Crows thump Eagles in NAB Challenge

Eddie Betts has shown why he’s the most dangerous small forward in the AFL, helping Adelaide to a thumping 100 point win over an inexperienced West Coast outfit in the NAB Challenge.

Betts booted five goals and a nine-point supergoal while racking up 18 touches as the Crows coasted to a 2.20.10 (148) to 0.7.6 (48) win at Adelaide’s Unley Oval on Sunday.

West Coast fielded just seven players from their 2015 grand final team and were missing virtually of their stars, including the likes of Nic Naitanui, Matt Priddis, Luke Shuey and Josh Kennedy.

The rookie Eagles were kept scoreless in the second quarter and much of the third as the near-full strength Crows pounced on turnovers and surged forward, taking a 54 point lead into halftime.

Matt Crouch gathered 24 touches for the Crows, including 13 in the first stanza, while captain Taylor Walker booted three majors.

Small forward Wayne Milera, taken by the Crows at No.11 in the 2015 draft, impressed on debut with his poise.

Fellow draftee Dean Gore was also eye-catching, attacking the ball and gathering 12 touches and two goals.

West Coast star recruit Lewis Jetta was barely sighted in his first game in Eagles colours, managing just three touches.

Key defender Mitch Brown was solid in his first game for the Eagles since suffering a season-ending knee injury in last year’s opening round.

Former professional baseballer Corey Adamson was the best of the Eagles’ rookies, finishing with 10 touches.

With the temperature hovering around 35C, the quarters were shortened to 22 minutes each and breaks extended under the AFL’s heat policy.

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