Australian Football

Match Report

Adelaide has given itself a massive - and potentially crucial - percentage boost with a whopping 135-point thrashing of Greater Western Sydney at the Sydney Showground on Sunday. The Crows, who are likely to be one of several teams battling for a place in the lower reaches of the top eight at season's end, raised their percentage from 97.1 to 120.0 during the course of the match. The club is in ninth place, one of clubs with three wins, all of whom are a game behind Richmond and Collingwood, who are in seventh and eighth place. Adelaide's percentage is the best of all sides below fifth place, and this could prove vital in the race to September.

The Giants were competitive in the first quarter but were unable to translate several excellent passages of play into goals and the Crows took a 25-point lead into the first break. From that point on the resistance of Greater Western Sydney was well below what is required at AFL level and Adelaide toyed with the Giants for much of the remainder of the match. The Crows kicked seven goals to two in the second quarter, an amazing 11 goals to four in the third term, and another seven goals to one in the last stanza. Tom Lynch, previously almost unheard of, playing just his 10th game for the Crows and 16th AFL match overall, kicked 10 goals, including an incredible six in the third quarter.

As well as Lynch, the Crows got fine games from Patrick Dangerfield and Scott Thompson, while Callan Ward and Lachie Whitfield never stopped trying for the Giants.

Adelaide will have a tougher assignment this Sunday against St Kilda, although the Crows will have the home ground advantage. There are no easy games for the Giants but they face one of their toughest challenges of all next Saturday when they take on the rampaging Hawks at York Park in Launceston.

GOALS
GWS: Cameron 3; Ward 2; Giles
Adelaide: Lynch 10; Dangerfield Jenkins 4; Kerridge 3; Vince 2; Talia, Smith, Sloane, McKernan, Mackay, Douglas

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
GWS: Tomlinson, Ward, Whitfield, Cameron
Adelaide: Lynch, Dangerfield, Kerridge, Jenkins, McKernan, Thompson, Wright, Van Berlo

BEST - THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
GWS: Ward, Cameron, Whitfield, Treloar
Adelaide: Lynch, Dangerfield, Thompson, Reilly, Vince, Jenkins, Wright

COACHES' COMMENTS
Kevin Sheedy (GWS): We were very disappointing today. We've got to play with a lot more spirit than we did today. At quarter time we could have had two or three goals on the board but we didn't use the ball that well. Normally we're a bit better than that. But full marks to Adelaide.

Brenton Sanderson (Adel): The most important think for us was that we had an even contribution from our whole 22. We didn't have any passengers; everyone played their role. I was pleased that we kept the foot on the throat and were ruthless right until the end.

SUBSTITUTES
GWS: Dean Brogan replaced by Zac Williams in the third quarter
Adelaide: Ben Rutten replaced by Jarryd Lyons in the third quarter

REPORTS
GWS: Rhys Palmer reported for striking Patrick Dangerfield (Crows) in the third quarter
Adelaide: Nil

UMPIRES: Hosking, Wenn, Fisher