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Crows dominate Power in SA showdown! | 01:08
Adelaide exploited rival Port Adelaide’s defensive injury woes to claim a 44-point win in their practice match in Mount Barker on Friday.
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With the Power undersized and turning to the likes of Jeremy Finlayson to try and fill the holes left by injured stars Esava Ratugolea and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Adelaide opened up a 41-point buffer in a dominant display.
And despite a Power fightback, the Crows pulled away late to claim a 22.11 (143) to 14.15 (99) victory.
Big man Riley Thilthorpe had a day out as he nailed three goals, while veteran Taylor Walker had two in their three periods on the field.
With six periods to play, both sides put their best up for the opening three terms before making wholesale changes for the final three, essentially turning it into a reserves contest.
On top of the loss, Port suffered a massive scare when defender Ryan Burton limped from the field.
Burton got caught in a tackle and swung into teammate Jason Horne-Francis, leaving both players lying on the turf.
Burton faired worse of the duo and had to be assisted from the field.
“That’s the last thing Port Adelaide need,” Fox Footy’s Mark Bickley said.
“Another defender potentially injured.”
Luckily for the Power, Burton was able to return to the contest for limited minutes after a “tweak” to his ankle.
For the Crows, new recruit James Peatling was impressive from the opening bounce while Jake Soligo showed he’s grown his game with three goals while playing as a midfielder.
THE 3-2-1…
3. NEW RECRUITS ON SHOW
The race for recruit of the year is already hotly contested with both new Crows and Port stars putting their hands up.
For Adelaide, they rolled out former Giant James Peatling and ex-Demon Alex Neal-Bullen at Mount Barker.
And it was Peatling who put on an eye-catching display in the opening period.
His precision pass set up Taylor Walker for the opening goal for the contest, giving Adelaide fans plenty to get excited about for the upcoming season.
A whopping seven clubs were reportedly in the hunt for Peatling’s signature at the end of 2024.
Teammate Mitch Hinge described the ex-Giant as “super impressive” in his new colours and predicted big things this season.
“His work in and under, and his spread and how fast he is – electric around the stoppage,” he said.
While Neal-Bullen had a couple of moments he’d like back, he found plenty of ball in the opening three periods before a replacement side was brought out for the final three terms.
For Port Adelaide, former Pie Joe Richards stood out in his limited minutes.
He nailed his first goal in the teal after floating forward, but it was his run on the wing that impressed two-time Crows premiership skipper Mark Bickley most.
“He looks impressive Richards doesn’t he?” he said.
“He covers the ground.
“You can see why (Magpies coach) Craig McRae was pretty keen to not lose him and why Port Adelaide caught him.”
Ex-Sun Jack Lukosius showed glimpses including a sharp pass to set up Mitch Georgiades and a ripping goal from outside 50.
Bickley said Jack Whitlock was the “highlight” for Port in the fourth period as both coaches turned to fringe players for the remainder of the contest.
There was praise too for top draft pick Joe Berry in promising signs for a Round 1 debut.
“Joe Berry has got some movement – a lot like Kane Farrell,” he said.
“He seems to just drift across the ground.
“I thought Richards and Berry were both good and looked really neat, they cover the ground well.
“Richards, in particular, was up the ground and racing back, while I was really impressed with Berry and how classy and composed he is for a young player.
“He’s only been in the system a few months and he just looked really comfortable at the level.”
2. MITCH NEEDS TO BE ‘MAIN MAN’
With Charlie Dixon retired, Todd Marshall injured long-term and Jeremy Finlayson needed down back to shore up an undersized defence, the Power attack end is looking a little shaky.
Port’s leading goalkicker between 2020 and 2023 has come from one of that trio, with Dixon’s 48 goals in 2021 the biggest haul.
But Mitch Georgiades is starting to put his best foot forward.
As the club’s leading goal scorer in 2024 (with 44), the young West Aussie is going to have to find a way to grow further in 2025.
“He’s going to be the main target – there’s no Charlie Dixon anymore. He’s going to be the main man,” commentator Paul Bonsor said.
Two-time premiership Crow Mark Bickley said Georgiades needed a big year if Port were to contend.
“What’s the number for Mitch Georgiades this year?” he asked on Fox Footy.
Jack Lukosius of the Power. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images“If he can get over 50 … you’d think they would be a great shot.
“Probably speaks to a little bit about what Port have got to do … just change the way they play a little bit
“(They) fell into the trap of knowing that Charlie is down there – just bang it in there as you know he’s going to compete.
“They need better direction on the kick because you don’t have that huge presence there – Georgiades and (new recruit Jack) Lukosius are probably better on the lead.”
Bickley said he’d like to see Lukosius higher up the ground to best use his deadly pass precision.
And that ploy was on show in the third period when the former Sun hit the leading Georgiades on the chest.
“That’s what all Port fans would be loving to see – Jack Lukosius, not only does he pose a forward threat in goals, if he does play that forward role and get up the great his forward entry will be elite,” Bickley praised.
1. SOLIGIO TO THE RESCUE
When you think of Adelaide’s small goal kickers, you think Izak Rankine and Josh Rachele.
But don’t count out Jake Soligo.
The Crows midfielder put on a display against the Power in the opening three periods before his well-earned rest.
He had three goals to be his side’s leading goal scorer when the match turned into an almost reserves game for the final three periods.
“He kicked two goals in the second quarter playing really well in the midfield,” two-time premiership Crow Mark Bickley said.
“It’s just his work rate. He’s hard and tough – we know that.
Jake Soligo of the Crows celebrates a goal with Taylor Walker. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images“His ball use looks like it’s improved again.
“He’s been really solid.
“The amount of contests he’s been able to get to and impact has been really good.”
Riley Thilthorpe impressed up forward as well, taking a big one-handed grab against Port defender Aliir Aliir, during his three-goal haul.
“When they moved it quickly and got it into their forward line, they were really dangerous,” Bickley praised.
“They kicked 11 goals in the first half, so good signs of the scoring prowess they had a couple of years ago.”
Rookie Toby Murray showed impressive hands late in the contest against the understrength Power backline.
The younger brother of Adelaide’s Nick, Murray showed there’s tall depth to come behind the likes of veteran Taylor Walker and Darcy Fogarty.
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ADELAIDE SQUAD
1 Chayce Jones
2 Ben Keays
3 Sam Berry
4 Lachlan Murphy
5 Matt Crouch
6 Daniel Curtin
7 Riley Thilthorpe
8 Josh Rachele
9 Nick Murray
10 Luke Pedlar
11 Charlie Edwards
12 Jordan Dawson
13 Taylor Walker
14 Jake Soligo
15 Brayden Cook
17 Tyler Welsh
19 Zac Taylor
20 Mitchell Hinge
21 Chris Burgess
22 Oscar Ryan
24 Josh Worrell
25 James Peatling
26 Harry Schoenberg
27 Luke Nankervis
28 Alex Neal-Bullen
29 Rory Laird
30 Wayne Milera
31 Billy Dowling
32 Darcy Fogarty
33 Brodie Smith
34 Sid Draper
35 James Borlase
36 Karl Gallagher
39 Toby Murray
40 Hugh Bond
41 Jordon Butts
43 Reilly O’Brien
48 Mark Keane
CROWS SANFL TOP-UP PLAYERS
16 Jay Boyle
23 Hugh Haysman
34 Lachie Thomas
37 Blake Drury
38 Jay O’Leary
42 Lachlan McAndrew
44 Ned Atkinson
46 Jack Madgen
PORT ADELAIDE SQUAD
1 Connor Rozee
2 Sam Powell-Pepper
3 Ryan Burton
5 Joe Berry
6 Kane Farrell
7 Jase Burgoyne
8 Josh Sinn
9 Zak Butters
10 Travis Boak
11 Jeremy Finlayson
12 Jack Lukosius
14 Miles Bergman
15 Willie Rioli
16 Ollie Wines
17 Jack Whitlock
18 Jason Horne-Francis
19 Mitch Georgiades
21 Aliir Aliir
22 Logan Evans
23 Dylan Williams
24 Jordon Sweet
26 Lachie Charleson
28 Willem Drew
29 Tom Anastasopoulos
30 Ollie Lord
31 Christian Moraes
32 Rory Atkins
33 Darcy Byrne-Jones
34 Lachie Jones
35 Joe Richards
36 Will Lorenz
37 Tom Cochrane
39 Hugh Jackson
40 Benny Barrett
41 Jed McEntee
43 Josh Lai
44 Jackson Mead
45 Xavier Walsh
POWER SANFL TOP-UP PLAYERS
Mack Bowman
Rome Burgoyne
Ryan Carnelly
Nic Couroupis
Hugh Ferrari
Heath Growden
Austin Harris
Dustin Launer
Shay Linke
Kyle Marshall
Jez McLennan
Will O’Brien
Cormack O’Reilly
Kye Roberts
Jack Watkins
Jake Weidemann
