Adelaide has beaten Norwood in the first semi-final with an emphatic performance
Adelaide has turned up the heat in its bid for the state league premiership, dominating Norwood with a stunning performance in the first semi-final.
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THERE have been times Adelaide’s passion for a state league flag has been questioned amid claims it was simply concerned with development.
Forget that, the Crows used a first semi-final 62-point demolition of Norwood at Adelaide Oval on Sunday to prove just how serious are their intentions.
It was also a chance for the Crows to provide more evidence they have young guns such as Ned McHenry, Chayce Jones and Jordon Butts who are capable of taking their game to the next level. And Lachlan Sholl is a tough nut who takes a constant battering, only to shake it off and get on with the job.
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This was a performance of complete substance and the Crows will enter the preliminary final loaded with the knowledge it has the ammunition to cause damage.
Just 10 minutes into the contest, the Crows had five goals on the board and a 29-point lead. There was no way back for the Redlegs against an opponent which had all the answers and refused to relax the desperate approach.
“Any final, if you start well you put pressure on and unsettle them in the way they want to play,” Crows coach Heath Younie said. “To our guys’ credit, they started strongly around the ball, competed at the contest and importantly when we went forward, we were clinical with our finish.”
McHenry scores the first within 20 seconds @Adelaide_FC #SANFL pic.twitter.com/MjBXjqjsNm
— 7SANFL (@7SANFL) September 8, 2019
The Crows were on fire from the outset and were all over the Redlegs with their superior intent and attack on the body and ball.
McHenry nailed two goals inside the first two minutes to ignite the Crows and they were rewarded for their committed desperate actions, putting the Redlegs under constant pressure to create opportunities.
The efficiency of the Crows was also a key ingredient in grabbing the early supremacy. When Crows key position player Elliott Himmelberg kicked his second goal after 14 minutes, his side had had 45 disposals with 41 effective.
Patrick Wilson knows only one way and he found plenty of possessions and captain Matt Wright and Andy Otten provide crucial leadership. And what is vital for the Crows’ bid for the premiership, the top up players had a significant influence.
If the Redlegs, who lost Lewis Johnston before the game due to a corked thigh, did kick a goal, the response was immediate.
Matt Panos and Brad McKenzie had their moments for the Redlegs, but the Crows were elite and simply dominant.
There were justified reasons for the Crows to put the cue in the rack in the final quarter with such a commanding lead.
However, when the Redlegs nailed the first three goals of the final term, all it did was spark the Crows back into action.
“You get six goals to zip within eight minutes it is really hard to chase,” Redlegs coach Jarrod Cotton said. “I was really proud the way they fought it out, but we just looked flat for some reason.
“It is hard to put a finger on it, what happened in the first 10 minutes.”
SCOREBOARD
ADELAIDE 6.2 11.5 16.9 21.13 (139)
NORWOOD 1.3 2.4 5.8 11.11 (77)
BEST - Adelaide: Wilson, Mathews, Wright, McAdam, Sholl, McHenry, Poholke. Norwood: Panos, J. Richards, Hamilton, Wilkins.
GOALS - Adelaide: McHenry, Mathews 4, McAdam 3, Poholke, Stengle, Himmelberg 2, Gallucci, Fogarty, Hunter, Strachan. Norwood: Bampton, Panos, Hamilton, Wilson, Dawe 2, Barry.
UMPIRES - Bryce, Harris, Cosby.
At Adelaide Oval.