Andrew Capel: How new-look Adelaide is turning defence into attack

DON Pyke’s backline mantra has had a stunning early impact at Adelaide — with the Crows the NAB Challenge champ when it came to turning defence into attack. Andrew Capel looks at the stats.

DON Pyke’s “team defence’’ mantra has had a stunning early impact at Adelaide.

The Crows will begin their AFL premiership season campaign having already offered a tantalising, albeit small, snapshot of what might be one of their key strengths under their new coach.

Renowned for its attacking prowess but inability to stifle the opposition in recent seasons, Adelaide was this year’s NAB Challenge champion in turning defence into attack.

Since being appointed Crows coach in October, Pyke has made no secret of his desire to make entertaining Adelaide better defensively.

“We need to tighten up on our defence,’’ he stressed.

“Our ability to score last year was pretty well recognised (averaging 98 points) but our defence — we conceded an average of 89 points — was outside the area you want to be if you want to be genuine (flag) contenders.’’

Pyke wants Adelaide to fit into Champion Data’s “premiership standard’’ window, which suggests teams need to average 100 points or more and concede 86 points or fewer to win the flag.

Fourteen of the past 16 premiers have fallen into this category.

“We had to tighten that up and we have done a lot of work on how to defend,’’ said Pyke.

“That’s not just our back six but across the whole ground because these days as soon as the ball’s turned over — and often that might be in your own half — you are defending because of the opposition’s ability to quickly transition.

“That, along with our skill efficiency, are areas we wanted to improve on. We saturated that through the pre-season.’’

In three pre-season games Pyke and his players already appear to have hit the mark.

Adelaide’s key defensive numbers and ability to force turnovers and capitalise on them were the signature points of the club’s NAB Challenge campaign.

The Crows forced more turnovers and scored more from them than any other team.

Daniel Talia ... turning defence into attack. Picture: Chris Hyde (Getty Images)

Adelaide ranked first in points scored from turnovers (72.7) and points differential from turnovers (+36.4) and second in total points against (67) and percentage of score from opposition turnovers (67.3 per cent).

While pre-season games are shorter than premiership matches, the Crows significantly averaged a league-best 108 points while stopping their opponents from hitting the scoreboard.

The statistics illustrate they have quickly become masters of winning the ball back from their opponents and punishing them on the rebound.

Critically Adelaide managed to turn the ball over from the opposition in the back half more than any other side.

Dual West Coast premiership midfielder Pyke’s game plan is based loosely on the Eagles’ famed “web’’ and built partly on protecting his back six with extra midfield numbers filling holes and being at the drop of the ball.

The results have been compelling.

The Crows led the league in the pre-season for half-back intercept possessions (average 22) and half-back interception possessions to score (27.3 per cent).

Last season Adelaide ranked ninth in half-back intercept possessions.

With greater help from teammates, defenders Rory Laird (10), Daniel Talia (eight), Jake Lever (seven) and Brodie Smith and Kyle Cheney (six) have feasted on half-back intercepts.

“Good team defence is our aim,’’ Laird said of Pyke’s playbook.

“Most teams are trying to get numbers back to support their backline because as a defender it’s almost impossible to stop your opponent when you’re playing one-on-one football when there’s skilful players streaming out of the middle.

“Whether it’s your mids, wingmen or high half-forwards you need them to get back to support your defenders because winning the ball back is the key and then you can play rebound footy.’’

ON THE REBOUND

How new-look Adelaide is turning defence into attack

TURNOVER RATINGS

2016 NAB Challenge

THE INTERCEPT KINGS

Crows’ half-back intercepts