Australian Football

Match Report

The 40th Showdown offered plenty on the surface of it but delivered only for Adelaide supporters, as the Crows stunned Port Adelaide with a six-goal-to-one first-quarter blitz and went on to dominate the second and third quarters, too, before coasting to a big 58-point win.

After an unexpected dip last year, many footy analysts had predicted the Power to bounce back into the finals in 2016, with some even suggesting they would push for a flag. But, after an unconvincing performance last week, in which it took more than three quarters to shake off St Kilda and Saturday's insipid performance against the Crows, many are already revising down their expectations of Port Adelaide in 2016.

That's not to take anything away from Adelaide's effort, which was scintillating. With their multi-pronged forward line functioning beautifully, the Crows demonstrated that they will not have an unhealthy reliance on skipper Taylor Walker to kick goals. With Tom Lynch kicking six goals, Eddie Betts five and Josh Jenkins four, the Crows forward line showed a spread of goalkickers capable of kicking big scores on a regular basis. 

And while fans aren't exactly asking, "Patrick who?", the Adelaide midfield sent out a clear message that its post-Dangerfield is still one to be reckoned with, evergreen Scott Thompson and Rory Laird both racking up big numbers possession-wise as they rotated through the centre. 

While alarm bells will not be ringing yet at Alberton Oval, the ease with which the Crows brushed Port Adelaide aside will be a concern to coach Ken Hinkley. The Power could claim some mitigating circumstances, with Hamish Hartlett, one of the team's best in round one, and key forward Jay Schulz both late withdrawals prior to the match. Nevertheless, a far more competitive effort was expected on Saturday at the very least.

Port's best last year was as good as any side's, with the Power beating eventual premiers twice during the season, but its worst was bordering on awful and Saturday's effort against Adelaide was perhaps in that category. Hinkley will seek to narrow the gap between the two as quickly as possible, closing it at the upper end of the scale. Port can take the first step towards doing so when it takes on the undermanned Essendon on Friday night.

Adelaide, meanwhile, having given new coach Don Pyke his first win, will look to bring more of the same to table when the Crows take on Richmond at Docklands on Saturday afternoon. To the winner will go the spoils of a 2-1 record and a comfortably consolidated place in the to eight. To the loser will go the vulnerability of being 1-2 early in the season and the accompanying doubts. The difference between those two positions will make this game a very important one, even at this early stage of the season.

GOALS 
Adelaide: Lynch 6; Betts 5; Jenkins 4; Walker, McGovern 2; Laird, Brad Crouch, Milera 
Port Adelaide: Young 4; Wines, Boak 2; Howard, Wingard, Robbie Gray 

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Adelaide: Lynch, Laird, Talia, Lever, Betts, Mackay, Thompson
Port Adelaide: Robbie Gray, Young, Hombsch, Wines, Pittard 

BEST - THEAGE.COM.AU
Adelaide: Lynch, Laird, Jenkins, Thompson, Jacobs, M. Crouch
Port Adelaide: R. Gray, Wines, Young, S. Gray, Lobbe, Homsch

INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil 
Port Adelaide: Westhoff (dislocated finger), Wingard (hamstring) 

UMPIRES: Donlon, Chamberlain, Wallace

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Basil Zempilas, Hamish McLachlan, Tim Watson