Saturday night’s result in Darwin was an 87-point turnaround from the Round Eight match between Adelaide and Melbourne.
Prior to the match, Eddie Betts was the only Crow to have played at TIO Stadium in a game for premiership points. Betts lined up for Carlton in the club’s only ever game at the venue against the Western Bulldogs in Round 13 of his debut AFL season in 2005.
After assisting in two goals against Melbourne, Betts shares the all-time AFL record for goal assists. Betts has 254 career goal assists to sit level with Greater Western Sydney and Geelong star Steve Johnson.
Tom Lynch made a remarkable return from Viral Meningitis against the Dees, gathering a game-high 11 marks, 27 disposals and three goals. He assisted in two other goals and gained more metres (579) than any other Crow.
Lynch and captain Taylor Walker each took five marks inside attacking 50m.
Walker topped his team’s goalkicking with four. Lynch (three), Eddie Betts (two), Mitch McGovern (two) and David Mackay (two) also bagged multiple goals.
Walker, who kicked 4.4, had a total of eight scoring shots – the most by any player in a game in Darwin. It surpassed West Coast forward Jack Darling’s return of 5.2 against Melbourne at TIO Stadium in Round 14, 2015.
Mackay covered more ground (15.3 kilometres) than any other player on Saturday night.
Crows defender Rory Laird was the leading possession winner on the ground with 34. Laird also generated nine rebound 50ms – the equal-most of any player for the game and ranked second in the AFL for Round 17.
Promoted rookie Hugh Greenwood was Adelaide’s leading clearance winner with seven. Charlie Cameron finished with six clearances in a greater midfield role.
Cameron sent the ball inside forward 50m eight times – more than any other player and an equal-career high. Only Richmond star Dustin Martin (12) had more inside 50ms for the round than Cameron.
Greenwood and fellow onballer Brad Crouch applied a joint game-high seven tackles.
Despite being in front on the scoreboard all game, Adelaide won the tackle count 67 – 58.
Crows full-back Daniel Talia effected a round-high 12 spoils on Saturday night in arguably his best game of the season.
Adelaide kicked seven goals from stoppages – the Club’s second best result of the year. The Demons sourced only two goals from stoppages, which was their equal-lowest return in 2017.
On the weekend, the Crows kicked in excess of 100 points for the 11th time this season – the most of any team. Adelaide also held the Demons to their second-lowest score – 10.10 (70) – this year.
Adelaide kicked 7.2 (44) in the first quarter against Melbourne – the Club’s best start since Round Five and third-best opening term for the season.
The Crows led by 35 points at the first change – their second-biggest quarter-time lead of the season.
Adelaide has won every match this season when leading at quarter-time.
For the 12th time this season, Matt and Brad Crouch combined for 50 or more disposals (58).
Match statistics
Disposals
Adelaide – 394
Melbourne – 393
Disposal efficiency
Adelaide – 72%
Melbourne – 71%
Kicks
Adelaide – 224
Melbourne – 197
Handballs
Adelaide – 170
Melbourne – 196
Clearances
Adelaide – 45
Melbourne – 37
Inside 50ms
Adelaide – 52
Melbourne – 55
Contested possessions
Adelaide – 150
Melbourne – 150
Uncontested possessions
Adelaide – 245
Melbourne – 234
Tackles
Adelaide – 67
Melbourne – 57
Hit-outs
Adelaide – 50
Melbourne – 42
