Full taste of Crows' mid-strength

THE Crows are the clearance kings of the AFL - just watch a replay of Saturday's dramatic 29-point win over Fremantle.

THE Crows are the clearance kings of the AFL - just watch a replay of Saturday's dramatic 29-point win over Fremantle.

Going into the contest, Adelaide boasted the highest percentage of clearance wins from a stoppage.

After smashing the Dockers by 53 clearances to 30, the Crows only enhanced their reputation while also building one of the deepest midfields in the competition.

"They've certainly gone to another level," Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson said of his midfielders.

"And there's a bit more depth there too. We've seen (Jared) Petrenko and (Matthew) Wright and (Ian) Callinan play a bit more up the ground now.

"It's not just left to (Scott) Thompson. We're seeing (Patrick) Dangerfield and (Rory) Sloane and those other boys really contribute through a really potent midfield now."

Wright - who chalked up 20 disposals, six tackles and three goals - noted the midfield would have suffered when Thompson was blanketed last year. But not this year, as the Crows proved on Saturday when Thompson's influence was restricted by Fremantle tagger Ryan Crowley.

"I think we've got a lot of us who can spit through there (midfield) at times," said Wright.

"Thommo carried the team a little bit last year and while Crowley did a fantastic job on him, he (Thompson) opens up a lot of spots for guys to go through there.

"It's good to take a bit of the load off him now."

Despite Fremantle's giant ruckman Aaron Sandilands registering 49 hitouts, the Crows' midfield brigade was still able to dictate terms at the stoppages, also winning the centre clearances 15 to 12.

While Thompson managed three clearances, it was Sloane (nine) Dangerfield (eight), Richard Douglas (eight) and Nathan van Berlo (seven) who did the damage.

"It was a fantastic effort by that entire group," Sanderson, pictured right, said.

"It was really tough trying to combat Sandilands, who is a giant but we certainly held our own.

"You mentioned Thommo was held by Crowley but he still does a lot of things off the ball which helps his teammates get free."

Clearing space for Sloane at times was part of what most wouldn't notice of Thompson's game.

But Sloane certainly made the most of the lack of attention paid to him, collecting 33 disposals to go with his nine clearances, seven tackles and three goals.

"He was incredible. He was inspirational the way that he played," Sanderson said of Sloane, who also kicked the goal to regain the lead for the Crows in the final quarter.