Australian Football

Match Report

We now head into the inner southern suburb of Unley and into the Peter Motley Oval where the Double Blues matched up on the Crows.

The Blues premiership defence got off to a rocky start last season, beginning with a shock two-point loss to Adelaide in the opening round, but payback eventually came as the Blues doused the Crows by 52 points in Round 11. An underpowered Crows outfit were smashed from pillar to post by the Magpies last week, while the Blues had to fight for their two-goal win at The Parade. The Crows looked much better early on in proceedings, finishing the first term leading by a point after a 3.1 to 3.0 opening quarter. But the reigning premiers were soon back in the driver's seat, kicking 5.2 to the Crows' lowly 1.1 to take a four-goal lead into the long break. It would be slim pickings for the Crows from here onwards, the Blues dominating the match without any signs of relinquishing the lead. Despite having three more scoring shots than the Blues, Adelaide's shooting on the sticks left much to be desired. The Blues scored 5.1 to 3.6 as the deficit crept out to 31 points by the final change. Sturt shut the door completely in the final term, kicking a further 6.1 to 3.1 to run out 49-point winners. 

Zane Kirkwood, ever the leader by example, was named Sturt's best while the Crows named former Sturt premiership player Patrick Wilson as their best afield.