After weeks of hype, Adelaide kicked off Gather Round with a bang, defeating an in-form Carlton side easily in front of a sell-out crowd at Adelaide Oval.
South Australia couldn’t have wished for a better start to the weekend with the most popular man in South Australia currently, Izak Rankine, snapping a goal from the pocket within the first minute to immediately get the crowd on their feet.
The Adelaide fans didn’t have to wait long for their next as they began to dominate around the ball, with Jordan Dawson and Rory Laird seemingly racking up possessions at will.
Yet again, the manic on-ball pressure synonymous with the current Adelaide side created turnovers. Every Carlton turnover in their forward 50 seemingly, would end up in a Crows goal within a minute led by their two big men Taylor Walker and Darcy Fogarty.
Max Michaelanney had been given yet another tough task, given the job of Carlton’s dangerous small forward Jesse Motlop, keeping him to a single disposal in the first quarter.
The second quarter began much more even with the Blues gaining the ascendcy throughout the midfield. It eventually took some Sam Walsh magic at the 15 minute mark of the quarter until the Blues finally scored however.
Carlton’s twin towers began to play a significant part in the game midway through the second quarter, taking contested marks inside 50 and up the ground.
Adelaide captain, Jordan Dawson ended the first half with 20 disposals, dominating the clearance and using his superior kicking skills to hit up Walker and Fogarty constantly.
At the half time siren, Adelaide had earned a 31 point lead.
The third quarter began in a similar way to the second with plenty of play on the ground in what was becoming a scrappy affair. A fired-up Tex Walker managed yet another contested mark and finished superbly but the Blues replied instantly thanks to a excellent crumbing goal by Jesse Motlop.
Tensions started to boil over at the 10 minute mark of the third quarter with both teams giving away undisciplined free kicks. Ben Keays got the Adelaide-strong crowd on their feet, thanks to an excellent crumb and snap over his head in the goal square.
Adelaide looked comfortable going into the final break up by 36 points.
Carlton came out firing to start the last quarter, kicking 2 goals in the first two with majors to Blake Acres and Corey Durdin.
Just as the Blues looked to reel in the lead, Adelaide stood up yet again with a magnificent drop punt from the boundary 40m out by Darcy Fogarty followed by a goal from sub Ned Mchenry.
The game was over 5 minutes later as Walker launched the ball into the top of the Riverbank stand following a contested mark in the goalsquare.
Final:
Adelaide: 16.10 – 118
Carlton: 9.8 – 62
Best:
Adelaide: Dawson, Laird, Fogarty, Jones, Keays, Rachele, Walker, Doedee
Carlton: Cerra, Walsh, E.Curnow, Weitering, C.Curnow
Goals:
Adelaide: Fogarty 5, Walker 3, Keays 3, Smith, Rankine, Rachele, Pedlar, McHenry, Laird, Jones
Carlton: McKay 2, Durdin 2, C.Curnow 2, Walsh, Motlop, Acres
Attendance: 47,395 at Adelaide Oval
SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: Ned McHenry (replaced Jake Soligo in the fourth quarter)
Carlton: Josh Honey (replaced Marc Pittonet in the second quarter)
