Crows too hot for Dogs

Adelaide 20.12 (132) def. Western Bulldogs   7.13 (55)

Adelaide has imposed itself on the competition, disposing of a Western Bulldogs outfit who had been in top form by 77 points at AAMI Stadium this afternoon.

With a club record 14 goal kickers, the Crows stretched their lead at every change after a blistering first quarter to trounce the Bulldogs, in what was a very poor showing from the visitors after a month of dazzling football.

It was a commanding performance, especially considering the players missing from Adelaide’s lineup. Already without Brett Burton, Ian Perrie and Scott Welsh, they lost skipper Mark Ricciuto and Scott Thompson before the game, with Hayden Skipworth and first gamer Jason Porplyzia coming into the side.

Simon Goodwin was Adelaide’s best, picking up 29 touches and booting three goals, while also limiting the effectiveness of Bulldog Scott West. For the Bulldogs, Nathan Eagleton was the standout, picking up 34 touches and taking 13 marks around the ground.

In a tough start, the Bulldogs were not allowed to play their natural free-flowing game as the Crows took an early lead. Adelaide owned the corridor and used this to great effect, kicking long and precisely, while the Bulldogs were forced around the wings and flanks.

Adelaide’s dominance was particularly evident when, in the 18th minute of the first quarter, the Crows entered their forward fifty 14 times compared with the Bulldogs’ three.

Some of the veteran Crows in Ben Hart and Andrew McLeod were important players in the first term, collecting nine touches each as Adelaide went into the first break with a commanding 33 point lead.

The run continued in the second quarter, with Brent Reilly kicking his second goal of the game within the first two minutes. Bereft of options in attack and unable to play the style of game that has won them so many new fans in the past month, the Bulldogs were uninspiring and unorganized.

After going goalless for over a quarter of football, youngster Farren Ray broke the shackles and put through much needed major for the Western Bulldogs, although they still trailed by 34 points.

Despite only three goals being kicked in the term, the Crows were able to extend their quarter-time lead, going into the main break with a 39-point advantage.

Lindsay Gilbee had an excellent first half, picking up 20 possessions off the half backline, while the Crows had an even spread of contributors – five players collected more than 14 touches in the opening half.

As was the trend in the previous two terms, Adelaide got out of the blocks quickly, with Goodwin slotting one through from outside the fifty in the first minute. Regardless of consecutive goals from Brad Johnson and Adam Cooney, the Crows sustained their supremacy, with Porplyzia booting his first goal of his career, which effectively put the Bulldogs out of the match.

Even though their intensity and ferocity lifted in the final stages of the third quarter, the Bulldogs still lost the term; Adelaide led by 53 points at three-quarter-time.

Again, it took under a minute for the Crows to get on the board in the final stanza, Porplyzia’s second goal rubbing salt into the Bulldogs’ wounds. Unfortunately for the Dogs, Porplyzia’s goal would not be their last – Adelaide slammed on a further five majors to hammer home the win.

Adelaide will be looking to improve their position further in next week’s clash with rivals Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Saturday night, while the Bulldogs face another highly fancied contender in St Kilda at the Telstra Dome on Saturday afternoon.

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