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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adelaide coach Matthew Clarke<\/em><\/strong> spoke about the pressure applied from both sides, happy with his team’s ability to handle the Bombers’ pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I thought it was a really good game,” Clarke said post-game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Overall [I’m] really happy with the consistency and the way we worked through what was a good contest.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “That’s obviously the end game so we’re rapt to have knocked over four to start with, it’s great.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Star midfielder Ebony Marinoff<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clarke appreciated her defensive acts just as well as her disposal count in the contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Once again, she’s ridiculously consistent as,” Clarke continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I thought it was actually a relatively even spread from our group today but ‘Ebs’ she leads the way in our pressure often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “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.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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<\/a> and Madison Newman<\/a> who give bursts on the outside too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Newman had 23 disposals, the most on the ground along with Marinoff and Hatchard. She also three marks, six tackles and five clearances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “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,\u201d Clarke said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHopefully 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI’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.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being without leadership group member Eloise Jones<\/a>, the Crows looked like they might struggle having one less avenue to goal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In her absence, Ponter and Caitlin Gould<\/a> stood up again kicking two goals apiece, while Niamh Kelly<\/a> recaptured her form contributing a couple too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marinoff, Brooke Tonon<\/a> and Chelsea Randall<\/a> all kicked one with Jess Waterhouse<\/a> unable to capitalise with a few shots on goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “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,\u201d Clarke explained. \u201cWe’re going to need others to be able to contribute in that space and that was pleasing to see that today.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clarke said although they are awaiting scans during the week, it\u2019s likely she will be on the sidelines for over a month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “It’s a probably collarbone, so it looks like a break,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cObviously 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe\u2019s just found her way into the team and [is] starting to show some things. \u201cWe 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.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n