown bragging rights 21-19, but right now that is the last thing in their minds. They have a lot to worry about, starting with Essendon here Friday night.
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