Crows captain leads the way
Kuwarna (Adelaide) skipper Jordan Dawson triggered a scoring avalanche as his team thumped Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) by 99 points in Sunday’s twilight fixture.
Dawson’s masterly 32-disposal display highlighted the Crows’ 21.11 (137) to 5.8 (38) triumph at Adelaide Oval.
Skipper Jordan Dawson led from the front as the Crows recorded an emphatic win over the Eagles.Credit: AFL Photos
Adelaide amassed 7.4 to 0.2 in the first stanza with the dazzling Dawson kicking two goals, setting up another, gathering 12 disposals and having five inside-50s in the quarter.
“Daws’ first quarter led the way and it seemed like the guys just got on board and momentum was then with us,” Crows coach Matthew Nicks said.
“He leads by example on the field, I think that’s what everyone can see.
“He has got the other part too ... there’s a reason we picked him as our captain, it wasn’t just because of what he was doing on-field.
“He’s as good as any.”
No excuse as Eagles’ wings clipped
West Coast entered the game with three wins from their past six matches but slumped to their biggest loss of the season.
“I don’t think anything can be an excuse for what we did today,” Eagles coach Adam Simpson said.
“You have got to be honest, pragmatic, a sense of understanding that some days you’re not going to have great days.
“But I thought we were sort of past these type of losses.”
Veteran Jeremy McGovern (25 possessions, seven marks) battled against the tide for the Eagles, Tim Kelly’s 23 disposals included eight clearances, while No.1 draft pick Harley Reid was largely subdued – five disposals in the opening half and 14, plus a goal, for the match.
West Coast couldn’t manage a goal until the seventh minute of the second quarter and trailed 3.4 to 13.5 at halftime.
Healthy percentage gives Crows hope
Kuwarna boosted their percentage by more than 12 points to a healthy 113, much better than their 12th position on the ladder would suggest.
In fact, while they remain two wins and a draw (10 points) outside the top eight, the percentage is the sixth-best in the competition and better than four of the teams inside the top eight.
Their season stands at four wins, a draw and six losses, after they had 13 goalscorers in Sunday’s match. Winger Chayce Jones kicked three, while Dawson, Taylor Walker, Darcy Fogarty, Josh Rachele, Brayden Cook and Ben Keays slotted two each.
Winger Lachlan Sholl had a game-high 34 disposals, midfielders Rory Laird (31, 10 clearances) and Matt Crouch (30) were busy, and Nicks had the luxury of resting young on-baller Jake Soligo, who was substituted at halftime with his side 61 points up.
AAP