In this exact fixture almost a year ago (April 27, 2014), Jake Stringer was handed a football lesson by Adelaide veteran James Podsiadly. Back then, the emerging star was swung into defence and looked like a fish out of water as he coughed up three goals with costly mistakes in a nine-point loss. But the lesson was well learned and 364 days later it was time for the Stringer show. The bustling youngster was irresistible in attack - too strong in the air and too agile on the deck – and booted a match-winning six goals before he was subbed with a hip complaint in the third term. What a difference 12 months makes.

 

Team defence has been Phil Walsh's mantra since he took over at Adelaide, with the Crows leading the AFL for tackles (77 per game) and points against (60) in the first three rounds. But it was Luke Beveridge's young Bulldogs who gave the previously unbeaten Crows a lesson in pressure. The Dogs were ferocious at the contest, hunted in packs and locked the ball in their attacking zone. In the first half alone they piled on 69 points and held the Crows to five goals – with all signs suggesting Beveridge's side will be tough to beat at Etihad Stadium in 2015.

 

After a wretched run of luck, it warmed Dogs supporters' hearts to see Clay Smith make another comeback. The 21-year-old had only played one senior game since round 16, 2013 – undergoing two knee reconstructions, battling salmonella poisoning and a shoulder issue in the meantime. But any nerves were soon settled when he won a free-kick and coolly slotted the set shot from 40m in the first quarter. Seeing every Dogs player run to celebrate with the midfielder showed what it meant to have him back in the side.

 

After Bernie Vince's controversial shut-down role on Patrick Dangerfield in round three, the inference was that if 'Danger' didn't get you, Rory Sloane would - with the latter's 31 touches telling in a win over Melbourne. But Dogs coach Luke Beveridge opted against a hard tag on either Crows star and backed his midfield to get on top. The plan went to script perfectly as Dangerfield (19 possessions, two goals) and Sloane (20 disposals) exerted little influence – although they weren't alone on a dirty day for Adelaide.

 

Eyebrows were raised when the Dogs dumped All Australian ruckman Will Minson and handed Ayce Cordy the job on Crows star Sam Jacobs. Cordy himself had not been in the best of form, with just four handballs and 10 hit-outs in the previous two games. The 204cm big man started superbly when he booted the opening goal, but was flogged in the hit-outs (43-13) by one of the League's best ruckmen. It will be intriguing to see if Minson wins a recall after he booted a goal, but was not among Footscray's best in the VFL on Sunday.