Adelaide has returned from the SANFL bye in style with a hard-fought 30-point win over Glenelg to reclaim top spot on the League ladder.

The Crows led all afternoon but were consistently challenged by the Bays, with Adelaide’s advantage never extending beyond 20 points through the first three quarters.

The Tigers closed to within nine points with back-to-back majors early in the last term, before steadying goals to Jonathon Beech and Cam Ellis-Yolmen eventually put down the resistance.

Adelaide went on to kick four of the five final goals of the match to seal a 17.14 (116) to 13.8 (86) victory in front of almost 4,000 fans at Gliderol Stadium.

It was Adelaide’s fourth SANFL win of the year and the Club’s second victory in succession over Glenelg, following a 66-point win in the final round of last season.

Category B rookie pair Alex Keath and Hugh Greenwood were outstanding at either end of the ground for Adelaide.

Keath, playing his first game of football in six years since crossing from cricket, was staunch in defence. He attacked every contest aggressively and stifled several Glenelg thrusts with strong spoils. Keath finished with six marks (two contested) and an equal-game high six rebound 50ms from 15 possessions.

Greenwood also impressed with his physicality in his best game of his short Crows career. The ex-basketballer booted three goals from a personal-best 22 possessions and hauled down two huge pack marks during the second and third terms.

Tough midfielder Dean Gore set the standard for Adelaide early. The 19-year-old threw himself into every contest to win 27 possessions (13 contested), five clearances and eight marks. Gore also laid five tackles.

SANFL Stats: Round Five

Jonathon Beech won several 50-50 contests at crucial moments and used the ball well whenever he was involved. The mature-age rookie took a game-high three contested marks and kicked three goals from his 19 possessions.

Experienced pair Ricky Henderson (31 possessions, 10 marks) and Andy Otten (25 possessions, eight marks) controlled the game from defence. The duo proved impenetrable in the air and both players used their neat skills to set Adelaide up from half-back.

Otten copped a heavy hit off the ball midway through the final term from Glenelg’s Tim Sumner.

Ruckman Paul Hunter booted two goals in his SANFL debut for Adelaide following pre-season ankle surgery.

Despite never relinquishing the lead, Crows midfield development coach Ryan O’Keefe said Adelaide was outplayed in the clinches for much of the first half.

“Glenelg came with a real hunger for the contest,” O’Keefe said.

“Around the contest and around the stoppages they out-worked us and just wanted it a little bit more. We just made sure we stuck to our own principles, and in the end, we finally kicked away.”

Both teams were wasteful after the half-time break, with five of the first six scores following the main change all missing the mark.

O’Keefe felt the Crows blew several chances to ice the game earlier.

“We didn’t make the most of our opportunities. We just couldn’t put them away,” O’Keefe said.

“It doesn’t matter what stat you look at – scoreboard pressure is the most important.

“That was probably the difference between our last quarter compared to the other three, was our execution and our delivery going forward.”

Left-footer Troy Menzel was concussed during the opening term and didn’t return to the field after quarter-time.

The result sets up a SANFL blockbuster next Sunday afternoon when Adelaide confronts the League’s only other undefeated team South Adelaide at Hickinbotham Oval.

 

 

ADELAIDE     4.1   9.5   12.10   17.14 (116)
GLENELG       3.1   7.3   10.7   13.8 (86)

GOALS
Adelaide: Greenwood 3, Beech 3, Grigg 2, Spencely 2, Hunter 2, Wigg, Lowden, Knight, Ellis-Yolmen, O’Brien
Glenelg: Sumner 3, Scott 3, Nicholson 2, Alleway 2, McGinty, Milera, Johansen

BEST
Adelaide: Beech, Keath, Greenwood, Gore, Henderson, Otten
Glenelg: Sellar, Agnew, McGinty, Scott, Reinbrecht, Johansen

INJURIES
Adelaide: Menzel (concussion), Otten (head knock)
Glenelg: Nil

ATTENDANCE: 3,787