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Spearhead Kurt Tippett booted six goals as Adelaide steamrolled Essendon by 84 points on Saturday night to breathe life into their AFL season.
The Crows triumphed 19.10 (124) to 5.10 (40) at AAMI Stadium to post consecutive wins for the first time this year.
Adelaide leapt from 14th to 10th on the ladder and, remarkably for a club that lost their initial six games, are only two wins outside the top eight.
Tippett and fellow forwards Patrick Dangerfield (four goals) and Taylor Walker and Ricky Henderson, who both kicked three goals, feasted on opportunities presented by a dominant midfield headed by Scott Thompson.
Tippett kicked four of his goals as the Crows blitzed the Bombers in a stunning opening half which set them on course for their fifth win of the season.
Adelaide ambushed Essendon with seven goals to one in the first quarter of a lopsided encounter against the Bombers, who offered meek resistance as they slumped to their fourth loss in a row.
Crows onballer Thompson was particularly damaging around the packs, frequently winning clearances and propelling his side forward in a fine 34 disposal display.
His midfield colleagues Richard Douglas (27 touches) and Nathan van Berlo (27 possessions) were also prolific ball winners.
Adelaide recorded 7.1 to 1.3 in an opening quarter which shellshocked Essendon and killed the contest.
Adelaide’s tide of scoring chances continued in the second stanza and the hosts took a commanding 61 point lead into halftime.
The Bombers kicked just two goals in a woeful first half which worsened when first gamer Tyson Slattery felled Crows playmaker Bernie Vince.
Slattery earned the wrath of the parochial 37,296 strong crowd with a crude head high shepherding attempt certain to be scrutinised by the AFL’s match review panel.
His blunder typified a bleak night for the Bombers, who if not for the tireless work of ruckman Patrick Ryder (two goals, 30 hit outs) would have lost by an even greater margin.
Ryder’s task in ruck was made easer by an ankle injury to his Crows counterpart Jonathon Griffin, who did not return after limping from the arena in the third term.
Essendon defender Henry Slattery was also sidelined for the entire second half by injury.
Adelaide coach Neil Craig praised his players’ attack on their Essendon opponents.
“Our attack on the ball carrier was outstanding,” he said.
“Our first half is as good as we have been at the ball carrier certainly since my time as senior coach here, they were fantastic at it.
“The kicking efficiency of Essendon was about 45 per cent in the first half, they were rushed all the time.”
Essendon coach Matthew Knights said his side paid dearly for their frequent turnovers.
“Our skills on the night were very average, we contributed to a sizeable margin in the end,” he said.
Knights described Essendon’s two goal first half as “abysmal” and said his chargers played immature football.
The Bombers said defender Henry Slattery’s match-ending injury was bruised ribs, putting him in doubt for their encounter with Melbourne next Sunday.
The Crows play struggling West Coast next Saturday with ruckman Griffin unlikely to make the trip to Perth due to his ankle injury.
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