Adelaide hit by another hamstring injury in comfortable win over Gold Coast at Adelaide Oval
ADELAIDE’S hamstring curse continued but so did its dominance of Gold Coast in a comfortable win at Adelaide Oval. All eyes will be on captain Taylor Walker next week.
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ADELAIDE’S hamstring curse continued and so did its dominance of Gold Coast.
Captain Taylor Walker was ruled out of the second half of the convincing 48-point win over the Suns at Adelaide Oval with what the club described as “hamstring awareness’’.
Walker, who missed Round 1 with a foot injury, left the field just before half-time clutching his left hamstring.
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The club says the move was precautionary by the medical staff but it clearly leaves the star key forward, who kicked 2.2, in doubt for next week’s clash against Carlton and continues the shocking run of hamstring problems that have engulfed the Crows this season.
Reigning club champion Matt Crouch and star goalkicker Eddie Betts, Kyle Hartigan, Sam Gibson, Lachlan Murphy and Kyle Cheney have all missed time with hamstring injuries.
Of the quintet, only Crouch played on Saturday night and he ensured Adelaide maintained its unbeaten run against the Suns with a standout display.
Resuming after being sidelined for three matches, Crouch didn’t miss a beat, having 30 disposals and kicking a goal as the Crows made it 11 from 11 against Gold Coast.
They remain one of only two AFL clubs that the Suns have yet to beat, along with Sydney.
Adelaide - with key forward “Tex’’ Walker lively early after his four-goal heroics in the upset win against the Swans at the SCG last week - jumped to an early lead and was never headed.
Playing the first of an unprecedented run of four consecutive games at Adelaide Oval which gives them a chance to set their season up, the Crows had plenty of standout performers.
Apart from Crouch, forward Tom Lynch (25 disposals, three goals), half-back Wayne Milera (33 disposals) and Richard Douglas (21 disposals, three goals) were excellent and Daniel Talia kept dangerous Suns forward Tom Lynch goalless.
Youngster Jordan Gallucci also was impressive with 20 disposals and two goals.
The Suns, who are now more than halfway through a nine-week road trip forced on them by the Commonwealth Games being held on the Gold Coast, had just a handful of four-quarter contributors.
David Swallow was superb with 31 disposals and three goals while former Crow Jarryd Lyons had 25. Walker’s opponent Steven May made the most of his second-half absence to take 10 marks.
Both sides entered the arena with 3-2 records but it was Adelaide which quickly stamped its authority.
The Suns’ former Central District midfielder Nick Holman, who was at Glenelg Oval prior to the game to watch the Dogs beat the Tigers, was given the stopping job on the league’s leading disposal winner, half-back Rory Laird.
Veteran Andy Otten, who set a Crows record for the longest time between his debut and 100th game (nine years, 317 days), started in the backline.
Crouch took no time to find his feet after an extended absence, getting his hands on the ball early and often.
Lynch opened the goalscoring for Adelaide when he pounced on a loose ball and waltzed into an open goal.
Walker then broke clear of May to mark on his chest and kick truly from 45m.
When Gallucci hit the scoreboard with a smart snap after some nice work from Josh Jenkins, the Crows’ lead was quickly out to 21 points.
It took Gold Coast 19 minutes to score when Lyons’ running shot slammed into the bottom of the goalpost.
Crouch’s influence was illustrated by him having a game-high 14 disposals for the quarter.
When Adelaide kicked three goals in the opening five minutes of the second term the match was as good as over.
ADELAIDE 4.4 10.7 13.9 16.14 (110)
GOLD COAST 2.1 3.4 7.6 9.8 (62)
BEST
Adelaide: T.Lynch, T.Milera, R.Douglas, M.Crouch, D.Talia, C.Ellis-Yolmen, R.Laird, L.Brown
Gold Coast: D.Swallow, J.Lyons, T.Miller, S.May
GOALS
Adelaide: T.Lynch, R.Douglas 3, R.Knight, J.Gallucci, T.Walker 2, M.Crouch, P.Seedsman, C.Ellis-Yolmen, J.McGovern
Gold Coast: D.Swallow 3, J.Martin, A.Sexton, J.Lonergan, B.Ainsworth, T.Miller, M.Barlow
INJURIES
Adelaide: T.Walker (hamstring).
UMPIRES: H. Gavine, S. Ryan, A. Gianfagna.
CROWD: 44,835 at Adelaide Oval.
VOTES
3. Tom Lynch (Adel)
2. Wayne Milera (Adel)
1. Richard Douglas (Adel)
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Originally published as Adelaide hit by another hamstring injury in comfortable win over Gold Coast at Adelaide Oval
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