ADELAIDE 1.1.0 1.4.0 1.9.7 1.9.7 (70)
GEELONG 0.2.3 1.4.8 1.4.9 1.7.13 (64)
Nine pointers: Adelaide: R Atkins. Geelong: D Menzel.
Goals: Adelaide: C Cameron 2 R Atkins 2 T Walker 2 B Smith H Dear T Menzel. Geelong: B Parfitt D Lang D Menzel G Horlin-Smith N Cockatoo R Stanley Z Tuohy.
Umpires: Chris Kamolins, Andrew Mitchell, Leigh Haussen, Craig Fleer.
Venue: Richmond Oval.
A young and understrength Adelaide outfit overcome Geelong by six points in a tight, see-sawing AFL pre-season match.
The Crows on Sunday recorded their first trial win, beating the winless Cats 1.9.7 (70) to 1.7.13 (64) in warm conditions at Richmond Oval in Adelaide.
Geelong dominated possession early before the home side lifted their intensity in front of 3800 fans.
Adelaide set up the win with a blistering third term in which they kicked five goals to none, before holding off the fast-finishing Cats.
Without experienced ball winners Rory Sloane, Brad Crouch and Scott Thompson, the Crows' midfield struggled to get their hands on the ball at times, losing the possession count heavily.
But they were accurate and utility Rory Atkins starred with three majors, including a booming supergoal from 60 metres out.
Matt Crouch (28 possessions) was prolific, Taylor Walker and Charlie Cameron booted two goals each, while draftees Jordan Galucci and Myles Poholke showed glimpses and earned praise from coach Don Pyke.
"We saw some guys play their first game for the footy club and they showed some positive signs," Pyke said.
"They weren't stellar performers but there were enough signs to show they have the potential to play regular AFL footy."
For the Cats, defender Lachie Henderson showed his class, gathering 22 possessions and 11 marks as he cut off several forward thrusts by the Crows.Recruit Zach Tuohy (27 possessions) was lively and rookie Zach Guthrie, the younger brother of teammate Cameron, positioned himself well and was strong overhead.
Captain Joel Selwood (14 disposals) came through his first hitout, while Patrick Dangerfield (11 disposals) and Daniel Menzel (two goals) had an impact before being rested at half-time.
Despite the loss, Geelong assistant coach James Rahilly saw the positives as the team tried some different midfield set-ups and sent Dangerfield forward.
"We put some players in different positions and tried a few things around the ball," he said.
"The pleasing thing was our pressure in the first half and our ability to score from our defence in the forward 50."
A free kick against Adelaide midfielder Dean Gore at a boundary throw in raised questions about the new third man up rucking rule.
Gore was hit in the back by the ball and had a free paid against him, deemed to be third up in the ruck contest, resulting in a shot on goal for the Cats.
"He wasn't trying to contest the ball – it was just that the ball hit him," Pyke said.
"If that led to a goal, I'd hate to see that happen in a big game."
Gore hit his head on the turf in a tackle and had concussion but jogged off, while Geelong forward Lincoln McCarthy tweaked his shoulder.
Both sides are likely to field close to full-strength line-ups in their final pre-season matches next weekend, the coaches said.
AAP