The Adelaide Crows have taught the Fremantle Dockers a lesson in pain on Saturday night at Adelaide Oval, absolutely belting their opponents to the tune of 100 points.
In Ross Lyon’s 250th game as an AFL senior coach, it was the first time ever that he has lost by a triple-figure margin.
It was a wet one at Adelaide Oval, in fact, wet doesn’t begin to describe it. There was already rain when the game began, but it turned into a torrential downpour early in the first.
While the rain gradually faded as the night went on, the field and players were absolutely saturated by then, and it’s fair to say the weather heavily affected the game.
As is the case with wet weather footy, skills dropped across the board and it became much more a matter of which team could dominate the contest physically and will the ball forward.
The Crows did exactly that, and their dominance created a stats sheet that is almost comically lopsided, all things considered.
The Crows finished the match with +103 disposals, +32 inside 50s, +33 contested possessions, +84 uncontested possessions, +41 marks, +9 marks inside 50, +8 tackles, +19 intercepts, and +5 clearances.
Adelaide’s goals came from all around the side, with Eddie Betts, Charlie Cameron and Wayne Milera all hitting the scoreboard for three majors each in Indigenous Round.
It was Andy Otten, however, who kicked the most of anyone on ground, his four goals putting an exclamation point on what has been a heartwarming comeback story in 2017.
Rory Sloane answered more than a few critics, best on ground with 30 disposals, 12 tackles (most on ground), 29 pressure acts (most for the Crows), 12 score involvements (most on ground), 17 contested possessions (most on ground), eight clearances (equal most for the Crows) and a pair of goals.
For the most part it was an insipid peformance across the board from Fremantle, with the most disappointing certainly being Nat Fyfe – a game-high 13 clangers from 25 disposals.
However talented youngster Lachie Weller was the shining light for them with 30 disposals and a pair of goals, Connor Blakely had 28 touches and 12 clearances, and Darcy Tucker also kicked two goals.
In the end it was a pretty solid reality check for the Dockers, who had won of six of their previous seven coming into the match, but without taking any real scalps.
To put it in perspective, Fremantle’s combined margin across those six wins was a total of 97 points, which is three points less than what they lost by in a single game tonight.
Their percentage is at 81.5, the fourth-worst in the competition, despite them still boasting a 6-4 record and sitting in the top eight.
The Crows, on the other hand, are clearly back in business after returning to form last week against Brisbane.
It seems that their atrocious fortnight of back-to-back losses against North Melbourne and Melbourne was little more than a blip on the radar… for now.
Final score
Adelaide Crows 20.23.143
Fremantle Dockers 6.7.43
Don Freo
Guest
I'll believe that when you make some supportive comments. Your comments are either all about you or anti-Freo so far. Prove me wrong. Do...don't say.
Don Freo
Guest
Strnadica is mainly a key forward. Nothing wrong with the agility of Johnno and Hambling. Hambling is downright fast. Tex couldn't get away from him. We needed someone stronger on Jenkins who created too many chances for Adelaide's smalls.
Jon boy
Guest
IF I am a inaugural member and been to 90% of games i am not a supporter i think you really have lost it DON
Jon boy
Guest
Well said Steve on Strnadica 100% Right no reason why he can not play top level will be right behind Darcy Next year ALL the way with youth. Perfect example Tim English .
dontknowmuchaboutfootball
Guest
Was that at Kardinya Park? No wonder Fremantle didn't turn up!
Steve J
Roar Guru
I thought Strnadica was at peel 2nds so he could ruck, seeing as Griff and Darcy were playing firsts. His effort must be there surely - 58 taps and 22 possessions in his last run for the seconds and 29/20 the week before. In teams that got belted Agree with Collins - he's a good solid player, but can you play Johnson, Collins and Hamling in defence without losing some pace?
Don Freo
Guest
There's nothing I am saying that's cocky. Some of you always come on board and characterise me making claims but I am not the one saying it. Have a go at quoting something I have said that lacks humility. All I argue is that there is no need for anyone to be nasty. You can support such nastiness if you want but you won't find me doing that. The "learn from it" comment is just patronising foolishness. It's a game of footy.
sammy
Guest
You have missed the point Don. The point is back your team in, but show a bit of humility. I and just about everyone else recognise that the crows in Adelaide at this point are a very very hard team to toss. I didn't go out there and say the crows will obliterate the dockers or that this player will thrash that one etc etc. I actually make the point in the original post that fremantle are rebuilding after losing some key players and having some injuries last year to key players and that where they are at present is a team between 6 & 12, which is a big improvement on last year. It was a tall ask to come to Adelaide and do what you suggested would happen in your post that eric re posted above. Learn from it and enjoy seeing fremantle win more games this season as they certainly will as they are not a bad side, just had a very hard night
Don Freo
Guest
That's fine...your choice. The curious thing is, however, why you would even bother bad-mouthing those that do. Why would you even read them? Your criticism is not diplomatic in any way at all.
Don Freo
Guest
You might be a member but you are definitely not a supporter. Sandi is not injury prone. He has hardly ever missed for soft tissue. His big miss was collision injury. Absolutely one of the best AFL ruckmen of all time. Is it 4 or 5 All Australians? His performances have never diminished.
Jon boy
Guest
Well said Sammy have to agree i think its the crows year .
sammy
Guest
I have not done footy tipping for years as I prefer to not jump the gun as I really want my team to do well, but are reluctant to say they will flog this team or that team. Don, I try to be a bit diplomatic when replying to threads and eric did post comments that were bullish to say the least. All good to back your team in but I would advise that you need to look at the opposition and acknowledge them for what they are on a given day. Check out my post below which was just after the game as that is more my style
Jon boy
Guest
DON. I think Powerboy is right about you. I do support Freo. am are inaugural member since 1995 have been to 90% of games including interstate . I do like to offer constructive criticsm based on facts and figures also Reality not like your biased opinion ; Steve is right Tab. should not have played in those conditions. Clarke Griffen Sandi. All to OLD and injury prone. Plenty of future Ruckman in Darcy. Strnadica Apaness Plenty of promising young ruckmen at other clubs to recruit .
Don Freo
Guest
Darcy is tracking really well. Collins is a long way ahead of Strnadica who is playing seconds at Peel at the moment. He started well but his effort has tailed off. Collins or Cox (who can play key forward or back) will support Hambling's lack of bulk and free Johnson to swing and intercept.
Steve J
Roar Guru
Sandi will sign back on with Freo, they'd be mad not to. The kids Darcy and Strnadica look like the future replacements and not Zac Clarke. Both need another year or so development so Sandi is Freo's best option in 2018 ... he might even make 300 games if he plays on to 2019, his form this year suggest he is capable of it
Steve J
Roar Guru
Awful night for a big man to come back in and try and cement a position, but I think you are right. Time to give Darcy a few games if Sandi is not right
Steve J
Roar Guru
The team make up should change this week. OUT: Griffen, Pearce, Ibbotson, Sutcliffe (116 years, average age 29 - 613 games) IN: Sandi, Cox, Ryan, Balic (if available, else Logue) (93 years, average age 23 - 257 games) I'd almost be promoting Strnadica or Darcy over Tabs. But I think Tabs in the wet was a bad idea in the first place.
Don Freo
Guest
Everyone knows that. Age is no issue for someone with his specialty that is so strong and aerobically fit. Sandi's ability is clear to every AFL follower. One wonders who you are trying to convince.
Cat
Roar Guru
Always easy like round 1 this year?
Don Freo
Guest
Did it? Blakely did really well. We did need a tall defender instead of Pearce. Did we know Sandi was missing then? That was 25th. Where were your predictions then? You seem to wait until after the game is played. Anyone can do that.