Adelaide’s midfield exposed in past three weeks — how do they respond?

Adelaide’s midfield was one of the hottest in the AFL after a month. Three weeks later, big issues have been exposed. How do the Crows — and battling skipper Jordan Dawson — respond?

The heat is going to be on Adelaide’s midfield to bounce back this week.

After the off-season addition of James Peatling from GWS, the drafting of Sid Draper, Izak Rankine becoming a full-time midfielder and Jake Soligo’s outstanding pre-season it looked like the Crows finally had an engine room that could challenge the best sides in the competition.

The early signs were good as the Crows raced out of the blocks to go 3-0 for the first time since 2017.

But the Crows’ engine room has stalled of late.

The Crows were soundly beaten by Fremantle in the midfield battle. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Just once in the last four weeks have Matthew Nicks’ side ended up winning the clearance battle, unsurprisingly in their lone win over the period - a scrappy win over the Giants.

Against Fremantle the Crows’ midfield was resoundingly beaten at the contest, especially early in the game, with the Dockers’ plus eight in clearances at the end of the clash failing to tell just how truly dominant they were at the source for much of the game.

“As mids you have to put your hand up and say we didn’t bring it on the day,” Soligo said.

“We weren’t able to get it done on the inside.”

On Monday Soligo conceded his form over the past three weeks was “probably not the ideal way I would like to be playing” as he looked to be more consistent in games.

He isn’t the only Crows midfielder down over the past three weeks from how they started the season.

Captain Jordan Dawson started the season strongly with an average of 27.5 disposals, 4.8 clearances, 6.3 score involvements and kicking efficiency of 60 per cent in the Crows’ first four games.

In the last three his disposals have decreased by 16 per cent to 23, his clearances by 44 per cent to 2.7, his score involvements 37 per cent to four and his kicking efficiency 35 per cent to 39 per cent.

Jordan Dawson’s form is becoming a concern for the Crows.

Matt Crouch had 18 disposals for 69m gained against the Dockers before he was subbed out for Sid Draper — who then had 29 disposals in the SANFL two days later.

Rankine and Peatling split CBA’s against the Dockers with the two rotating at times between midfield and the forward line, while Ben Keays also got time in the middle.

So Nicks has options to throw in the midfield, and maybe free up Dawson to get him out of this cold patch of form of late.

It will be about finding the right mix.

“I think that is in every team, you can roll 23 players through there. Realistically everyone has the skill and the ability,” Soligo said.

“So it is just about finding that mix and we feel like we have that mix at the moment with the boys we have in there.

“It is just finding that consistent form wherever you play.

“We feel like we have the right mix, we back the coaches in and we just have to perform each week.”

A resurgent Carlton outfit, boasting two-time Brownlow Medallist Patrick Cripps, former No. 1 pick Sam Walsh and George Hewett in the form of his life - and potentially Adam Cerra as well — will test whether the Crows midfield can get back on track.

Originally published as Adelaide’s midfield exposed in past three weeks — how do they respond?