AFTER a close fought first quarter, it was the Adelaide Crows that pulled away to emerge 33-point victors over Essendon at Thomas Farms Oval on Sunday afternoon. A feature of the game was the pressure being applied from both sides, with the Dons not able to continue to keep it up during the duration of the contest.

The Crows have regained top spot, remaining undefeated four games into the regular fixture, while Essendon drop to 15th on the ladder with only one win this year.

Adelaide coach Matthew Clarke spoke about the pressure applied from both sides, happy with his team’s ability to handle the Bombers’ pressure.

“I thought it was a really good game,” Clarke said post-game.

“They controlled some uncontested possession early, and generally the contest across the four quarters at a really high level but after half-time, our defensive pressure went up.

“Even though we didn’t score in the third quarter, I thought that was actually our best quarter of footy, we sort of held the ball in our front end and as I said our pressure was at a really high level.

“Overall [I’m] really happy with the consistency and the way we worked through what was a good contest.”

When asked about his side’s position to again make headway in finals, Clarke remained positive but stated that there are more games to win to make it still.

“Obviously it’s great to get these wins, it puts you in the position that hopefully if we keep playing well we will hopefully qualify for finals,” he said.

“That’s obviously the end game so we’re rapt to have knocked over four to start with, it’s great.”

Star midfielder Ebony Marinoff has had a blistering start to the season, possibly collecting three League Best and Fairest votes in every game. Marinoff had 23 disposals, five marks, 12 tackles and five clearances.

Clarke appreciated her defensive acts just as well as her disposal count in the contest.

“Once again, she’s ridiculously consistent as,” Clarke continued.

“I thought it was actually a relatively even spread from our group today but ‘Ebs’ she leads the way in our pressure often.

“Along with Anne, so they are prolific ball-winners but they value defence really strongly as well so we are obviously very fortunate to have them all.”

He then touched on the “even-spread” of midfield contributors, as well as those down forward who pinch-hit in the middle such as Danielle Ponter and Madison Newman who give bursts on the outside too.

Newman had 23 disposals, the most on the ground along with Marinoff and Hatchard. She also three marks, six tackles and five clearances.

“Another pleasing aspect to the performance was that it felt like a relatively even spread of contributors and once again I thought it was a really solid game of footy,” Clarke said.

“Hopefully those who came along enjoyed it and I think Essendon, they are just on the one win but coming in, we sort of thought their best footy was pretty good and they perhaps hadn’t delivered on it yet.

“I’m not sure how they viewed that game but I imagine that they come away feeling that they played at a pretty high level as well.”

Being without leadership group member Eloise Jones, the Crows looked like they might struggle having one less avenue to goal.

In her absence, Ponter and Caitlin Gould stood up again kicking two goals apiece, while Niamh Kelly recaptured her form contributing a couple too.

Marinoff, Brooke Tonon and Chelsea Randall all kicked one with Jess Waterhouse unable to capitalise with a few shots on goal.

“It’s great to have multiple threats, obviously Eloise Jones went down last week with an Achilles so she’s been a real threat for us down there,” Clarke explained. “We’re going to need others to be able to contribute in that space and that was pleasing to see that today.”

The one sour note that came out of the game for the Crows was an injury in the second half to young midfielder Brooke Smith.

Clarke said although they are awaiting scans during the week, it’s likely she will be on the sidelines for over a month.

“It’s a probably collarbone, so it looks like a break,” he said.

“Obviously we will wait and get it X-rayed but first indications are that that will be a five or six week type injury so [that’s] disappointing.

“She’s just found her way into the team and [is] starting to show some things. “We believe that she’s going to be a pretty good player but it’s just going to be a little bit of time out now.”