Matt Crouch says the Crows midfielders responded to their coach’s half-time call to make amends for a lopsided contested possession count against North Melbourne.
After a dominant but wasteful first quarter in which Adelaide kicked 3.8 (25), the Kangaroos gained the ascendancy in the second quarter on the back of their work around the contest.
Led by Andrew Swallow, Jack Ziebell, Trent Dumont and Ben Cunnington, the Roos generated 15 forward 50m entries and kicked five goals for the term to lead by four points at the main change. The visitors also led contested possession by 14.
Crouch said Don Pyke challenged his ball winners to respond.
“It was a big focus going into the second half,” Crouch said after the game.
“We really needed a lift around the midfield because, especially, in the second quarter we got smashed around the ball.”
Seasoned midfielders Scott Thompson and Rory Sloane, Crouch brothers Matt and Brad and ruckman Sam Jacobs worked together to lift the home team.
Sloane had 20 of his 30 possessions, which included a game-high 19 contested, in the second half. He also laid more tackles (13) than any other player on the ground.
“I love playing with Sloaney. You know what you’re going to get from him every week,” Crouch said of the in-form Crow.
“This year he’s been unbelievable. The way he attacks the ball and sets the tone for us around the stoppage is massive.”
Thompson recovered from a quiet first half, in which he won only seven possessions, to finish with 24 touches and a game-high nine clearances.
Matt Crouch was consistent throughout, amassing 32 disposals (16 contested), eight clearances, seven tackles and two goals in his most complete performance at the level.
Making his first AFL appearance since Round Eight, Brad Crouch improved as the game wore on.
He collected 20 possessions, won three clearances and laid nine tackles in 68 per cent game time.
“It was good to get him (Brad) back out there, and play with him again,” Matt said.
“Hopefully, he can play a lot more footy going forward.”
Pyke was pleased with the performance of both brothers, and the midfield as a collective.
“Matt was really good and Brad showed some positive signs,” Pyke said.
“Some of Brad’s contested work was at the level we expect and his effort in the last quarter really highlighted that.
“Everyone sort of chipped in and carried the load tonight. The evenness of our group is one of its strengths.”
Adelaide ended up winning the contested possession count by 21.
The Crows also laid 85 tackles following on from a season-high 89 tackles against West Coast.
“It was a big game for us coming in, so it was very pleasing to get the result,” Crouch said.
“I thought we controlled the game for most of the night.
"They came back at us in the second quarter like the good team they are.
“We were able to respond, but our kicking was probably one thing that let us down.”
The Crows generated an impressive 40 scoring shots but recorded a Club record 28 behinds.
Crouch said the conditions at Adelaide Oval were tricky … but not that tricky.
“It was a bit windy, but that’s probably not a good enough excuse I don’t think!” he said.
“Even before the game, kicking at goals it was pretty swirly out there. The breeze seemed to change a fair bit throughout the night.
“We’ll work on our goalkicking during the week.It was good we got that amount of shots though. It means we’re getting the ball in there enough.”
The 33-point win over North Melbourne was Adelaide’s fifth straight victory.
The Crows will now spend two weeks on the road, playing Melbourne and then Carlton at the MCG.
“Both of those teams have played patches of really good footy this year,” Crouch said.
“They’re two big games for us again.
“It’s always good to play on the ‘G’ – we don’t get to play many games there.
“We’re in good form and confident in the way we’re playing, so hopefully we can continue that.”
