ADELAIDE has returned to form with an 80-point victory over the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night.
After shock back-to-back losses to North Melbourne and Melbourne ended their unbeaten start to the season, the Crows roared back to life at the Gabba with an emphatic 21.14 (140) to 7.18 (60) win to stay at the top of the ladder.
Dayne Zorko kicked the first two goals of the match for the Lions, who were in the contest early but wasteful in front of goal.
As soon as the Crows switched on, however, they were completely blown away.
The Lions kicked just four goals after quarter-time to Adelaide's 18, slumping to their eighth consecutive defeat in front of only 13,802 fans.
Former basketballer Hugh Greenwood kicked three first-half majors on debut to help spark a run of nine goals in a row, before the Crows ruthlessly tore the hosts to shreds in a handy percentage-booster.
Greenwood, 25, played college basketball in the US and was on the cusp of an NBL deal with the Perth Wildcats when he quit the sport to pursue a career in the AFL instead, signing a rookie contract with the Crows two years ago.
Charlie Cameron booted four majors in the third quarter alone while Eddie Betts, who finished with three goals and four goal assists, produced a freakish goal-of-the-year contender in the second term.
Betts robbed Darcy Gardiner of possession but then, when the ball came loose, dribbled it along the ground with one foot like a soccer player before regathering and kicking it home along the ground from a tight angle - all while under pressure and without much time or space to manoeuvre.
It arguably topped Tom Lynch's spectacular first-quarter effort, splitting the posts with his right foot along the boundary from 45m out.
Lynch kicked three in total, as did Adelaide captain Taylor Walker.
Skipper Dayne Beams was the leading possession-getter on the ground with 40 touches in his return from injury, but he could not inspire his Lions teammates to reverse the tide.
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan said he was pleased with his side's start but not with their second-half effort.
"I was really disappointed in the third quarter where we dropped away in contested possessions and clearances, and the whole thing dropped away," he said.
Crows coach Don Pyke said it was a solid response after two lacklustre weeks.
"We lost a couple of games of footy, people were probably saying it was doom and gloom," he said.
"Tonight was a good opportunity to come back and play the way we want to play, and there was some good signs there."
MEDICAL ROOM
Brisbane Lions: Poor old Claye Beams can't take a trick. The running defender suffered a hamstring injury early in the second quarter and did not return for the night, continuing a string of injuries that has dogged his career.
Adelaide: The only sour note for the Crows was the ankle injury suffered by Curtly Hampton in the final quarter. Coach Don Pyke said it was a sprain and would be scanned as soon as possible.
NEXT UP
The Lions will try to break their eight-game losing streak next Sunday when they play Collingwood at the MCG before heading into the bye. Adelaide has a tricky assignment on home turf next Saturday night when they host the resurgent Fremantle.
