ADELAIDE 5.9 9.18 16.21 20.23 (143)
FREMANTLE 1.0 2.1 4.2Â 6.7 (43)
GOALS: Adelaide -Â Otten 4, Cameron 3, Betts 3, Jenkins 3, Milera 3, Sloane 2, Jacobs, Walker. Fremantle -Â Tucker 2, Weller 2, McCarthy, Fyfe.Â
BEST:Â Adelaide -Â MÂ Crouch, BÂ Crouch, Jacobs, Lever, Sloane, Atkins. Fremantle -Â Weller, Blakely, Fyfe, Neale, Ibbotson, Spurr.
UMPIRES:Â Foot, Hosking, McInerney.
CROWD:Â 42,415 at Adelaide Oval.
Just one quarter doesn't make a season, but Adelaide's opening during one of the heaviest rain bursts imaginable on Adelaide Oval reminded us there is something special about them.
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Adelaide destroy Fremantle in wet
The Crows demonstrated their Premiership credentials as they destroyed the Dockers.
They flogged Fremantle unmercifully in the first half, 27 scoring shots to Freo's miserable three with their two goals coming from turnovers, and like this bitter night they never really warmed up in the second either. Game over early, and we'll be kind to the Dockers by suggesting the obvious – they didn't handle the conditions well.
It was a particularly disappointing – maybe disgraceful is a better description – effort by them on an occasion so special by fielding an AFL-record eight indigenous players in this, their round.
However, it wasn't about Fremantle's ineptness or lack of contested possession, but the showing of remarkable resilience by the Crows when, despite their top standing on the ladder, they found themselves needing to respond to the harshest of critics in testing circumstances.
Basically, it bucketed in that opening quarter, yet they returned to taking chest marks and making sure of every disposal. To set up their structures well, move the ball crisply, and move in droves almost like it was dry-weather football, was testimony to their determined approach to this contest.
Adelaide didn't rely on the ball slipping out of the hands of the Dockers; they worried about their own skills. The Crows harassed, chased and ultimately punished them so much in the first half rain they made their opposition look like motionless mops. And imagine if they kicked better, 9.18 with three shots hitting the post and in fairness, six behinds rushed.
After Fremantle was put through the wringer by Port Adelaide by 89 points in round two, the Dockers responded magnificently, winning six of their next seven. The great revival, they called it, but whether it was the rain or the curse of this ground, they left that good work back in Perth.
In the midst of Adelaide's superb team game was one of the most exciting prospects for some time – Hugh Greenwood, another basketballer who has adapted to this game very well, thank you. After kicking three goals against the Brisbane Lions in his debut, he showed there is more to him than being a dangerous forward.
Greenwood didn't dominate the scoreboard or the stats sheets, but as forecast he spent a lot of time on the ball and competed incredibly well against the likes of Nat Fyfe, David Mundy and Michael Walters. That's an average 163 games against one. Brilliant.
It was the Crouch brothers and Rory Sloane who kept the statisticians most busy. The special note stickies were placed against Adelaide's indigenous trio Eddie Betts, Wayne Milera and Charlie Cameron. Betts had won the goal of the year award twice in this corresponding round, but seemed to be going more the marking prize given his huge leaps, albeit unsuccessful. It was the selfless, disciplined acts in this team demolition of the Dockers that earned them praise.Â
After trailing by 59 points at half-time, and then Betts kicking two goals just a minute and 33 seconds into the second half, doesn't say a lot for the Dockers' response to the challenges set by their coach Ross Lyon. Fyfe's 75-metre goal thanks to a great shepherd raised the spirit, but only for a fleeting moment as the onslaught continued.
The continued domination in the second half ticked another box on Adelaide's 'things to do' list as they had not displayed ruthlessness of late. The hunger was like their early games this season, and the percentage may prove crucial in the run home. After stamping their authority so much in the first half, and then producing some awesome play in relatively dry conditions in the third, it was impressive.
As you may have guessed, there wasn't a lot one could say about Fremantle. They were awful, but their form over the previous eight rounds suggests they are not that bad. Maybe no one has told them not to drink the water in this city.
VOTES
MÂ Crouch (Adel) 8
BÂ Crouch (Adel) 8
SÂ Jacobs (Adel) 8
JÂ Lever (Adel) 8
RÂ Sloane (Adel) 8