Adelaide continue impressive form with comfortable SANFL win over Central District

Adelaide has made some hefty early-season statements and its development players again stood up against Central District.

Late in the pre-season Adelaide’s state league coach Heath Younie spoke enthusiastically about the team and highlighted two key factors.

If the AFL list stayed healthy he would have plenty of quality players at his disposal. What most fuelled his positive beliefs though, was the quality of his top up personnel.

Just why he was so vehement in his thoughts was on show at Elizabeth Oval yesterday when the Crows cruised to an emphatic 35-point victory over Central District.

Just to clarify, the Bulldogs were never in the contest after a pathetic first half when there were more embarrassing moments than highlights.

However, the Crows had too many skilful AFL-listed acts with the right attitude, as well as a raft of top up players, led by Tom Hutchesson, having a significant impact.

“I was always confident we had done a lot of work to get what I feel are accomplished development players,” Younie said. “This is reward for the work they have done.

“You don’t come out here too often and win so we are in good shape.

“I was always confident with the list we put together it was going to hold us in good stead. We had seven development players this week, eight last week (draw with South Adelaide).”

Just three minutes into the contest, Bulldogs onballer Kyle Presbury had a set shot from 20m almost in front of goal. He missed and that set the tone for the Bulldogs.

That is not to blame Presbury. There were plenty of Bulldogs who failed to play at the required standard.

The Crows outworked their opponents from the outset and had a far more desperate approach. Some of their work was just too easy as they built a 47-point buffer late in the second term.

The visitors fed off constant Bulldog turnovers and with Andy Otten prominent, were able to work the ball out defence with little issue and bombard their attack.

The Bulldogs took until 12 minutes into the second quarter to nail their first goal courtesy of Jarrod Schiller. It was just the home side’s seventh entry inside its attacking 50.

While the Bulldogs restricted the Crows to two behinds in the third quarter and outscored them in the second half, it was simply too little too late.

“Too many players are far too inconsistent at this level to think they are league footballers yet,” Bulldogs coach Roy Laird said. “But the second half did show we have a few among us who are prepared to have a crack.”

SCOREBOARD

ADELAIDE 3.2 11.3 11.5 14.6 (90)

CENTRAL DISTRICT 0.1 3.3 5.5 8.7 (55)

BEST - Adelaide: Hutchesson, McHenry, Butts, Wilson, Otten, Merrett, Jenkins. Central: J. Schiller, Habel, Jenner.

GOALS - Adelaide: Jenkins 3, Wright, Davis 2, Stengle, McAdam, McHenry, Wilson, Hunter, Press, Johnson. Central: J. Schiller 2, Stephenson, Presbury, Goodrem, Habel, Auckland, Ortiz.

UMPIRES - Morgan, Bowen, Burke.

CROWD - 2024 at X Convenience Oval, Elizabeth.

McADAM POVES HIS WORTH

Adelaide’s mature age recruit Shane McAdam proved his calf injury was no issue when he successfully negotiated his debut for the Crows against Central District at Elizabeth Oval on Saturday.

Shane McAdam trains with the Crows at Football Park in December.

The former Sturt forward nailed a goal with his first kick for the Crows 11 minutes into the contest before spending plenty of time on the bench as he was eased back into action.

Crows state league coach Heath Younie said McAdam had spent plenty of time out of the game after damaging his calf in a trial and the club was satisfied with his efforts.

“We were not looking at stats, we wanted to look at his movement,” Younie said. “The plan was to give him a certain amount of time and he looked like he needed the run.

“He is only going to get better and we are going to see a really, really good footballer in the second half of the year.

“Patty Wilson continues to play well at this level and he just has to bide his time (for AFL selection.”

Younie also noted the move of youngster Ned McHenry into the midfield, describing the No. 16 pick in last year’s national draft as a gun runner.

And he praised the performance of 19-year old defender Jordon Butts to keep Bulldogs star Troy Menzel goalless.

“Andy Otten was back to his best and Darcy Fogarty looked good down back again,” Younie said.

“Josh Jenkins’ attitude was good last week against South Adelaide and he got his head around playing back here for another week.

“Josh competed strongly through the day.”

Jenkins bagged three goals in his second game back in the SANFL as well as spent time in the ruck.