Adelaide’s midfield depth remains an Achilles heel for coach Don Pyke

DON Pyke labelled it a “genuine touch up” where no-one was brave with the ball. And Crows midfielder Hugh Greenwood wasn’t shying away from his group’s poor night against the Hawks.

Hawthorn’s Jaeger O'Meara celebrates with Jonathon Ceglar during the round 13 win against Adelaide at the MCG. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images.

DON Pyke labelled it a “genuine touch up” where no-one was brave with the ball.

Adelaide’s midfield remains the canary in the coal mine when it turns uncompetitive and overawed.

The man Adelaide invested elite first round picks to bolster its engine room — Bryce Gibbs — was one of few Crows to give it a red-hot crack against the Hawks and the incredible Hawk Tom Mitchell (38 touches). Gibbs won six clearances but Mitchell, Jaeger O’Meara and Shaun Burgoyne shelled out 23.

Adelaide’s on-ball output is Pyke’s key concern entering the bye after managing 35 inside 50s and losing contested possession by 22 in a 56-point loss. An 18-1 clearance deficit in the third term allowed Hawthorn to steamroll 7.2 answered.

“As a midfield group we feel like that is where the game is won and lost and in that third quarter 18-1 clearances is disappointing as an individual and midfield collective,” said Adelaide midfielder Hugh Greenwood.

“We feel like we let the rest of the group down.”

Richard Douglas and the Crows were hammered. Pic: AAP

Adelaide’s attacking prowess has collapsed in the absence of its best contested mark Mitch McGovern and linkman Tom Lynch while a banged-up Taylor Walker is soldiering on.

Adelaide is averaging 82 points per game but that is a symptom of midfield malaise magnified without Rory Sloane and Brad Crouch.

Entering the Hawks clash, Champion Data stats showed that since 2017 Adelaide’s inside 50 differential had slipped from a No.2 ranked +7.2 to 12th at -0.4, and the No.4 ranked 1.4 clearance differential to 12th at -0.1.

Adelaide’s horror trend continued at the MCG on Saturday night with just 35 inside 50s to kick 4.8. A record low score of 3.6 (24) against St Kilda in round 18, 2011 was just averted in a sad contrast to the blitzkrieg attack of 2016-17.

Forwards — whether it be Walker, Josh Jenkins or Eddie Betts — are only as good as their supply. Adelaide’s gold-plated delivery from Sloane, Brad Crouch, Brodie Smith and Rory Laird has rusted in their injury-forced absence.

Adelaide’s static set-up at stoppages was punished repetitively by the Hawks without a reaction.

“That was field position and them getting on top and kicking goal after goal. That put our backs under pressure, as a midfield group not being able to win the ball and get it to our forwards,” conceded Greenwood.

“Obviously when they are winning it and getting it in that regularly the floodgates are going to open.”

Adelaide leaked four third- quarter goals without reply to enable Fremantle’s three-point win in round 12 in a damaging pattern that must rectified.

“There has been 10-15 minutes, particularly in the third quarter over the last couple of weeks. We will address that,” said Greenwood.

Watch every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. SIGN UP NOW >