Crows not content with their efforts, despite 4-0 start to 2017 AFL season

ADELAIDE is on the verge of the best start to a season in its history but defender Brodie Smith says it means nothing other than another step towards the Crows’ pursuit of playing a complete game.

On the run ... Brodie Smith takes on Essendon’s Jobe Watson. Picture: Sarah Reed

ADELAIDE is on the verge of the greatest start to a season in its history but running defender Brodie Smith says it means nothing other than another step towards the Crows’ pursuit of playing a complete game.

If the Crows can beat Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday afternoon to go 5-0 it will be their best start to a season ever.

Their previous best was 4-0 in 1996 — which subsequently ended in disaster with them only winning four more for the entire season as they missed the finals, finishing 12th, and coach Robert Shaw being sacked.

But the 2017 version of the Crows is oozing confidence, class and depth and is looking no further than the Suns this weekend.

“It would obviously be the perfect start and what we’d like to do, but it’s the old cliche week by week, we’re just trying to improve,” Smith said at yesterday’s school holiday clinic at Footy Park.

“It’s really pleasing to be 4-0, it’s a great start to the year, we probably just haven’t played four quarters of footy yet.

“We’ve had a quarter in each game that has let us down a bit and we’ve been disappointed with ... and come the end of the year we’re going to need to play four quarters.”

This year is also the first time since 1996 the high-flying Crows have cracked the 100 points in each of their first four games as the AFL’s highest scoring team in 2016 finds yet another gear.

After Round 4 they are the only team in the competition to have broken the 500-point barrier, with 513 points at an average of 128.5 a game.

The only team to have scored more in the first month of a season in the past 10 years is Collingwood which registered 561 points at 140.2 a game on their way to the 2011 grand final.

Adelaide has done it with an unsettled side so far this year with several big names missing through injury but their loss has been more than covered by those coming in.

Charlie Cameron pulled up sore from Saturday’s win over Essendon but is expected to play the Gold Coast while Jake Kelly (eye) and Josh Jenkins (ribs) will be tested. But Mitch McGovern (hamstring) will miss three months despite avoiding surgery for now.

Smith listed Brad Crouch, Harrison Wigg and Harry Dear among those putting their hand up with strong SANFL form to be considered for senior selection this week.

“I’m glad we don’t have to select the team, it’s going to be a tough one for them,” Smith said.

“We know how good Brad Crouch can be, it’s probably just a matter of his fitness and how many games they want to see out of him before he comes back into the side.

Smith is coming off a season-best performance against Essendon on Saturday night when he had 33 disposals and took a courageous mark going back with the flight of the ball in the first quarter.

“Personally it’s been a good start to the year, that back six or seven we’ve had for a few years now is playing some really good footy together,” he said.

“I’ve been pleased with my start and the way the whole back six are playing together.”

[e-mail]