Round 5 Hostplus SANFL Snapshot – SANFL Showdown

Adelaide’s fast start catapulted it to a comfortable 41-point win against arch-rival Port Adelaide in the SANFL Showdown at Adelaide Oval.

Slamming on the opening five goals of the contest – three to Lachie Gollant – the Crows were then able to dictate terms as they levelled the SANFL Showdown ledger at 10 wins a piece with a 16.7 (103) to 8.14 (62) victory.

Producing an attractive brand of football which ensured they played on at all costs while moving the ball fluently inside 50m, Michael Godden’s men stretched their advantage to as much as 64 points late in the third quarter.

Playing his third match of the season after recovering from his Achilles injury, Adelaide midfielder Harry Schoenberg was a key catalyst in his team’s 11-goal first half, en route to racking up 27 disposals, eight marks, four clearances and a goal.

Gollant was the chief beneficiary of Adelaide’s clean ball movement as he bagged his five majors by the 11th minute of the second stanza as Chris Burgess also loomed large inside 50m with three goals.

Crows Billy Dowling (26 disposals, eight clearances), Sam Berry (20 disposals, five clearances) and Jay Boyle (19 disposals and a goal) also had a positive influence as first-year draftee Charlie Edwards (19 disposals, one goal) continues to build confidence at senior level.

Port, now laden with five consecutive losses to start the 2024 season, could only manage three goals to half-time.

The Magpies finished with six more inside 50m entries for the match but they had few players contributing as much as captain Nick Moore and experienced forward Jeremy Finlayson.

Moore laid a staggering 20 tackles for the contest to go with his 21 disposals and six clearances while Finlayson booted four of his side’s eight goals together with 24 disposals and eight marks.

Crumbing forward Cody Szust relished his midfield time to collect a team-high 31 possessions and six clearances while Josh Sinn was again solid off half-back with 29 possessions for the Magpies.