Eddie Betts kicked five goals as Adelaide smashed a young Port Adelaide at Richmond Oval

MATCH REPORT: EDDIE Betts is worth the investment. That’s the assessment of the Crows’ $2 million man who put on a five-star show.

EDDIE Betts is worth the investment.

That’s the early assessment of the Crows’ new $2 million man who put on a five-star show in his first hitout with his new club.

Former Carlton small forward Betts lit up Richmond Oval in Adelaide’s 10-goal romp in the summer Showdown against Port Adelaide, showing just why the Crows were happy to cough up $2m to sign the free agent to a four-year contract.

ANALYSIS: NO INSIGHT FROM SUMMER SHOWDOWN

Betts, 27, kicked five goals and ran the young Power defence ragged with his pace, sublime skills and goalsense, giving coach Brenton Sanderson a key attacking weapon which he hopes will help propel it back to the finals after last year’s disastrous 11th-place finish.

News_Image_File: Lewis Johnston of the Crows marks high.

Betts was outstanding as the Eddie and J-Pod Show got off to a flying start.

While Betts kicked five goals and had two score assists, former Cats key forward James Podsiadly was less conspicuous but also played his part in the one-sided affair.

Podsiadly, 32, booted only one goal but handed out two to teammates before being shifted to defence in the final term.

News_Image_File: Eddie Betts climbs high over Tom Logan.

Between them, the pair - viewed as vital cogs in Adelaide’s year of redemption - were involved in six of the Crows’ first eight goals as Adelaide smashed a young Port side, which kicked five of its nine goals in the final term.

MATCH REPORT: BLUES STAVE OFF ROO COMEBACK

EVERY SUPERCOACH SCORE FROM CARLTON AND NORTH

News_Image_File: Aaron Young of the Power marks the ball.

Betts, wearing bright yellow boots, made an instant impact, booting the game’s opening two goals inside the first four minutes.

The veteran duo gave a forward line which struggled last year a dangerous new look.

With No. 1 target Taylor Walker and last year’s leading goalkicker Tom Lynch to return from injury, the Crows look far more potent than they did a year ago when they averaged 93 points a game.

News_Image_File: The Power team walk off.

Last year’s first-round draft pick Matt Crouch - the teenager Adelaide secured with pick 23 by controversially trading fans favourite Bernie Vince to Melbourne - also impressed on debut, gathering 23 disposals against a side which played without seven of its eight leadership group members.

News_Image_File: Power coach Ken Hinkley talks to Mason Shaw.

The late withdrawals of captain Travis Boak and lead ruckman Matthew Lobbe left Angus Monfries to toss the coin.

With club champion and All-Australian Chad Wingard also withdrawing from the 29-man squad, Port fielded a bunch of kids.

Thrashed in the centre square, the Power went goalless in the first quarter and had only four majors at the last break.

Key off-season signing Jared Polec, the former Lion who also was wanted by the Crows, impressed with 20 disposals while Andrew Moore (20 possessions), Aaron Young (20 and two goals) and Tom Logan played well.

New first-round draft pick Jarman Impey only had 10 disposals but looked all class.

Adelaide’s next NAB Challenge clash is against Carlton at Etihad Stadium on February 24 while Port plays Essendon at the same venue the next day.

SCORES

ADELAIDE 5.2 10.7 16.8 18.11 (119)

PORT ADELAIDE 0.2 2.4 4.4 9.5 (59)

BEST - Adelaide: Betts, Wright, Douglas, Mackay, Crouch, Dangerfield, Sloane. Port: Moore, Young, Logan, Polec.

GOALS - Adelaide: Betts 5, Wright, Douglas 2, Podsiadly, Porplyzia, Smith, Jenkins, Kerridge, Lyons, Sloane, Johnston, Cameron. Port: Stewart, Young 2, Logan, White, Byrne-Jones, Pittard, Newton.

INJURIES - Port: Renouf (knee).

CROWD - 8765 at Richmond Oval.

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ADELAIDE v PORT ADELAIDE

Richmond Oval, 4.10pm ACDT

ADELAIDE

1. James Podsiadly, 4. Josh Jenkins, 6. Luke Thompson, 8. Lewis Johnston, 9. Rory Sloane (c), 10. Matthew Jaensch, 11. Matthew Wright, 12. Daniel Talia, 14. David Mackay, 15. Angus Graham, 16. Luke Brown, 17. Sam Kerridge, 18. Eddie Betts, 21. Rory Atkins, 24. Sam Jacobs, 26. Richard Douglas, 28. Cam Ellis-Yolmen, 31. Jarryd Lyons, 32. Patrick Dangerfield (c), 33. Brodie Smith, 34. Sam Shaw, 35. Shaun McKernan, 36. Brodie Martin, 38. Mitch Grigg, 40. Jason Porplyzia, 41. Kyle Hartigan, 42. Charlie Cameron, 44. Matt Crouch 46. Alex Spina

PORT ADELAIDE

1. Travis Boak, 4. Brent Renouf, 5. Matthew Broadbent, 6. Angus Monfries, 13. Cameron O’Shea, 14. Paul Stewart, 15. Lewis Stevenson, 16. Ollie Wines, 17. Tom Clurey, 19. Matt White, 20. Chad Wingard, 21. Jared Polec, 22. Mason Shaw, 23. Matthew Lobbe, 24. Jarman Impey, 25. Dom Cassisi, 26. Andrew Moore, 29. Jasper Pittard, 30. Sam Colquhoun, 31. Mitch Harvey, 32. Jake Neade, 33. Darcy Byrne-Jones, 36. Jack Hombsch, 38. Ben Newton, 40. Aaron Young, 41. Brendon Ah Chee, 43. Karl Amon, 44. Tom Logan, 45. Daniel Flynn