Adelaide’s SANFL side defeated Central District by 45 points at Elizabeth Oval on Saturday afternoon.

Battling wet and muddy conditions, the Crows were able to separate themselves after half-time, with a dominant third term being the difference in the 11.12 (78) to 4.9 (33) win.

The victory has Adelaide sitting at 7-2 - its best start to a SANFL season.

Here are the five key takeaways from the match.

Dominant third term sets up the win

The Crows flew out of the blocks in the third term and took control of the game.

The visitors executed more effectively and held the Bulldogs scoreless while piling on six goals.

The game was played in Adelaide’s forward half for the majority of the term, recording 25 inside 50s which they converted into 13 scoring shots.

Chris Burgess led the way with two goals in the opening four minutes of the term, before Luke Nankervis, Chayce Jones, Billy Dowling and Blake Drury all slotted majors.

“The second half I think we just played the conditions well, we took the territory game and were able to get a large chunk of that quarter in our half,” SANFL Senior Coach Matthew Wright said.

“Our forwards were able to go to work and do their thing which is a real pleasing result against a quality team.”

Murray returns

Defender Nick Murray made his return from a knee injury against Central District, looking at home down back, taking multiple intercept marks and spoils.

Murray's return to competitive football was solid, with his composure when the ball was in Adelaide’s defensive 50 evident.

“It was a really important game for him with the bye being next week, if he didn’t get this game in he would have missed another two weeks of footy,” Wright said.

“It was awesome for him to be out there today, I thought he had a really good balance between intercept marking and big kill spoils.”

Murray finished with 17 disposals, five marks, two inside-50s and five rebound 50s.

Boyle relishes time on ball

SANFL Development Player Jay Boyle embraced the opportunity to play more minutes on in the midfield, with his hard-nose style suited to the wet conditions.

Boyle went to work, and was able to extract the ball from stoppage, putting the Crows into attack. 

Wright said Boyle's role was important to the side's structure and game plan.

“He is such an important player for us, he understands the game of footy, he is a big body that just gets on with the job,” he said.

“He often puts himself on the dangerous mids who he nullifies and then goes at them the other way, which allows our AFL mids to go to work.”

Boyle recorded 19 disposals, seven tackles and four clearances.

McAndrew brings the pressure

Ruckman Lachlan McAndrew didn’t need much of the ball to leave his mark on the game, with his defensive pressure once the pill hit the ground evident all afternoon.

While dominant in the ruck with 43 hit-outs, it was once the ball was up for dispute that the 25 year-old showed his defensive prowess, laying a game-high 11 tackles.

“He is the ultimate competitor, the work that he does to give our mids first look but then his follow up has been consistent all year,” Wright said.

“His hunt and want to get at them and apply genuine pressure makes him a really important player for us.”

McAndrew amassed seven disposals, two marks and two inside-50s.

Equal contributors

Adelaide had an equal spread of contributors against Central District, with players across all three lines playing their part, according to Wright.

Adelaide’s defenders held strong during the second term when the Bulldogs had the momentum, its forwards took their chances in the third term, and the midfielders battled to win the clearances 41-32.

“You just want them to put out a performance that they are proud of,” Wright said.

“The equal number of contributors we had across all lines is probably the reason we got the result we did.

“It wasn’t any individual that kicks a bag of goals, a defender who gets all the intercept marks or a midfielder having 35 (disposals), it was a team spread and that’s something we preach.”

Adelaide’s SANFL side will not play next week, due to a bye.

Its next SANFL game will be against North Adelaide at Prospect Oval on Saturday, June 28, at 2.10pm.

SCOREBOARD

ADELAIDE: 1.5  4.5  10.12  11.12  (78)

CENTRAL: 1.3  3.8  3.8  4.9  (33)

GOALS

Adelaide: Burgess 4, Cook, Gallagher, Strachan, Nankervis, Jones, Dowling, Drury

Central: Grace, Larkins, Chisholm, Callinan

BEST:

Adelaide: Jones, Burgess, Gallagher, H.Boyle, McAndrew, Nankervis