|
Dubai: Adelaide FC walked away easy winners in the Australian Football League's NAB Cup season opener with a 136-55 mauling of Collingwood on Saturday.
Things were evenly matched in the opening quarter with Collingwood holding the slimmest of leads at 21-20.
But it was in the second quarter that Adelaide turned things around as they scored at will pumping in 20 points while allowing the Collingwood forwards bare minimum space to add just another two points to their first quarter score.
Guided by senior coach Neil Craig's tough talk at halftime, the Crows showed very little mercy in the third quarter. But Collingwood did try to put up a fight as they added 29 points.
However, that open display gave the Adelaide forwards enough space to add another 21 points to lead 97-52 going into the final quarter.
Once again Adelaide kept the Magpies firmly in their own half in the fourth while adding another 39 points to finish off the day on a high note at 136-55.
"I don't want to make excuses for our showing here today," Collingwood coach Michael Malthouse told Gulf News.
"Perhaps it is a question of focus in the end. It has been a poor performance from us, and they fully deserved the win. However, we must admit that Adelaide is a super fit side and they have proved that they are an outstanding team today," he added.
Adelaide coach Craig was thrilled with the outcome of the match. "I saw this as an opportunity to play some of the youngsters and they did come out with flying colours in the end.
I am sure they will carry forward the confidence they have got from this game," Craig said.
Craig, who is entering his fourth season with the Crows, was sympathetic towards Collingwood. "They were away for three weeks in South Africa and that must have definitely played against them. They also have sickness in the camp," Craig said.
"But, now that we have made a start I can only hope for the players to keep the momentum going into the remainder of the season. We can only do what we have to do," Craig said.
Heat maul Dingoes
Meanwhile, the Dubai Heat mauled the Dubai Dingoes 74-5 in the precursor to the NAB Cup opener.
It was the Dingoes having the early say as they led 3-0 in the first quarter, but three quick goals sent the Heat steering away for a 19-4 lead at the end of the quarter.
In the second quarter, the Heat forwards were all over the Dingoes' territory as they scored at will to make it 39-5.
"This has been a fantastic and magnificent moment, not only for the sport but for all of us Australians out here. Finally, it is not important who won as we were here to enjoy the atmosphere," said Heat skipper Andrew Bererza.
"It was a historic moment for Australian sport. There's always another day for us to win," said Dingoes' captain Mick Patton.
COMPLIMENTS
SKIPPER PAT FOR ADELAIDE
Tarkyn Lockyer did not have the best of outings while making his debut as the captain of Collingwood in yesterday's match. But that did not stop the veteran Magpie from giving credit to the Adelaide Crows for their fine win.
"They [Adelaide] were good and they utilised the midfield well to play some clean and precise footie," Lockyer told Gulf News.
"We mucked around a bit and played more on the sides and that was a bit disappointing for us today because that was not the plan we had decided to go ahead with," the Collingwood skipper rued.
"I think we were unlucky in the end. We went in with the hope of playing some smooth footie, but they just did not allow us to do that," he added.
|
