1. Fans beat the heat
Unley Oval proved to be a picturesque setting for Sunday’s NAB Challenge clash. Despite a predicted top of 39 degrees early in the week, fans flocked to the southern suburbs venue and were treated to slightly milder conditions and a free-flowing Crows onslaught on the field. Adelaide piled on 20 goals and two super goals to wow over 8,000 spectators who packed the Jack Oatey stand and the grassy banks of Unley Oval in South Australia’s first taste of AFL footy for 2016.

Full match report

2. Team defence stands tall
More likely to please Don Pyke in his first match in charge, however, was the effectiveness of Adelaide’s team defence. Led by All Australian full-back Daniel Talia, who plucked a game-high four intercept marks, West Coast managed just 7.6 (48) for the game after kicking three of the first four majors of the match. Adelaide also held the undermanned Eagles scoreless in the second quarter. Rory Laird (21 possessions) continued where he left off last season, operating at 95 per cent disposal efficiency as the distributor across half-back.

3. New season, new faces
Five new Crows were on show against the Eagles on Sunday in trade recruits Paul Seedsman and Dean Gore, second-year forwards Harry Dear and Mitch McGovern, and speedy draftee Wayne Milera. Pleasingly, they all had their own moments to shine. Dear and McGovern both found the scoreboard in their first games, while teen midfielder Gore slotted two goals in his return to his junior club’s home ground. Former Magpie Seedsman unleashed a number of trademark long passes, while Milera was particularly impressive with his line-breaking speed and neat skills helping him run rings around his Eagles opponents.

4. Anytime, anywhere for Eddie
It’s only February, but someone forgot to tell Eddie Betts. His performance was an enthralling reminder of the sheer talent of the livewire Crow. Betts kicked six goals in total and took to the skies regularly for a number of hanger attempts much to the delight of the pro-Crows crowd. Alongside link-up player Tom Lynch, Betts notched a match-high five score assists and set the standard high early for many of his younger teammates. “Eddie’s just got great pride in his performance,” said Don Pyke in his post-match press conference. “Regardless of the stage, he wants to perform and that’s the quality of a really good player.”

5. More to come
Adelaide was expected to perform strongly against a West Coast unit missing a host of key players including lead ruckman Nic Naitanui, Brownlow Medallist Matt Priddis and key forward Josh Kennedy. Next Sunday’s clash with Fremantle, however, could see a largely different Crows team take to the field. Don Pyke suggested Adelaide could take a younger team interstate to WA to take on the Dockers, where he hopes to unleash Brad Crouch, Rory Sloane and recruit Troy Menzel for their maiden outings of the year.