By Michael Whiting
A remarkable 51-disposal performance from Adelaide midfielder Scott Thompson has led his team to a crushing 61-point win over Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.
The Crows continued their resurgence under interim coach Mark Bickley, kicking nine goals to two in the first quarter in the 18.17 (125) to 9.10 (64) win.
It was their third win in four starts under Bickley.
Thompson started his prolific day with 18 touches in the rampant first quarter and added 10, 14 and nine respectively in the remaining quarters.
Thompson fell just short of Greg Williams' League record of 53 possessions set as a Sydney Swan against St Kilda in 1989.
Thompson had 21 kicks, 30 handpasses and nine clearances.
"I think you will find Scott is averaging in the top handful of players in the AFL and he would have to be in serious contention for All Australian," Adelaide coach Mark Bickley said.
"Obviously it is really tough as a midfielder to get in there but his consistency and the level he has performed at, he has been outstanding for us."
Although Gold Coast battled bravely - winning the second and third quarters to reduce the margin to 20 points - they couldn't overcome the one-way traffic of the first term.
Taylor Walker kicked three of his four goals in the first quarter as the Crows continued the polish and endeavour they showed in last week's narrow loss to Geelong.
They led the possession count 114-59, hit-outs 19-2, clearances 17-4 and inside 50s 16-8 and capitalised accordingly.
It was the 11th time in its past 12 matches that Gold Coast had lost the first quarter.
The Sam Jacobs to Thompson combination was lethal from the centre and Nathan van Berlo (10 clearances), David Mackay (nine) and Jared Petrenko (eight) reveled in the spoils.
When the Suns threatened early in the fourth quarter, Crows forward Kurt Tippett kicked two freakish goals to put the result beyond doubt.
On both occasions Tippett roved marking contests with a right handed scoop and bent the ball back around his body from deep in the right forward pocket through the goals.
Adelaide finished full of running, kicking seven goals to one in the last quarter.
Gary Ablett had 39 disposals for Gold Coast, while Danny Stanley (33) had a career-high and Nathan Bock (29) continued his fine season in defence.
Influential players
As is the case almost every week for Gold Coast, captain Gary Ablett (39 disposals, eight clearances, one goal) was tireless and led his team superbly. Danny Stanley had a career-best 33 touches, while Dion Prestia (21) was the best of the young Suns.
What it means
Despite coach Guy McKenna's policy of rotating players and giving his young team a rest, the Suns are looking tired. Adelaide blew them away in the first quarter and then when the game got a little tight at three-quarter time, ran all over them in the final term. After disappointing losses against the Brisbane Lions and Adelaide in successive weeks, Gold Coast will need to find some legs ahead of its only match of the season at the MCG next week against Melbourne.
Dream Team highlight?
Gold Coast: Gary Ablett had another high-scoring game, with 146 DT points, while Danny Stanley had one of his best games in a Suns jersey with 112. Jared Brennan was the only other Sun with more than 100 (111).
Welcome back
After four years in the AFL wilderness, Nathan Ablett returned to senior footy with a solid if unspectacular display. The 2007 Geelong premiership player had 10 disposals and three marks but his best work was done off the ball. Coach Guy McKenna praised the 25-year-old's work-rate post-match. Ablett was a terrier with his defensive pressure, often working into the defensive 50 to affect contests. He is almost certain to get another chance next week.
QUARTER BY QUARTER
FIRST QUARTER
Adelaide kicked the first goal through Matthew Wright after a free kick. Two minutes later, Jared Petrenko ran into an open goal and it looked like the Crows would dominate the quarter. However, the Suns bounced back, with captain Gary Ablett kicking a running goal and Rory Thompson kicking a long goal a minute later to even scores. The Crows then kicked seven straight goals, including three to Taylor Walker, to turn a close game into a one-sided game at quarter-time.
Adelaide 9.4 (58) Gold Coast 2.2 (14)
SECOND QUARTER
The Suns started the second quarter with more intent than they finished the first, kicking three points before scoring a goal through Trent McKenzie. Tom Hickey had his first career goal not long after and the margin was back to 30. Richard Douglas kicked a goal for Adelaide but the home side hit back soon after, through Luke Russell. The Suns camped in their forward 50 and it looked like they might reduce the margin further when Josh Fraser was awarded a free kick about 25m out but his shot sailed wide.
Adelaide Crows 10.7 (67) Gold Coast 5.7 (37)
THIRD QUARTER
The home team looked like continuing its comeback when Matt Shaw kicked a goal in the first three minutes but a 50m penalty, resulting in a goal to Crow Rory Sloane a minute later, brought them back to square one. From there, neither team could score a goal with Petrenko and David Mackay missing opportunities for the Crows. Finally, McKenzie broke the deadlock with a goal from the pocket in the 23rd minute and Shaw followed up with his second goal soon after. Adelaide's Scott Thompson racked up his 40th possession late in the quarter and looked set to crack 50.
Adelaide 11.11 (77) Gold Coast 8.8 (56)
FOURTH QUARTER
The Crows needed an early goal to maintain momentum and captain Nathan van Berlo provided it early in the last quarter, giving his side a 27-point lead. Kurt Tippett dribbled through a freakish goal from the pocket to all but seal the match for the Crows and two more Adelaide goals made it a certainty. Sun Harley Bennell provided some consolation for the crowd, finishing off some good work by Gary Ablett with a goal, but three Adelaide goals followed. With the sting gone out of the game, the focus was on Thompson and if he would break 50 touches. An innocuous handball in the 29th minute provided the magic moment. He finished with 51.
Adelaide 18.17 (125) Gold Coast 9.10 (64)
The next two
Gold Coast: Melbourne (MCG); Hawthorn (Metricon Stadium)
Adelaide 9.4 10.7 11.11 18.17 (125)
Gold Coast 2.2 5.7 8.8 9.10 (64)
GOALS
Adelaide: Walker 4, Tippett 4, Gunston 2, Mackay 2, Petrenko 2, van Berlo, Sloane, Douglas, Wright.
Gold Coast: Shaw 2, McKenzie 2, Ablett, Bennell, Hickey, Russell, Thompson
BEST
Adelaide: Thompson, van Berlo, Dangerfield, Petrenko, Jacobs, Sloane
Gold Coast: Bock, Ablett, Stanley, Bennell, Prestia, Thompson
INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil
Gold Coast: Sam Iles (hip) replaced in selected side by Joey Daye
SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: Matthew Wright replaced by Aidan Riley in the third quarter
Gold Coast: Steven May replaced by David Swallow at three quarter-time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Nicholls, Jennings, Armstrong
Official crowd: 16,168 at Metricon Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
