Adelaide has made it two wins from two to start their SANFL season, defeating North Adelaide by 38-points on Saturday afternoon at Prospect Oval.    

Hately’s field day

Midfielder Jackson Hately was a class above through the middle of the park, collecting plenty of the ball to finish with a game high 35 disposals as well as being rewarded for his hard running with a goal.

Hately’s ability to impact the game through all four quarters pleased SANFL coach Michael Godden. 

“He’s been really consistent this year,” Godden told AFC Media.

“It’s one thing to be in good form but consistency is important and he’s rolling up every week and putting out those sorts of games.”

Berry on top

Along with Hatley, Sam Berry continued to put pressure on the AFL squad, being a standout in the win, with 26 disposals, five clearances and a goal.

Berry had a superb opening quarter with nine touches and goal to get the Crows off on the right foot.

“Coming off the back of an unbelievable game last week, he probably didn’t reach those heights but was still very, very good,” said Godden

Stalling North’s momentum

A decisive moment in the game came during the second term when North kicked three goals in three minutes to reduce the margin to just eight points.

Godden’s men were able to hold their nerve and answer back through Tariek Newchurch and a bending goal from Wayne Milera to give the Crows some breathing room heading into the half-time break.

“It was really important, we needed to make some adjustments at the break,” he said.

“We just needed to get some score on the board and keep that buffer and the guys did that, which allowed us to regroup at halftime and have a really strong third-quarter.” 

Thilthorpe makes his presence felt

Riley Thilthorpe proved to be a handful all day for North Adelaide’s defenders, providing a target around the ground with nine marks and making his presence felt up forward kicking three goals.

Thilthorpe did not act alone, with Darcy Fogarty and Shane McAdams also offering strong support.

“Those guys I thought their work to bring the ball to ground and then hold the ball in the forward 50 was really good,” Godden said.

Goal kicking shared around  

It was an equal performance up forward for the Crows, with the side sharing the scoring duties around to have 12 different goal scorers.

“It’s funny how that works, you don’t plan for it, but you do want to play a team game and team game means that sometimes you don’t need to focus on one individual,” he said.

“We did that last week and we have done it again, so it’s pleasing because it certainly  makes it harder for the opposition to match up on us.”

Captain Matthew Wright continued where he left off last week, to lead the teams goal kickers tally with four, having now kicked nine over the opening two rounds.

Adelaide’s next game will be against Glenelg on Friday evening at ACH Group Stadium, with the first bounce set for 4:10pm.

ADELAIDE: 5.5  8.9  13.10 17.14 (116)
NORTH:      1.5  5.7  8.9      11.11 (78)

GOALS:
Adelaide: Wright 4, Thilthorpe 3, Strachan, McAdam, Berry, Soligo, Newchurch, Milera, Hately, Fogarty, Pedlar, Nankervis
North: Bauer 5, Lockyer 2, Hilder, Young, Stapleton, Combe