Talent-rich Adelaide side too strong for West Adelaide

THIS was always going to be tough start to its premiership defence for West Adelaide - facing an Adelaide side packed with AFL-listed players. And so it turned out, with a 74-point loss.

Cam Ellis-Yolmen (Adelaide) runs with the ball out of the centre during the second quarter. West Adelaide v Adelaide, at Richmond Oval. SANFL Football. 26/03/16 Picture: Stephen Laffer

THIS was always going to be tough start to its premiership defence for West Adelaide - right from the moment the teams were revealed on Thursday.

Adelaide named 18 AFL-listed players in its line-up. The state clubs know the job is extremely difficult when the two AFL clubs have at least 15 in their reserves.

In contrast, the Bloods were undermanned without a swag of stars, including Jason Porplyzia, Adam Hartlett, Travis Tuck, Bradley Helbig and Hugh Haysman.

On paper, the Crows had a decisive edge in personnel and that it how it eventuated on the field as they made a statement to the state league.

They showed - as they did last season - that if they can get significant AFL numbers on the paddock they are a serious contender.

It took the Bloods, who raised their flag before the opening bounce, 11 minutes to move the ball forward of centre - that is 11 minutes.

By then, the Crows already had three goals, which came in the first four minutes in an emphatic start to their season.

“I’m happy with the style we played, if we play a certain style the scoreboard will take care of itself,’’ Crows coach Heath Younie said.

“I’m really pleased for the players, that have worked hard over the summer.

“The pleasing things from the club’s point of view is we have started the season healthy. That can only be a real advantage for the football club, it makes competition for a spot really challenging.

“My comment to the senior coach (Don Pike) will be the way we defended. They (Bloods) kicked 50 points and to keep the premiers who were one of the most attacking teams last year to that amount of points says our team defence is in good shape.’’

Reacting to the initial onslaught from the Crows, the Bloods moved several players behind the ball and the defensive action had an impact and allowed the home side to climb back into the contest.

But after quarter-time, the Crows took control courtesy of superior speed, skills and size. And they punished the Bloods’ turnovers.

“We knew it would be a challenge,’’ Bloods coach Mark Mickan said. “But we wanted to play better than we did.

“We turned the ball over way too much and they scored 13 goals from our turnovers. It was double whammy because they were opportunities we could have scored and it went back the other way.

“They had a quality side and we had to be at our best to compete and they probably worked harder than us.’’

ADELAIDE 3.3 9.7 13.10 18.16 (124)

WEST ADELAIDE 2.4 3.7 5.8 7.8 (50)

BEST - Adelaide: Ellis-Yolmen, Menzel, Henderson, Beech, Hartigan, Knight, Lowden. West: Stevens, Caire, Schmidt, Hardy, Webb.

GOALS - Adelaide: Dear 4, Beech 3, Menzel, Lowden, Spencely 2, Knight, Greenwood, Ellis-Yolmen, O’Brien, Ramsey. West: Slattery 2, Stevens, Willits, Wasley-Black, Vick, Johnson.

REPORTS - West: Willits.

UMPIRES - Medlin, Broadbent, Bowen.

CROWD - 2162 at City Mazda Stadium, Richmond.