AAMI Community Series 2021: Port Adelaide thumps Crows by 71 points in final trial game

Taylor Walker booted three goals but three young forwards failed to fire as the Crows suffered a second straight pre-season thrashing at the hands of Port Adelaide.

Aliir Aliir of Port Adelaide and Riley Thilthorpe of the Adelaide Crows.

Port Adelaide is purring along nicely while Adelaide remains a big work in progress.

That’s the takeaway after the Power gave the Crows a pre-season lesson for the second straight week.

After handing out a 52-point hiding the week prior at Alberton, the Power were again able to give out a thumping to their fierce rivals – triumphing 17.14 (116) to 6.9 (45) down at Noarlunga.

Ken Hinkley’s side out-ran, out-muscled and outfought a Crows side that just couldn’t live with the Powers intensity.

Surprisingly, after getting smashed in the clearances a week prior, the Crows won the stat 28 to 25.

But when they went forward Matthew Nicks’ side offered too little – only managing 15 scoring shots from 40 inside-50s.

The Power, on the other hand, continuously created chance after chance, and arguably would have been disappointed with their conversion.

Zak Butters got the ball rolling just 35 seconds into the match and the Crows never not any closer on the scoreboard.

Orazio Fantasia (3.3) was impressive in the first half before sitting out the rest of the game, Aliir Aliir swallowed up pretty much anything that came his way, Dan Houston (34 possessions) was classy as usual while the Power would have been pleased with just how at home Miles Bergman looked in the backline.

MORE: ALL THE KFC SUPERCOACH SCORES FROM PORT v CROWS

Port Adelaide recruit Aliir Aliir leads Crow Riley Thilthorpe to the ball.

For the Crows Taylor Walker continued his good pre-season, kicking three goals, Rory Laird and Brodie Smith were both busy while Andrew McPherson and Jordon Butts fought all day despite being up against it in defence.

The Crows unleashed exciting draftees Riley Thilthorpe and Sam Berry in the second half but they had little impact.

IN A NUTSHELL

PORT:

Skilful, speedy, ruthless: there was much to indicate the Power will pick up where they left off in 2020.

Recruiters must have been sitting back and enjoying what they saw in the goal-fest, with new small forward Orazio Fantasia (11 touches, three goals in a half) having a day out at one end, and new defender Aliir Aliir (21 disposals, 14 marks) in full intercept-marking flight at the other.

Port might look at its goalkicking accuracy before Round 1, with Travis Boak and Fantasia among many who missed easy set shots, while Steven Motlop raised eyebrows with a shocking shank that missed everything.

CROWS:

It could be another long year for Crows fans.

For all the positive momentum created by the run at the end of 2020, they have been thumped in both their games in pre-season and face Geelong and its star-studded forward line in Round 1.

Nicks will be pleased the Crows responded after getting smashed at clearances a week prior, but Adelaide has some serious problems going forward.

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Taylor Walker gave his all but needs help in the front half.

SELECTION PUZZLES

PORT:

How tall can Port’s forward line go? Pete Ladhams (two goals) showed spirit alongside Charlie Dixon (five disposals) before the elder statesman was rested for the second half. In his place came Mitch Georgiades, who leapt high as usual and kicked two goals. And just think, Todd Marshall’s still due back from injury.

CROWS:

There would be a few Adelaide players who have to produce a big couple of weeks on the training track if they want to keep their spots.

Tom Lynch was a late inclusion in the SANFL team that played a day earlier, while Tom Doedee, Jackson Hately, Fischer McAsey and Luke Pedlar also lined up in the twos.

Riley Thilthorpe and Sam Berry played in the second half in the main game, replacing Billy Frampton and Chayce Jones, and Crows fans will want to see them back out at AFL level soon to give them some hope for the Adelaide rebuild.

Zak Butters brushes off Chayce Jones.

ONES TO WATCH

PORT:

Miles Bergman pushed his case for an AFL debut with quick defensive runs and clever marking across half-back.

Much has been speculated about Connor Rozee’s sore foot, but he played freely and he showed off some fancy steps at times. He finished with 16 touches and two goals. Still, he’s in doubt for Round 1 after confirming he will undergo surgery.

No-fuss Lachie Jones – and his impressive mullet – came on for the second half and he started with a big tackle on Crow Chayce Jones. He looks built for the league and showed off his precision kicking. Had five touches, and four tackles.

Rory Laird was one of Adelaide’s best in his new midfield role.

CROWS:

Taylor Walker has been written off by many but he was clearly the Crows’ most dangerous forward, kicking three goals, and looked to be jumping well at the ball.

Riley Thilthorpe’s first outing against AFL opposition was a tough initiation for the No.2 draft pick after he came on for the second half. Aliir Aliir easily brushed him aside to take a simple mark soon after he came onto the field, while the other key Port defenders in Tom Jonas and Tom Clurey were able to use their bodies against him.

But there was a nice moment for the youngster when he was able to get away from Scott Lycett in the ruck and show some of his skill.

It was another underwhelming game for young forward Darcy Fogarty.

He crashed packs OK, but gathered only six disposals with the Port Adelaide defenders easily able to handle him.

Elliott Himmelberg impressed in the SANFL and the Crows can’t play all of Walker, Frampton, Fogarty, Lynch and Himmelberg in the same line-up.

SIDELINED

PORT:

The defence was well-drilled against Adelaide, led by Aliir, and yet there’s still Hamish Hartlett (hamstring soreness) and Trent McKenzie (corky) to come back.

Tall forward Todd Marshall (cheek contusion) and Sam Powell-Pepper (hand) will be aiming for Round 1 starts as well.

Crows defender Jordon Butts clutches his ankle.

CROWS:

With Daniel Talia to miss Round 1 as he recovers from knee surgery, the Crows coaching staff would have their hearts in their mouths when Jordon Butts hurt his ankle in the second quarter.

Doedee got through the SANFL game OK as he comes back from a groin issue, while David Mackay is still recovering from concussion.

Ben Davis hurt his ankle last week, draftee Brayden Cook is still some time away after he had a shoulder reconstruction last year while Wayne Milera is out for the season after rupturing his patella tendon at Alberton the previous week.

Port Adelaide: 3.6 6.10 12.12 17.14 (116)

Adelaide: 0.1 1.2 3.5 6.9 (45)

GOALS

Power: Fantasia 3, Georgiades, Rozee, Ladhams, Gray, Wines 2, Butters, Farrell, Mead, Houston

Crows: Walker 3, McAdam 2, Sholl

BEST

Power: Houston, Aliir, Butters, Wines, Bonner, Gray, Fantasia

Crows: Smith, Walker, Laird

Originally published as AAMI Community Series 2021: Port Adelaide thumps Crows by 71 points in final trial game