A 46-POINT thumping at the hands of Adelaide certainly wasn'tthe best way to finish our three-game deal on the Gold Coast.

The final margin doesn't show that wedefinitely had our chances throughout the night, or that we let slip a numberof gettable kicks in front of goal that could have made all the difference.

That said, Adelaide are a well-drilled and classy outfitand they showed that to full effect on Saturday night.

The moment
The Roos’ kicking for goal was again askew allnight.

Perhaps the most telling miss came early inthe last quarter when Eddie Sansbury ran to within close range after a goodbuild-up through the midfield.

His errant shot came just a minute afterLindsay Thomas had brought the Roos back within 28 points early in the lastquarter, and killed off any chance of the side gaining that elusive momentumagainst a disciplined Adelaide.

Goal of the game
There weren’t too many highlights for theKangas in this regard given the boys could only manage seven goals for thenight, so Corey Jones’ instinctive kick off the ground gets him over the linefor this honour.

With the Roos falling 35 points behindearly in the third quarter, Jones reacted smartly to a loose ball on the deckabout 15 metres from goal.

His cleverly placed boot made clean contactwith the ball, sending it through for the team’s fourth goal and keeping theRoos within five majors of the Crows.

Themove
With the Kangas searching for a mark – anymark – inside their attacking zone, Dean Laidley swung Drew Petrie, AaronEdwards and David Hale forward at the start of the last quarter.

Adelaide’s defensive unit, which up until then had dominated the Kangaroos’small forward set-up, were forced to become more accountable and this openedthe way for Lindsay Thomas’ goal and Sansbury’s free shot.

Unfortunately the Crows’ midfieldmaintained their ascendancy and the restructured forward line had fewopportunities to test their opponents.

Coaches' award
In a game where Adelaide’s rampant midfield appeared to runus off our feet, Brent Harvey’s relentless effort was a highlight.

Whether he was in defence, through themidfield or trying to conjure a scoring opportunity up forward, Boomer rarelyspent a moment standing still.

The goalkicking midfielder has been adynamo this year and deserves every plaudit that comes his way for his firsthalf to 2007.

Kingof the kids
Ed Lower followed up last week’s assuredfirst appearance for 2007 with another impressive display.

His 16 possessions only tell part of thestory, with his quick hands and coolness under pressure also a feature of hissixth senior game.

If there is one criticism, it’s that heshould take heed of that old footy maxim of ‘punch when you’re behind’ after hewas caught out trying to mark over his opponent during the third quarter.

Syd Barker watch
Hamish McIntosh joined Boomer as perhapsthe best couple of Kangaroos on the ground, simply due to the fact he wasprepared to run hard and give his teammates a moving target up the ground.

Adam Simpson was also good, while LindsayThomas joined Lower as the best of the younger brigade.

Ladder
The round is still to be completed but wecould slip as low as 10th if the Swans can get up at home overCollingwood.

On the positive side, that would leave usjust a game and percentage off the second-placed Eagles and equal on pointswith Adelaide,who sit fourth.

Next week
A well earned week off precedes the club’sbiggest home and away fixture since Jason McCartney’s comeback game in 2003 –Glenn Archer’s 300th game.

The Western Bulldogs have found some formafter two strong wins over Brisbane and Fremantle and will be keen to spoil thegreat man’s party at the MCG.

Let’s hope this one is just as memorable ashis 250th – which saw a miraculous comeback and victory over theSwans at the SCG.