The Adelaide Crows have claimed their second pre-season title, defeating West Coast by 34 points at AAMI Stadium.
In ideal preparation for the upcoming premiership season for new coach Brenton Sanderson, the Crows responded to every challenge the Eagles threw at them.
Michael Tuck medalist Bernie Vince (29 disposals) and Scott Thompson (27 disposals) paved the way for the Crows with a dominant display through the middle.
After a disappointing 2011, the rejuvenated Crows were again on display, after winning all four games leading in to the final.
The game began in a sloppy fashion with heavy numbers around every contest resulting in poor disposal by both teams; it was the Crows though that got the dream start, with the first two goals going to Vince and Thompson.
Despite Adelaide’s early momentum, super goals to Mark Nicoski and Josh Hill gave West Coast an unconvincing one-goal lead at the first break.
The game came to life during the second quarter as Jared Petrenko and Darren Glass wrestled near the interchange dug-out, which sparked the home team, who started to take control of the game.
It was Taylor Walker who began the run – kicking three goals, including a super goal, to help Adelaide kick five unanswered goals to reach a game-high margin of 31 points.
Missed opportunities prevented Adelaide from putting the game beyond the Eagles’ reach, with a couple of late goals to the Eagles bringing the margin back to 18 points at the final break.
An instant goal from a clearance to Gerrick Weedon reduced the margin to just 12 points at the start of the fourth-quarter, but goals to Jason Porplyzia, Petrenko and Ian Callinan broke any resistance the Eagles had left, allowing the Crows to enjoy the final minutes as NAB Cup premiers 2012.
Adelaide now looks forward to round 1, with the Crows set to face the Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium where it hopes to continue the form shown throughout the last month.
West Coast will rue missed opportunities, with Hill the biggest culprit, kicking 2 goals and 6 behinds.
It was a sour night overall for the Eagles, with Nicoski coming off in the opening term with what appeared to be a serious hamstring injury.
West Coast will be eagerly awaiting scans on Nicoski to determine his availability heading in to the club’s round 1 fixture with the Western Bulldogs.
ADELAIDE 0.2.2 1.3.6 2.6.13 2.10.17 (95)
WEST COAST 2.0.2 2.1.6 2.4.7 2.5.13 (61)
SUPERGOALS
Adelaide: Jaensch, Walker
West Coast: Hill, Nicoski
GOALS
Adelaide: Walker 2, Callinan, Jacobs, Mackay, Petrenko, Porplyzia, Thompson, Tippett, Vince
West Coast: Darling, Hams, Hill, Priddis, Weedon
BEST
Adelaide: Vince, Thompson, Dangerfield, Walker, Reilly, Mackay
West Coast: Priddis, S.Selwood, Butler, Hill, Waters
INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil
West Coast: Nicoski (hamstring)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McBurney, McInerney, Mollison, Dalgleish
Crowd: 27,376 at AAMI Stadium
