Crows coach Don Pyke salutes a true team effort after win over Port Adelaide

DON Pyke was happy with the 22 goals his side put on the scoreboard against Port Adelaide in Showdown 40. But he was even more impressed with the Crows’ team-first attitude.

Pleased but not satisfied ... Don Pyke addresses his players during Showdown 40. Picture: Sarah Reed.

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DON Pyke liked the 22 goals on the scoreboard, don’t worry.

But on Saturday night, as the Adelaide coach assessed his first win in charge of an AFL side in a commanding 58-point Showdown victory, it was the numbers and notes next to the names of his 22 players that impressed the rookie leader most.

“Really happy,” Pyke said. “It’s great to have a win. It’s what we’re in the industry for.

“It was a really even, consistent performance from our guys today and that’s the sort of team-first approach we’ve been talking to the players about.

“The pleasing part was, I look down the list of our players and their impact on the game — they consistently performed their role and did what we asked them to do.

“As coach, you can’t ask any more than that.”

Pyke and Adelaide now sit 1-1 after two rounds, having racked up the biggest winning margin in Showdowns since 2009.

Saturday’s victory in front of the second-largest Showdown crowd in history was a powerful statement against the club’s SA rival ahead of another key clash with Richmond next Saturday.

The Crows effectively killed off the contest with an unanswered nine-goal run that stretched from midway through the opening quarter to the 12th minute of the second.

Port responded with three goals in four minutes before Adelaide regathered, shifted its game style to address the Power’s surge and hit back with another four-goal streak of its own.

“I thought from the start we were aggressive around the contest which allowed us to win our share of the ball and then or forwards were able to go to work,” Pyke said.

“That’s testament to the players, they came with a really steely determination today to go one step better than last week.

“At times during the game when we were challenged they responded really well, which was a pleasing aspect.”

After enjoying nine different goalkickers in last week’s loss to North Melbourne, Adelaide had eight again yesterday, led by four to Josh Jenkins, five to the electric Eddie Betts and six to Showdown Medallist Tom Lynch.

Pyke said despite the dominant return from his forwards, there remained room for improvement.

“Today was a good outcome,” he said.

“We were efficient when we took the ball forward but we’ll continue to work on things.

“We don’t sit there and go we’re 100 per cent satisfied. There are things we’ll continue to attack in the group, and we’ll need to.

“That’s the nature of the game. If we stand still and think we’ve got it done, the game does jump up and bite you pretty quickly.”

McDERMOTT’S FIVE POINTS

1. No Angus Monfries. No Paddy Ryder. No Tom Clurey. No Hamish Hartlett and no Jay Schulz meant no Port Adelaide. It’s only one loss but the worries are real at Alberton.

2. When Sam Jacobs plays well the Crows are a different team. He will need a spell at some time of the season and it is not Josh Jenkins’ role to relieve him — but it is Don Pyke’s future headache.

3. More balls go over the top of the Power defence, ending up in walk-in goals to the Crows. Their press is too tight and the repercussions are too great. Three in the first quarter, more in the second, some in the third and plenty in the last.

4. The modern game demands efficient ball use. The Power’s efficiency numbers are poor. The Crows highest three possession winners went at 69 per cent and above. The Power’s best three went at 56.5 per cent or below!

5. Adelaide Oval was in terrible condition. The pride of South Australia is in jeopardy of becoming an embarrassment. Ange Postecoglou wasn’t thrilled when here with the Socceroos and while it had little effect on the game, it has significant effect on the look of the game.