Adelaide enjoyed a 32-point win over St Kilda
Two last-quarter goals to returning key forward Riley Thilthorpe has driven Adelaide to a 32-point win over St Kilda in a Saturday night slog.
Thilthorpe started his first game of the season as substitute and didn’t enter the fray until three-quarter time in what looked like a dubious decision considering the conditions.
But the big man dominated the forward line, gathering seven disposals as the Crows booted four-goals-to-none in the last term to win 10.11 (79) to 5.9 (59) at a rain-soaked Adelaide Oval.
Emerging Crows on-baller Jake Soligo revelled in the wet with 25 disposals, as did stalwarts Jordan Dawson (26 disposals) and triple Club Champion Rory Laird (31).
St Kilda defender Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera collected a team-high 29 possessions and Mattaes Phillipou was a standout with 20 possessions and a classy third-term goal.
Mason Wood and Cooper Sharman kicked two majors each, while Hunter Clark (21 touches) and the recalled Zak Jones (20) were busy.
The Saints led 3.3 to 2.1 at quarter-time, with Sharman slotting two set-shots and Phillipou prominent with eight disposals including three clearances.
But the tide turned in the second quarter as the Crows scored three goals to one to take a four-point half-time advantage, 5.5 to 4.7.
Adelaide gained ascendancy around the ball as rain made ball-handling tricky, with the home side recording 18 inside 50s to St Kilda’s eight for the quarter.
Heavy rain continued throughout the third term, resulting in a scoring stalemate as both sides failed to kick a major for almost 23 minutes.
The deadlock was broken in style by the Saints’ Phillipou, who bounced through a 55 metre goal from near the boundary line.
That strike got St Kilda to within one point, but the Crows responded two minutes later when Lachie Sholl neatly collected a half-volley in the goalsquare and converted.
Adelaide held an eight-point buffer, 6.10 to 5.8, at three-quarter time and gained precious breathing space 11 minutes into the last term when Billy Dowling goaled.
Then Thilthorpe got to work in a sight to warm Crows fans on a cold night.
SCOREBOARD
ADELAIDE 2.1 5.5 6.10 10.11 (71)
ST KILDA 3.3 4.7 5.8 5.9 (39)
GOALS
Adelaide: Thilthorpe 2, Sholl 2, Murphy, Keays, Himmelberg, Fogarty, Dowling, Rachele
St Kilda: Wood 2, Sharman 2, Phillipou
BEST
Adelaide: Dawson, Laird, Sholl, Keays, Taylor
St Kilda: Phillipou, Clark, Marshall, Wanganeen-Milera
SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: Riley Thilthorpe, replaced Elliott Himmelberg at three-quarter time.
St Kilda: Ben Paton, replaced Riley Bonner in the fourth quarter.