It was the perfect way to kick off the AFL’s inaugural Gather Round, and Kane Cornes believes Adelaide’s victory over Carlton is a sign the side’s nearing the perfect product.
Heading into round five at Adelaide Oval, the Crows were hovering around the top eight while Carlton were starting to display premiership credentials in second.
Adelaide then put forward one of its best displays in years to dispose of Carlton with ease, winning 118-62.
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Speaking on SEN Breakfast, Cornes said a close to complete performance from the Crows has been coming for quite some time, despite the club not playing finals in the AFL since 2017.
“What I’ve seen from Adelaide watching them closely over the last few years is they had the contest bit, they had the pressure bit and they had the ‘we’re going to be hard to play against’ bit,” he said.
“But they didn’t have the other stuff like, ‘when we win the ball back, then what do we do?’.
“So the evolution of their game last night was like ‘this is all coming together’.
“You’ve got the stoppage, you’ve got the contest where they’ve been strong, you’ve got the pressure. Now what do you do when you win the footy back and you’ve got it?”
While Adelaide won the majority of the statistic battles, Carlton did lead the way for inside 50s with 53 to the Crows’ 51.
The ability to convert those opportunities was the difference though, with Adelaide sitting at 64.7 per cent for efficiency inside 50 with Darcy Fogarty leading the way scoring five goals.
Cornes said the Crows’ ability to get the ball forward and convert was one of the most impressive aspects of their performance.
“What about the ball movement, the transition from back 50 to forward 50,” he said.
“Yes, there was a lack of pressure from Carlton which made it easier, but the efficiency (was great). They had less inside 50s last night. The first quarter was 20 entries and eight goals.
“That was a complete game from Adelaide, exactly what you want.
“So miserly defensively, keeping Carlton to under 10 goals and kicking over 100 points themselves.
“I knew they were good before the start of the year, but I didn’t realise they were this good.”
After plenty doubted the Crows ability this year, the Gather Round performance may look as a changing of the tide for the side.
Cornes’ co-host David King believes they’ve definitely changed perceptions around the AFL.
“You’ve got to see it before you can recognise it, I think,” King said.
“We’ll all look back and say, ‘it was that game’.
“There’s always a starting point for recognition with us from the outside world that this is a serious footy team going places.”
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King added the fact Adelaide’s side was ‘the fourth youngest lineup for the weekend’ means there’s still the potential for even better performances as the season progresses.
“What you’re seeing is just the tip of the iceberg really. Their senior players are still playing great footy, the older guys are performing well also, but they are still a very, very young football team,” he said.
“To be able to do what they’re doing at this stage, is credit to the coaching, and not just Matthew Nicks, but those around him.”
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