Adelaide Crows send ominous midfield warning ahead of Showdown 57 against Port Adelaide

On a day when Port was beaten up across the border, the Crows delivered a performance that will keep Ken Hinkley up at night this week. MATT TURNER unpacks Adelaide’s warning shot.

It was the type of midfield smashing that might as well have been a warning shot to its Showdown rival.

The Crows, determined to respond from getting “beaten up” in the engine room against Fremantle last week, put Carlton’s on-ball unit to the sword on a day when the Western Bulldogs did the same to Port Adelaide.

In Adelaide’s 60-point home win, clearances (+8), centre clearances (+10), inside 50s (+22), disposals (+69), contested possessions (+17) and marks inside 50 (+14) were all convincingly in its favour.

Perhaps the biggest indicator of how damaging the Crows were in their best all-round performance of the season was they kicked five goals from centre clearance.

Meanwhile, against the Bulldogs in Ballarat, Port Adelaide was trounced by 90 points while losing clearances by 14, centre clearances by nine, contested possessions by 16 and inside 50s by 26.

Showdown results, as we know, are not always related to form.

But games are typically won and lost in the contest and midfield, where Adelaide has been a superior team this season, even before Saturday.

James Peatling was a key part of Adelaide’s midfield demolition. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

The Crows were “a bit off” in those areas against the Dockers, according to recruit James Peatling.

“It was pretty obvious why we lost last week – our line as a midfield group got beaten up,” Peatling told this masthead.

“We wanted to respond.

“We came in with a simple plan (on Saturday): to get at Carlton.

“We just needed to bring tenacity and ferocity around the ball.

“We lacked that last week for some reason.”

Prior to Saturday, Carlton had conceded the second-fewest points per game in the league this season from centre bounce.

And Adelaide had scored the sixth-least from that source of any team.

“It clicked tonight,” Peatling said.

“It helps to have some guns in there.”

Josh Rachele was responsible for one of those centre clearances that led to a goal, setting up Alex Neal-Bullen.

Before Saturday, Rachele had only attended two centre bounces from four games this year.

He was at five versus the Blues and was lively.

“We’ve got the ability to throw a few blokes through there and give us a decent look,” Peatling said.

Jordan Dawson was outstanding all match, recording more centre clearances (four) than anyone on the ground.

The Adelaide skipper also pushed forward, starting in the goalsquare at times, and booted a game-high three majors.

He had kicked 2.8 this year.

Peatling said the midfield could complement Dawson, allowing him to shift to attack – or defence – to influence games.

“That’s what you want – complementary pieces to let the guns go to work and show their talent,” he said.

Jordan Dawson celebrates one of his three goals. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Coming into the round, the Crows ranked sixth in the AFL in contested possessions, seventh in clearances, eighth in inside 50s and sixth in time in forward half.

Port was 17th, 14th, 11th and eighth in those same categories.

One-win North Melbourne sent a midfield warning to the Power through the middle part of their clash last week.

Saturday would have been another reminder, both at Mars Stadium and at Adelaide Oval.

“That’s our game back to its best,” Nicks said.

“Our mids last week, we challenged ourselves during the week about the level we need to be at to compete.

“Stoppage, centre bounce – it makes a difference when you’re able to play the game in your front half.”

Originally published as Adelaide Crows send ominous midfield warning ahead of Showdown 57 against Port Adelaide