Adelaide have bounced back from three consecutive defeats to beat Carlton by 28 points in a hard-fought battle to open Gather Round.
The Blues once again started well with seven goals in the first team to lead by seven points, but the Crows blew the game open in the second term with a devastating six-goal burst inside 10 minutes.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Neal-Bullen’s genius play on boundary line
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The Blues battled on and got within 18 late in the final term, but were never really in it as Adelaide cruised to the 17.12 (114) to 12.14 (88) victory.
While it was an improved performance from Carlton, it won’t do much to ease the pressure on coach Michael Voss.
“It’s just the second quarter that they’re going to look back on and there’s the game, six goals to one and it let them down,” Kane Cornes said.
“The first 10 minutes of the second term cost us dearly.”
Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks gave his side a massive spray at quarter-time and it appeared to have the desired result.
The Crows were unstoppable after quarter-time as Josh Rachele, Jordan Dawson, Ben Keays and Riley Thilthorpe piled on goals in quick succession.
Carlton simply couldn’t get their hands on the ball as Adelaide won a staggering eight clearances in a row.
The Blues briefly stopped the rot and the weather helped prevent a blowout as they closed to within three goals late on.
But they couldn’t get any closer as Jake Soligo eventually iced the game and Izak Rankine added the cherry on top with a brilliant late goal.
Rachele was best afield with four goals, including three in the first term, while Rankine had his best game of the season with two to go with 22 touches.
Sam Berry and Wayne Milera were also influential, while Alex Neal-Bullen produced a moment of genius to win a free kick that drew high praise from Cornes (which you can see in the video player above).
“That is one of the smartest things you’ll see on the football field this year,” Cornes said.
Carlton were far from disgraced but only managed five goals after their scintillating first quarter.
They lacked structure moving forward as noted by Luke Hodge on Channel 7.
“There’s just no system in that forward line, they’re just blazing away,” he said.
“There is no leading, there is no hitting up, there’s no someone coming in behind the kicker to create space for the next person.
“It’s just bomb it in and hope for the best.”
Star Carlton midfielder Sam Walsh had 15 possessions and four inside 50s and comfortably was best afield in the first term.
But by three-quarter time, in a major win for the Crows midfield, he had only managed five more possessions.
Captain Patrick Cripps stood tall with 29 disposals, seven clearances and nine tackles, and crucially was off the ground for the start of the second term when the Crows went ballistic.
The only downside for Adelaide was the hamstring injury to Mitch Hinge, who played no further part after half-time.
