Adelaide Crows Dominate Port Adelaide in Pre-Season Match Simulation

Image credits: AFL Photos

The Adelaide Crows have started their pre-season on a high note, defeating Port Adelaide by 24 points in a match simulation at Mount Barker's Summit Sport and Recreation Park. The Crows' young gun, Jake Soligo, was instrumental in the win, kicking three goals and leading the way in the midfield. Soligo, who finished third in the Crows' best and fairest last year, looked poised for a career-best season, with his performance suggesting he will be a key player for the team in the upcoming season.

The Crows' forward line was also impressive, with Riley Thilthorpe and Taylor Walker proving to be a dominant force. Thilthorpe kicked three goals, while Walker added two, as the pair took advantage of Port Adelaide's shaky defence. The Power's defensive woes were compounded by the absence of Esava Ratugolea and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, with Miles Bergman forced to play a key tall role. Despite this, Bergman showed some promising signs, finding some space at times and pushing up the field. The midfield battle was also intense, with Jason Horne-Francis and Jordan Dawson prominent for the Crows, while Travis Boak and Ollie Wines tried to stem the flow for Port Adelaide.

The match was played over six periods, with the Crows dominating the first half, booting six consecutive goals at one stage. Port Adelaide stemmed the flow in the third term, but the Crows' lead was too great, and they ran out 24-point winners. The final scores were:

• Adelaide: 16.7 (103)
• Port Adelaide: 11.13 (79)

The Crows' goalkickers were:

• Riley Thilthorpe: 3
• Jake Soligo: 3
• Taylor Walker: 2
• Josh Rachele: 2
• Other goal kickers: Dawson, Jones, Curtin, Keays, Pedlar, O'Leary

The Power's goalkickers were:

• Darcy Byrne-Jones: 3
• Other goal kickers: Rioli, Rozee, Richards, Georgiades, Lukosius, Drew, Williams, Lord

The Crows' defence was also solid, with Alex Neal-Bullen providing a key link between the midfield and the forward line. Neal-Bullen, who crossed from Melbourne in the off-season, looked comfortable in his new role, and his performance suggests he will be a valuable addition to the Crows' lineup. The team will be looking to build on this performance in their upcoming pre-season matches, as they prepare for the start of the season.

Port Adelaide's recruit, Jack Lukosius, kicked his first goal in Power colours, a stunning long-range effort from 55m. The Power's first-rounder, Joe Berry, also showed some promising signs, looking calm and composed in a half-forward role. Despite the loss, Port Adelaide will be looking to take some positives out of the match, as they prepare for their upcoming pre-season games. The team will be looking to address their defensive issues, and will be hoping that the return of Esava Ratugolea and Brandon Zerk-Thatcher will help to shore up their backline.

The match was also notable for the successful return of Sam Powell-Pepper, who played his first game since suffering a torn ACL in April last year. Powell-Pepper didn't quite have his kicking boots, recording four behinds, but his performance suggests he will be a valuable addition to the Power's lineup. The team will be looking to build on this performance, as they prepare for the start of the season. With the pre-season underway, both teams will be looking to fine-tune their lineups and prepare for the upcoming season.

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