Adelaide edge out South Adelaide by six points at Encounter Bay

ADELAIDE Crows were terrific in the manner they went about their work to claim a second successive victory to open the season, defeating South Adelaide by six points at Encounter Bay on Sunday.

Adelaide Crows’ Ben Jarman escapes during the Crows’ win (Adelaide) with the ball during the third quarter. South Adelaide v Adelaide, at Encounter Bay Oval. SANFL Football. 16/04/17 Picture: Stephen Laffer

ADELAIDE was loaded with AFL names late last season when it caused havoc in the finals.

Among their victims in their maiden visit to the state league major round was South Adelaide, who they belted in the first semi-final.

On Sunday, they had only 15 AFL-listed personnel in the line-up to confront the Panthers and they were able to get the job done at Encounter Bay Oval.

The margin was just six points, but the Crows were terrific in the manner they went about their work to claim a second successive victory to open the season.

Adelaide Crows’ Brad Crouch handballs during the SANFL win against South Adelaide.

Not that the Panthers did not offer their share of positive action, plus passion and fight, in an entertaining advertisement of SANFL football.

Crows coach Ryan O’Keefe praised the work ethic of his players and noted that as the key to the success.

“Our focus was to put pressure on the ball and give effort, that is all you can ask,” he said.

“It is a young list and all you can ask is to give effort.

“They are going to make mistakes but if they apply effort that is the nuts and bolts of it.

“It is a credit to the top up players. They have been training hard, are keen and enthusiastic and have embraced the way we play.

“They are part of the club so we are trying to make this a real family atmosphere and have everyone feeling belonged.”

Kicking against the wind in the first quarter, the Crows were constantly pushing the ball forward and putting the Panthers defence under immense pressure.

Adelaide Crows’ Harry Dear marks during the win against South Adelaide at Encounter Bay Oval.

The marking power of Harrison Dear and Reilly O’Brien was a concern for the Panthers.

Every Panthers possession was under pressure and the Crows cashed in to build a 21-point buffer.

Panthers coach Garry Hocking talked about the character of his players and that was evident as they fought back into the contest with more effective ball movement and a willingness to get the hands dirty.

Nick Liddle and Brede Seccull were busy around the contest for the Panthers and Sam Overall proved a reliable target in attack.

The Panthers were punished for a string of skill errors in the final term as the Crows charged to a 26-point advantage. But the Panthers kept persisting.

“We learn from last week against West Adelaide, keep challenging,” Hocking said.

“That is the beauty about this group, there is a lot of character and a good attitude, they are always in the fight.”

SCOREBOARD

Adelaide 4.5 7.8 10.11 13.12 (90)

South Adelaide 3.2 6.3 9.4 13.6 (84)

BEST - Adelaide: Dear, O’Brien, Wigg, B. Crouch, Gore, Murphy. South: Overall, Liddle, Seccull, Gotch, Barnes, Rankine.

GOALS - Adelaide: Himmelberg, Dear 3, Poholke 2, Beech, Gore, Jarman, O’Brien, Wittwer. South: Overall 4, Seccull, Barnes, Haren 2, Fields, McMahon, Rankine.

UMPIRES Hosking, Burke, Medlin.

CROWD 2379 at Encounter Bay Oval.