Tackling has remained a bugbear of Sanderson's since he arrived at West Lakes and, after an embarrassing loss to Port Adelaide last weekend, he admitted trust in his playing group had been dented.
With heavy rain eliminating the potential for clean, fast gameplay on Sunday, hunger shaped as the crucial element that would deliver victory.
By running away 52-point winners after slogging it out for the first half, the Crows proved the hungrier side and their coach was ecstatic with the effort.
"We finally had tackles…96 tackles, that's the most this club has ever had in a single game which is something that I'm really proud of," Sanderson said.
"You know how much it frustrates me when we're not tackling, so to have 96 today, I know the conditions suited that kind of game, but to stick tackles, put the opposition under pressure [was pleasing].
"They'd be feeling sore tonight because they've had a loss and they've been hit by us 96 times."
Adelaide gave up a 31-point lead against Port Adelaide last weekend after getting caught playing fast flowing football on the Powers’ terms.
Desperately needing to get back to playing tough, contested football, Sanderson said Sunday's rain came at an opportune hour.
"I was happy today when it was raining when I woke up - I think it rained for 12 hours straight, which I liked," he said.
"It probably wasn’t a great spectacle today, but I said to the players in the team meeting before the game, 'this is footy'.
"In the wet and in the cold and it's the team that wants it more…we executed that for almost 120 minutes."
Patrick Dangerfield was the Crows' best in the wet, booting four goals – three in the opening half.
His speed, strength and acceleration was a huge asset on a slippery AAMI Stadium.
Sanderson said he wished he had a Dangerfield clone so influential was the 23-year-old, whether up forward or in the middle.
"You sometimes need two of him - one in the centre bounce winning clearances, and one to kick the ball to.”
"He had the complete game today; he won clearances, he kicked goals - he was certainly our best player.
Harry Thring is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry.
