ADELAIDE coach Neil Craig has given his side a six out of ten for its performances in the first half of the season.

The Crows moved up to fifth on percentage on the AFL ladder by disposing of an undermanned North Melbourne to the tune of 44 points at AAMI Stadium on Sunday.

Adelaide appeared in trouble after dropping three straight games earlier in the year, but Craig said his side had showed improvement to claim four wins from its past four starts.

“We’d have to be rated as a pass-mark or average. I don’t think we’re an outstanding team,” Craig said after the game.

“Prior to the last four weeks, our supporters saw us sort of chugging along, but without getting the sort of football they wanted to see.

“We’ve bought in five or six brand new guys this season and we’ve lost guys like Nathan Bassett and Kris Massie. With all due respect, people don’t understand the holes that those players leave and you don’t fill them overnight.

Craig, who claimed Adelaide “dodged a bullet” against Essendon last week, was pleased with his team’s improvement around the stoppages and hardball-gets on Sunday.

He also singled out skilful forward Jason Porplyzia for his three-goal heroics in the low-scoring affair.

“Jason’s sensational in wet weather, that’s where he really shines and comes to the top,” Craig said.

“It’s called talent, real football talent. Last week against Essendon there was a ground ball that Jason gave off to Andrew McLeod for a snap. Very few players would take that ball cleanly.”

Skipper Simon Goodwin sat out the game with a knee injury, but was still heavily involved in the coach’s box.

Goodwin was miked up to assistant coaches Matthew Clarke and David Noble, who were positioned on the interchange bench and behind the goals, respectively.

“Simon’s role was to be in communication with other coaches we had in the stadium, to have a look from a different angle really and to experiment with that,” Craig said.

“I’m sure he’ll have some good feedback for us about our communication in the box and more about the clarity of communication to the players. It was a good exercise.”
Goodwin, along with ill duo Graham Johncock and Richard Douglas— who were late withdrawals from the game— is expected to be available for the game against the Sydney Swans in two weeks.

Craig made a point of questioning North Melbourne’s decision to pull big man David Hale out of the side prior to the start of the wet-weather clash.

On radio before the game, Roos’ assistant coach Darren Bewick suggested the move had been made for tactical reasons rather than injury.

“I’d get [football manager] John Reid to question that one because I’m of the understanding that, that [making a change before the game] can only happen because of injury or illness, not because of weather conditions,” he said.

“I don’t mind what rule we operate under as long as we’re all operating under the same one. That’s not an accusation, but I’d like to find out and we’d probably like to see a medical certificate there.”