DEFENDER Graham Johncock is confident the Crows will continue to prove wrong the doomsayers who predicted an Adelaide slide down the ladder this season.
On Saturday the Crows snapped a five-game losing streak against West Coast with a record 76-point win.
The Crows much-maligned forward line booted 21.7 (133), the club’s highest return since round 22, 2006 and Adelaide’s highest-ever score against the Eagles.
Simon Goodwin was the standout with seven goals, but the skipper was well supported by Brett Burton (three goals) and Kurt Tippett, Jason Porplyzia and Bernie Vince, who each kicked two.
“There has been a lot of scrutiny about where our goals are going to come from this year and where we’re at as a forward line, so to come out and kick 20 goals today really says something,” Johncock told afc.com.au after the game.
“Everybody is contributing and everybody is playing their roles, so hopefully we can continue that throughout the season.”
At the start of the season Adelaide had more listed players yet to make their debut than any other team in the AFL, which called into question the club’s depth.
The Crows have already lost Brent Reilly, Chris Knights, Rhett Biglands, Rob Shirley, Brad Moran and Nick Gill through injury this year, but on Saturday incoming players Kris Massie and Luke Jericho were a testament to the club’s resilience.
Massie was among Adelaide’s best after a courageous 22-possession game and Jericho showed promise as a wingman with 19 touches and a goal.
“There are always going to be injuries and there is a big emphasis on players coming in being able to play their roles,” Johncock said.
“We don’t want to put too much pressure on the young guys, but so far they have been able to come in and do their bit for the team, which helps out in the end.
“Our depth is something that has been criticised, so it’s good for those guys to be able to perform today and, yeah, to definitely prove a few people wrong.”
In round one Adelaide conceded 18 goals for just the fourth time in two years and prompted coach Neil Craig to refine the club’s balance between attack and defence.
On Saturday Johncock was part of a trademark miserly Crows defence that allowed just eight West Coast goals.
Johncock had 24 possessions, including 14 in a rampant first half, and along with Andrew McLeod, Nathan Bock, Nathan Bassett, Ben Rutten and Massie provided plenty of rebound from defence.
Adelaide’s all-round defensive pressure was a feature and helped the Crows to their first four-quarter effort against West Coast in years.
“We’ve fallen down against West Coast in the past because we haven’t been able to play four quarters,” Johncock said.
“At quarter time it was mentioned that we had to go hard for another quarter and the same was said again at half time and three-quarter time.
“Craigy really drummed it into our heads that we needed to play four solid quarters and we ended up playing very well in that last quarter and kicking away.”
