A dominant display from Riley Thilthorpe propelled Adelaide to a comfortable 19-point match simulation win over Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval on Friday evening. 

Thilthorpe's heroics were made all the more impressive given he spent part of the game playing in the midfield, rather than his usual position in the forward line.

The Crows were in control from the jump with plenty of avenues towards goal.

Veteran Taylor Walker also impressed in front of the sticks, while plenty of other Crows flexed their muscles in a dominant outing.

For the Crows, Josh Rachele spent plenty of time in the midfield, Captain Jordan Dawson moved forward to great effect and Lachlan McAndrew impressed in the ruck.

Fresh off kicking his fourth goal, Thilthorpe raised eyebrows when he moved to the midfield in the second quarter. Rachele spent time in the midfield, freeing  Dawson up to play forward. The Skipper played an important hand in setting up multiple goals, giving the Crows’ forward line another dimension.

Crows Coaching Director Murray Davis said Thilthorpe's athleticism was an asset for the team and gave the coaches plenty of flexibility.

"It's pretty handy to have a guy who can run and cover the ground like Riley does," Davis said.

"We've had a look at that (Riley in the midfield) over the pre-season and we'll continue to explore that."

Davis said the match was used to trial players in different positions in the squad's first competitive hit-out against an opposition this year, but the most pleasing aspect was coming away unscathed.

"It's good to get through with a clean bill of health, that's always important in these trial games," Davis said.

"It was good to have a look at a few different things, we were able to expose a few 'first-gamers' albeit it's not in the home-and-away season, but that was good as well.

"So overall we are very happy."

The Crows continue their pre-season with an AAMI Community Series game against Fremantle at Rushton Park, Mandurah, Perth.

SCOREBOARD

PORT ADELAIDE    2.4     3.7      6.11     10.15 (75)
ADELAIDE              4.2      7.8      11.8     14.10 (94)

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Lukosius 2, Berry, Byrne-Jones, Evans, Whitlock, Lord, Richards, Burgoyne, Drew.
Adelaide: Thilthorpe 5, Walker, Pedlar 2, Fogarty, Neal-Bullen, Keays, Rachele, Jones.