Jenkins stars as Crows thump Eagles in AFL

Imposing Adelaide forward Josh Jenkins has kicked six goals in a 57-point belting of West Coast which puts the Eagles’ top-two AFL hopes in peril.

The Crows, eyeing a possible home elimination final, produced two bursts of precision football in a 19.12 (126) to 10.9 (69) win on Sunday at Adelaide Oval.

West Coast must defeat St Kilda next weekend or likely slip to third – and be punted on the road in the opening week of the finals, possibly against Hawthorn.

The Crows, in a logjam in the lower reaches of the top eight, blitzed the Eagles by kicking the initial nine goals of the game.

Adelaide went on another unanswered five-goal scoring spree in the third term, prompting standing ovations from a 53,445-strong crowd – the largest attendance at a Crows game in Adelaide not involving arch enemy Port Adelaide.

With Jenkins imperiously ruling the forward line and Patrick Dangerfield and Brodie Smith running amok upfield, Adelaide slotted 8.3 to 0.1 in a devastating first quarter.

And when Jenkins potted his fourth major early in the second stanza, Adelaide led by a match-defining 56 points.

The Eagles briefly rallied, kicking the next five goals to reduce their deficit to 26 points at halftime.

But Adelaide charged again in the third term, scoring five goals to one en route to a comprehensive victory.

Star onballer Dangerfield enhanced his Brownlow medal prospects with an eye-catching 28 disposals, Smith (28 touches) produced immense drive from half-back, while Rory Sloane (25 possessions), Scott Thompson (29 disposals) and Richard Douglas completed a dominant midfield.

West Coast had few winners – soon-to-be Coleman medallist Josh Kennedy was held to one goal by Daniel Talia but Dom Sheed (27 disposals), Andew Gaff (23 possessions) and Luke Shuey (25 touches) battled gamely.

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