Crows take flight to march past Saints

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Smooth-moving Adelaide became the first side this season to successfully poke sustained holes through St Kilda’s famed stifling defence with an eye-catching exhibition of methodical efficiency at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

Irresistible force trumped immovable object as the Crows returned to the winners’ circle and the top eight in stylish fashion, racking up their largest total since 2019 in the 52-point win against an opponent not renowned for rolling out the red carpet in defence.

Taylor Walker celebrates one of his five goals in the win.Credit: AFL Photos

The Saints’ previous two defeats in 2023 came by six and seven points, making this Mother’s Day trouncing one of the shocks of the year.

Brodie Smith, Patrick Parnell, Lachlan Sholl and Wayne Milera instigated a surfeit of clean, crisp waves from half-back, which left the chasing Saints gasping.

Captain Jordan Dawson continued to press his All-Australian claims with another all-round masterclass, while Lachlan Murphy’s play-making and forward-50 pressure were as pivotal as Taylor Walker’s five goals.

St Kilda’s forward line, awaiting the imminent return of key spearhead Max King from shoulder reconstruction surgery, suffered a blow when Tim Membrey was concussed in the third quarter after his head slammed into the turf after landing painfully in a marking contest.

Josh Rachele of the Crows handballs in front of Josh Battle.Credit: Getty Images

Adelaide’s six-goal first term doubled the previous most conceded in an opening quarter by the Ross Lyon 2.0 Saints and virtually put the contest to bed, the Crows drawing clear by 31 points.

The Saints were uncharacteristically disorganised in defence and at stoppage and shallow with their attacking entries, allowing Adelaide’s rebounding defenders to counterpunch with quickness and quality.

An animated Lyon implored a greater thirst at the contest during his quarter-time address and his charges obliged. The likes of Jack Steele and Brad Crouch lifted their output as the visitors got on top in both clearances and inside-50s for the term.

But they couldn’t consistently stymie Adelaide’s ruthless efficiency whenever the ball was in their half. Jake Soligo’s bomb from beyond 50 metres after the half-time siren handed the momentum back to the Crows, and they reasserted their supremacy after the main interval.

Izak Rankine gets a kick away.Credit: AFL Photos

Izak Rankine slotted his second with a fine crumbing effort at Darcy Fogarty’s feet before Walker, the key beneficiary of Adelaide’s swift ball movement, added two more to his growing tally and set another one up for Ben Keays with a pin-point, deep entry.

Walker converted his fifth via a free kick against Callum Wilkie in the opening 90 seconds of the fourth quarter as the margin stretched beyond a half-century.

ROSS CAN’T WATCH
Needing to make every post a winner after half-time, the Saints butchered a prime opportunity to chew into the deficit early in the third stanza. Anthony Caminiti booted two goals in his return from suspension but was left to rue a ragged piece of execution when he badly miscued a pass to wide-open, goalsquare-bound Mitch Owens.

Caminiti’s indiscriminate pass was instead chopped off by Chayce Jones and the Crows, again, were away. It was all too much for Lyon, whose hands clutched his face in despair before he offered a wry smile of frustration. For one of the few times in 2023, it wasn’t his day.

Riley Thilthorpe goes up against Rowan Marshall.Credit: Getty Images

RILEY RECOVERS
Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks pulled a surprise early lever when Riley Thilthorpe, and not Reilly O’Brien, contested the opening bounce against Rowan Marshall. O’Brien soon had to shoulder sole ruck duties against Marshall as Thilthorpe hurt his left knee after landing awkwardly while contesting a boundary throw-in.

Thilthorpe had the knee checked out, was given the all clear and went back on, slotting a goal later in the quarter as Adelaide went from strength to strength.

PARNELL’S PEARLER
Patrick Parnell celebrated his recall to the senior team by showcasing a pair of spring heels that few fans knew he boasted. Midway through the opening term, Parnell used Jack Higgins as a stepladder and soared majestically for an overhead mark-of-the-year contender on the outer side.

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