Adelaide has suffered its first SANFL loss of the season after being overpowered by Central District to the tune of 54 points at My Money House Oval on Saturday afternoon.

The Crows kicked the first goal of the game through co-captain Hugh Greenwood in an evenly-matched opening term, but were completely outplayed after quarter-time.

The Bulldogs built a 26-point buffer by the main break and stormed home to the final siren, registering 13 scoring shots in the final term alone while holding Adelaide scoreless. Centrals also had a 16-3 inside 50m advantage in the last quarter in display of their dominance late in the game.

Adelaide’s inexperienced line-up included 10 members of the Club’s SANFL development squad, four first-year listed players and three SANFL debutants.

The young Crows were unable to match Central’s swift movement across the ground and pressure at the contest, as the Bulldogs bullied their way to their first win of the season.

The result continued Adelaide’s poor record at Elizabeth. The Crows haven’t won at My Money House Oval since the Club’s inaugural SANFL win in Round Three, 2014.

Veteran midfielder Scott Thompson made a promising return from an adductor injury and finished as Adelaide’s top ball-winner with 21 possessions, six tackles and five clearances.

Fellow onballer Greenwood continued his strong start to the SANFL season with 19 disposals, eight tackles and two goals while debutant John Boxer was lively with 13 possessions and a classy goal in the opening term.

SANFL stats: Round Three v Central District

First-year draftee Matthew Signorello warmed into the game well in his best performance as a Crow, notching 19 disposals and five inside 50ms.

Development player Louis De Michele held former Port Adelaide listed forward John Butcher to just one goal against the tide.

Ruckman Reilly O’Brien competed hard in the ruck against Darcy Fort and former Fremantle big man Jack Hannath. The 21-year-old also floated forward to boot a career-high three goals.

Crows SANFL coach Ryan O’Keefe said the result was a harsh lesson for his young side.

“It was a very good educational game for the boys today to show them that’s the standard,” O’Keefe said.

“If you don’t do the fundamentals right or play the brand of footy that you want to play against the good sides, then it’s going to be hard to compete.”

“We’ll learn from it.”

Rookie Ben Jarman copped a corky late in the second term but was able to finish the match. Defender Damon Hill suffered an eye injury late in the third term and didn’t feature after three-quarter time.

Adelaide hosts Port Adelaide at Maughan Thiem Hyundai Oval next Saturday afternoon in the Club’s only SANFL home game of the season.



ADELAIDE                  2.4   3.6   6.7   6.7 (43)
CENTRAL DISTRICT   3.5   7.8   10.9   13.19 (97)

GOALS
Adelaide: O’Brien 3, Greenwood 2, Boxer
Central District: Hoskin 4, Glenn 3, Waldhuter, Jenner, Furnell, T Schiller, Butcher

BEST
Adelaide: Greenwood, De Michele, Thompson, Boxer, Signorello, Murphy
Central District: T Schiller, J Schiller, J Waldhuter, D Fort, J Glenn, N Holman

INJURIES
Adelaide: Hill (eye)
Central District: Nil