Adelaide’s SANFL team has gone down to reigning premiers Sturt by 49 points at Peter Motley Oval on Sunday.
Despite a strong start, the Crows were unable to keep up with the Double Blues over the course of the game and a flurry of final-term goals saw the home side run out 19.4 (118) to 10.9 (69) victors.
The Crows kicked the opening goal of the game thanks to rookie and Sturt premiership player Patrick Wilson, who came up against his old side for the first time.
Wilson was everywhere in the opening stanza, collecting nine disposals and launching several forays inside forward 50m.
Set shots from Elliott Himmelberg and Ben Davis along with some strong defensive efforts from swingman Harry Dear saw Adelaide go into the first change with a one-point lead.
The second term belonged to Sturt and saw the Double Blues kick away, registering five goals to Adelaide’s one.
Davis continued to fight hard all over the ground, his efforts highlighted by a superb defensive mark going back with the flight late in the quarter.
It seemed to spark a mini-surge from the Crows, who kicked a quick goal through development player Michael McMahon. Rookie Paul Hunter had a chance to make it two in a minute, but was unfortunately unable to finish after taking a pack mark from a centre clearance.
Adelaide just couldn’t close the gap, often kicking a goal only to see Sturt answer with one almost immediately.
Coach Ryan O’Keefe saw some positives, but lamented his team’s skill execution at times.
“I saw some improvement from individuals,” O’Keefe said.
“I thought (Jordan) Gallucci and (Myles) Poholke were good. For them to come back and play some good footy was nice. I think we did a lot of stuff right, it just comes down to the fundamentals of executing.”
Wilson was the Crows’ best, with 25 touches, 15 contested possessions and two goals. The highlight of the day for Adelaide was his huge drop punt in the final term that sailed through the posts from well outside 50m.
McMahon, in his first year on the Crows’ development list, was also excellent. He showed plenty of determination and skill to end with 18 disposals, 13 marks and goal.
Second-year player Gallucci showed his pace when exploding from congestion and hit targets on his right boot regularly, ending the game with 20 possessions and six tackles.
With 18 touches, Curtly Hampton looked good in his return from injury, displaying clean hands and laying an equal game-high 10 tackles.
In his first hit out of the year, Riley Knight looked smooth when in possession and got better as the day went on, finishing with 16 disposals.
Hampton and Knight got through their return games unscathed, as the Club reported no injuries over the weekend,
ADELAIDE 3.1 4.2 7.8 10.9 (69)
STURT 3.0 8.2 13.3 19.4 (118)
GOALS
Adelaide: Wilson 2, Himmelberg 2, McMahon, Poholke, Jarman, Rivers, Davis, Signorello
Sturt: Hone 4, Evans 4, Osborn 3, Samblich 2, McAdam, Kirkwood, Battersby, Stephens, Greenslade, Read
BEST:
Adelaide: Wilson, Gallucci, McMahon, Jarman, Leigh, Launer, Himmelberg
