The electric Izak Rankine was the architect of the second-half onslaught, while Darcy Fogarty (four goals) and Riley Thilthorpe (three) enjoyed bumper afternoons.
Reliable Rory Laird is back “home” at half-back, giving way to more dynamic movers in the centre-square, including Rankine, captain Jordan Dawson and Jake Soligo.
Izak Rankine and Riley Thilthorpe celebrate a goal.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
The Crows’ aggressive pursuit of established talent at the trade table last off-season – notably Alex Neal-Bullen, Isaac Cumming and James Peatling – looms as the antidote to their protracted finals drought.
Most AFL seasons see a team rocket from the lower reaches into contention. That might be Adelaide in 2025.
Wingman Cumming kicked a goal with his first touch as a Crow, Peatling displayed toughness and swift hands in the middle and Neal-Bullen’s link work across half-forward was all class. All three hit the scoreboard during Adelaide’s third-quarter assault.
The Crows will face far tougher opposition most weeks this season, but their capacity to bat deeper across all lines is palpable.
May suffers fractured larynx
Marc McGowan
Melbourne will be without Steven May for Sunday’s season-opener against the Giants, with the star key defender a late withdrawal because of a fractured larynx.
May sustained a knock to his throat at training at Casey Fields on Friday, with scans confirming the extent of the damage. Fellow veteran Tom McDonald replaces the 33-year-old in the Demons’ side.
Steven May has a fractured larynx.Credit: AFL Photos
Melbourne football boss Alan Richardson said they were still unsure how long May would be sidelined.
“At this stage, our medical team does not believe the injury is as significant as what Max Gawn sustained earlier in the year,” Richardson said.
“We will assess Steven further next week, which will give us a clearer picture of the recovery timeline.”
Gawn was not able to complete contact training for six weeks after sustaining a fractured larynx in December.
No.6 draft pick Harvey Langford will be the Demons’ substitute.
Bulldog cleared of structural damage
Young Western Bulldogs defender Luke Cleary has been cleared of structural damage after a sickening collision during the Dogs’ victory over North Melbourne.
Cleary was concussed and will still miss Friday night’s clash with Collingwood, at which the club will hold its 100-year celebration.
The club confirmed fellow defender James O’Donnell has a fractured jaw and will miss some football, although how much is not yet known.
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There was concern for Cleary who copped an accidental knee to the head from North’s Jackson Archer.
He was taken to hospital in an ambulance after Archer’s knee collected his head as Cleary tumbled off-balance into a contest for a loose ball.
The Bulldogs are not expecting to regain anyone from injury for the Pies match, with Marcus Bontempelli, Cody Weightman, Adam Treloar and Jason Johannisen among the injured brigade.
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