The Adelaide Crows were simply too good for the Gold Coast Suns when they travelled to face them at Metricon Stadium on Saturday afternoon, kicking 22 goals to 11 to run out the 75-point winners.
REPORT: TEX BACK IN FORM, CROWS SMASH SUNS
Final score
Gold Coast Suns 11.8.74
Adelaide Crows 22.17.149
The limping Gold Coast Suns will invite the Adelaide Crows to Metricon Stadium this afternoon, trying to snap a five-game losing streak. Join The Roar for all the live highlights and AFL action from 2:10pm (AEST).
The Suns have been a mess as of late after winning their first three games of the season. Since then, the Gold Coast outfit has been marred by off-field drama as well as their less than ideal form on the park.
In their last three outings the Suns have been absolutely trampled, going down by 120 to Geelong, 73 to Melbourne and 91 to GWS, leaving them deep in the bottom half of the ladder.
The Crows have followed a similar ‘rise then fall’ path to their season, just not quite as dramatic.
Adelaide won three of their first four games to start the year and were set to entrench their name in the finals race, then they hit a snag, proceeding to lose three of the next four games, all to sides above them in the standings.
The Crows can be buoyed by their historical advantage over the Suns though, being one of just four teams in the AFL that Gold Coast have never beaten. The Suns have also never lost more games to a single side than Adelaide, going down in eight of eight meetings between the two.
Despite their troubles though, the Suns are still just one win off the top eight, although they would need to beat the Crows by a pretty hefty margin to get through on percentage.
Team News
Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade has been forced to make six changes for this week, with injuries running rampant through his squad.
Gary Ablett (concussion), Adam Saad (hamstring), Aaron Hall (shoulder) and Touk Miller (ankle) have all been ruled out for the fixture with their bodies refusing to cooperate.
The other two changes to Eade’s side sees the omissions of Tom Nicholls and Keenan Brooksby.
Michael Rischitelli, Dan Currie, Ryan Davis, Luke Russell, Seb Tape and Peter Wright all make their way into the 22 for game day.
Adelaide have also made a few changes of their own, with the Crouch brothers missing out through soreness (Matt) and being dropped (Brad).
There was talk during the week about a possible Rory Laird return from a fractured toe, but that’s been shot down and he’ll have to wait another week to get on the park.
Jarryd Lyons has been named in the starting line up, while former skipper Nathan Van Berlo makes his way onto the bench to round out the game day squad.
Prediction
The Suns have collapsed in recent weeks and it will be a tough job overcoming a top eight side, even at home.
Expect the poor Gold Coast boys suffering to continue, especially with so many injuries and a depleted line up.
Adelaide to win by 57
Can the Suns pick up a win from somewhere and steady the damaged ship? Or will the Crows get important points on the road with a big win away from home? Follow all the live highlights and action on The Roar from 2:10pm (AEST).
Preview by Connor Bennett.
TomC
Roar Guru
Votes 3. Daniel Talia (Adelaide)- This might raise some eyebrows given the nature of the game, but he was brilliant. Sure, the ball didn't find it's way into the Suns forwardline very often, but in large part that was because of the work Talia did following Lynch up onto the wing and preventing the star forward from helping his teammates clear the ball. Not only did Talia nullify Lynch, but he collected 23 touches, 9 marks and even a goal. A great defender's game. 2. Taylor Walker (Adelaide) - Five goals from Tex, but it was his bullocking work around half forward to create opportunities for his teammates that stood out. He also had 19 possessions, 9 marks and 3 goal assists. 1. Tom Lynch (Adelaide) - The best player on the ground in the first half, Adelaide's Lynch was his normal busy self, working to link with his teammates and drive the ball forward. He had twenty-two disposals, ten marks and two goals.
TomC
Roar Guru
Match review This was simply a one-sided contest between a disciplined, stable, effective team in the Adelaide Crows and a young, injury-ravaged Gold Coast side bereft of confidence. While Adelaide lacked focus early, and took a few minutes to assert themselves, they quickly got well on top and there was really no stage where the Suns looked like getting back into the contest. Adelaide were well on top in every statistic, but only truly dominant in the inside 50s and of course the scoreboard. That reflects how much more direct and efficient they were than the Suns, using the corridor whenever possible and in turn gumming up that part of the ground when the Suns had their chances. It was simply smart, strategic footy from the visitors. The Crows had a big lead in the clearances early, although Gold Coast pegged that back somewhat, but in the brief time when the game was there to be won Sloane, Douglas and Thompson were well served by Jacobs' ruckwork, providing plenty of opportunity for Seedsman and Smith on the outside, while Lynch, Milera, Walker and Cameron capitalised in the forwardline. Gold Coast can take some heart from some respectable individual performances. Prestia was their best, but Lonergan and Wright were also impressive. All in all, there probably isn't too much to take from this game. 74 points is probably about a par win, in reality, given the gulf between the two sides. Adelaide get the percentage boost they need, and some confidence ahead of hosting the Giants at Adelaide Oval next weekend. The Suns' sixth straight loss just underlines how hard things are for them at the moment.
VivGilchrist
Guest
A big win but really sloppy by the Crows. Missing targets. Yes a win is a win but this just highlights how poor the Suns are. Going to have improve to beat GWS next week.
TomC
Roar Guru
Full time Gold Coast 11.8.74 Adelaide 22.17.149
TomC
Roar Guru
GOAL ADELAIDE Walker with strength pushes away an opponent and snaps through his fifth goal. Gold Coast 74 Adelaide 148 It's a handy % boost for the Crows.
TomC
Roar Guru
GOAL ADELAIDE Cameron with a smart pass to McGovern, but the Adelaide forward can't set himself. His pass to Milera is a poor one, but Milera gathers on the half volley and swings around to kick a nice goal. Gold Coast 74 Adelaide 142 One minute to go.
TomC
Roar Guru
Luke Brown is off for Adelaide with what looks like a significant ankle injury.
TomC
Roar Guru
GOAL GOLD COAST Wright gets his third to make the margin look a bit more respectable. Gold Coast 72 Adelaide 135 6 minutes to play.
TomC
Roar Guru
GOAL GOLD COAST Strong mark by Lynch at half forward for GC. He turns and kicks long to Grant, who has the sit and takes a good mark. He kicks the goal from 10m out. Gold Coast 66 Adelaide 135 8 minutes left in this turkey. I mean, footy match.
TomC
Roar Guru
GOAL ADELAIDE Betts sets up Atkins, who kicks the Crows' 21st goal for the day.
TomC
Roar Guru
Tape with a quick kick forward, and Currie takes a strong mark in the goalsquare opposed to two Crows defenders. Very good work. Currie misses the shot though. Incredible. Adelaide by 70 points with 11 minutes to play.
TomC
Roar Guru
GOAL GOLD COAST Matera gets free from his opponent to receive a pass from Davis, and run into an open goal for the Suns. Gold Coast 58 Adelaide 129
TomC
Roar Guru
GOAL ADELAIDE Talia wins the ball at half back for Adelaide yet again, and sends the Crows away. Walker and Lynch combine in the midfield before Tex passes to McGovern, well within shooting distance. McGovern's shot is a goal. Gold Coast 52 Adelaide 129 It'd be interesting to know how many Crows goals today have begun with Talia winning the ball.
TomC
Roar Guru
Interesting stats:
TomC
Roar Guru
GOAL GOLD COAST The Suns get the first of the last quarter, as a long kick forward falls behind. Big Dan Currie is the closest, and he runs onto the bouncing ball and pops through a goal. Gold Coast 52 Adelaide 121
TomC
Roar Guru
The final term has begun.
TomC
Roar Guru
TomC
Roar Guru
There were occasional signs of life from Gold Coast that quarter, managing a couple of counterattacking goals, but mostly it was more of the same. And in the final few minutes the Crows slammed on three quick goals to push the margin out to an imposing 74 points. This has never been a particularly intense game, and for the most part it's just cruising along at a moderate pace, although there's been the occasional spark mostly from Adelaide's forwards: Charlie Cameron's run down the wing for a goal assist was a highlight. Taylor Walker is having his best game for some time, with four goals and and two assists to this point. In truth though he's beating up on weak opposition. He leads a Crows forwardline that, as you'd expect, has been dominant. Jesse Lonergan is the Suns' brightest light, with 23 touches and 4 tackles to this stage of the game. The final quarter will no doubt be similar to the first three, with the Crows continuing to push away while the Suns show the occasional bright moment before retreating into listlessness once again.
TomC
Roar Guru
Three quarter time Gold Coast 7.4.46 Adelaide 18.12.120
TomC
Roar Guru
GOAL ADELAIDE Walker roosts a long goal with the last kick of the third quarter.