SANFL 2019: Sturt v Adelaide | Round 1 match report

The Adelaide easybeats of 2018 are no more after a new-look Crows SANFL side showed their class against a wasteful Sturt on Saturday.

The Adelaide easybeats of 2018 are no more after the Crows showed their class to run over a wasteful Sturt at Unley Oval on Saturday.

A strong line-up and the return of coach Heath Younie sparked instant results for Adelaide, which was more clinical than its hosts early before pulling away with five goals in the fourth quarter.

The Crows, featuring 18 AFL-listed players plus new skipper Matthew Wright, were a different beast to the side which had a 1-17 record last year and just two wins in their past 26 matches.

Sturt's Sam Colquhoun tackles Adelaide's Ned McHenry. Picture: Tom Huntley

Sturt won the inside 50 count 55-49 and at one point had a positive differential of 15, but blazed away or went too deep often in their entries.

Younie said Adelaide was a different group to last season.

“It’s the first time for some of them to play against men … for Ned McHenry, Will Hamill, Lachie Scholl, Jordan Butts, for those guys to get exposed at the level first up in a quality game can only hold them in good stead,” Younie said.

“Today to come here and beat a formidable opponent in Sturt sets us up hopefully for a good year.”

Former Double Blue Shane McAdam watched on from the stands due to a calf injury and Sturt lacked the forward pressure the Adelaide draftee led the way with for it last season.

While Sturt had to grind for its goals, scoring came much easier for the more clinical Crows.

Double Blues coach Nathan Grima said Adelaide’s class with ball in hand going forward was the difference.

Adelaide's Cam Ellis-Yolmen in action. Picture: Tom Huntley

“The key stats we take – stoppages, marks, tackles, uncontested footy, contested footy – we won them all so we sit here with a bit of an empty feeling,” Grima said.

Myles Poholke played a standout game for the Crows with 25 disposals and three goals, former Double Blue Patrick Wilson racked up 28 touches and Cam Ellis-Yolmen was a presence in the contest.

Captain Wright got on the end of a lot of Adelaide’s play to kick four goals in his SANFL return.

Sturt may have unearthed a gem in Strathmore recruit Tom Condon, who impressed for his three majors on debut.

Sam Colquhoun and Fraser Evans worked hard in defence for the Double Blues.

SCOREBOARD

ADELAIDE 2.2 7.4 9.4 14.9 (93)

STURT 1.1 3.4 6.9 8.13 (61)

BEST - Adelaide: Poholke, Stengle, Wilson, Ellis-Yolmen, Wright. Sturt: Colquhoun, F. Evans, Riley, Condon, Kirkwood.

GOALS - Adelaide: Wright, Stengle 4, Poholke 3, Greenwood, Himmelberg, Latchford. Sturt: Condon 3, Pearce, Harms, Greenslade, Penfold, Evans.

UMPIRES - Bowen, Morgan, Scott.