LESSONS learnt from the loss to St Kilda and hard work at the stoppages were the key drivers behind Adelaide’s win over Port Adelaide in Showdown XXVII, according to midfielder Brent Reilly.

Reilly collected a game-high 32 possessions as the Crows overcame a slow start to romp home to a 70-point victory, courtesy of a seven goal to nil second quarter, which started the turnaround.

The ability to apply similar high-pressure tactics as the Saints inflicted on them the week before was what enabled the Crows to overrun their opponents.

They also became the first team since round 10 to win the week after being beaten by the Saints.

“We took a lot out of the game last week [against St Kilda] and the pressure they put on us last week was unbelievable," Reilly said.

“We went out there today and did exactly the same against Port as St Kilda did to us last week.

“It was a great result. We worked on it [pressure] in training and to come up with a great win like that was fantastic.”
 
Stoppages had a major influence when the sides met in round six earlier this season when Port smashed the Crows in that department and took the game by 26 points.

But the withdrawal of Port ruckman Dean Brogan helped Adelaide's cause on Sunday.

Reilly said Adelaide was well aware of the importance of getting first use of the ball.

“They smashed us out of the stoppages [last time against Port] and we knew that was their strength," he said.

“It was a real focus for us going into the game and we came out with a good result.

“We were getting in a bit too close [in the first half] and the ball was getting out so we just gave ourselves a bit more room going around the stoppages and we did really well after half time.”

The win propelled the Crows to equal third on the ladder, but Reilly said the focus was solely on next week’s trip to Skilled Stadium and not on making the top four.

“We’ve got a tough couple of games coming up, but we’re looking forward to going down to Geelong and hopefully we’ll come up with a good win down there, which would be great for us.

“We’ve just got to keep winning week-in, week-out and if we can get in the top four that’s a bonus, but we’re just taking it one week at a time.”

Reilly was pleased with his performance, which left him an outside chance of winning the Showdown medal, in the end won by Nathan Bock.

However, the Crows ability to run out four quarters comfortably was of greater significance and further highlighted the excellent fitness levels of the side.

“We always feel fit as a team and we always back ourselves in and to play like that over four quarters is fantastic," he said.

“I responded really well to being back in the team over the last three weeks and I felt like my performance was solid today.”