A strong four-quarter performance from Adelaide has seen it topple Port Adelaide by 63-points in the final pre-season game on Saturday at Alberton Oval.
The Crows were in command early in the first term, with suffocating pressure and quick ball movement leading to scoring opportunities.
Jacob Templeton was a catalyst to Adelaide’s strong start and kicked two first quarter goals, while midfield duo Jackson Hately and Sam Berry found plenty of the ball.
“They’ve both had a really strong month of footy,” stand-in SANFL Head Coach Marco Bello said.
“Really pleasing to see not only the reward with the amount of touches but what they did with their ability to work all day, they went from first siren to last.
“They were really strong in the contest, they had a number of clearances and possessions but just as importantly they worked back defensively.”
Forward Jack Lewis made the most of his opportunities and kicked a goal in each quarter to finish with four for the day.
“Again, consistency from him every time he has played, he hasn’t put a foot wrong,” Bello said.
Adelaide’s key defenders Billy Frampton, Fischer McAsey and James Borlase were solid contributors as Port managed just 12 scoring shots for the game, including only two goals after half-time.
“Frampton was aerially really strong, rarely got beaten one-on-one,” Bello said.
“Along with McAsey and Borlase, our three key tall backs pretty much every time the ball went in there they were impacting the contest.”.
Adelaide will kick off its home and away season against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Friday afternoon, with the game a curtain raiser to the AFL Showdown.
Adelaide: 5.6 9.9 13.11 17.13 (115)
Port Adelaide: 2.0 6.1 7.3 8.4 (52)
GOALS:
Adelaide: Lewis 4, Templeton 3, Murphy, Newchurch 2, Taylor, Wright, McAdam, Berry, Freeman, Smithson.
Port Adelaide: Wildman 3, Visentini, Moore, Dumont, Saunders, Williams.
