AFTER the embarrassing loss to North Melbourne on Good Friday, it was a given that St Kilda would return to Etihad Stadium eight days later and throw everything at Adelaide that wasn't bolted down.
And for the opening two and a half quarters, the Saints could not be faulted for their endeavour. But like last week, they were eventually made to pay for their tardy execution and wastefulness in front of goal, with the Crows running out 49-point winners, 15.14 (104) to 7.13 (55).
The Crows (2-1) have now won their last nine against St Kilda (1-2).
SAINTS IN STRIFE: Full match details and stats
The Saints dominated contested possessions and inside 50s in a fairly uninspiring first half and went in at half-time trailing by 10 points.
But the Crows blew them away in a six-goals-to-one third term, turning the tables in the clinches, using the ball more cleanly and getting the ball to their tall forwards, Taylor Walker and Josh Jenkins, who started feasting on the tiring St Kilda backmen.
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Also notable for the Crows was Eddie Betts finally hitting the scoreboard after a barren opening fortnight to the season. He kicked his first goal for 2018, 12 minutes into the second quarter after some crafty work and snap for goal from deep in the pocket and finished with three goals for the night.
It was a busy day for Betts, who watched the birth of his twin daughters on Facetime on the morning of the game after his wife Anna unexpectedly went into labor and he wasn't able to return home in time.
With Walker (three goals) Mitch McGovern (two) and Jenkins also hitting the scoreboard, it ended up a pleasing enough night for the Crows.
WATCH: Eddie Betts kicks his first goal of 2018
Not so for the Saints, who followed up their 5.12 last week with just seven goals and 23 shots on goal from 54 scoring entries this time around. Last year’s accuracy woes continue to plague them, while most worryingly, key forwards Josh Bruce (1.0) and Paddy McCartin (0.1) continued to battle.
"The forward line didn't work," St Kilda coach Alan Richardson lamented.
"You just can't beat quality teams if you don't maximise opportunities. We had big periods of control but weren't able to generate any scoreboard pressure."
Adelaide once again received excellent service from midfielder Bryce Gibbs, who with 26 possessions and eight clearances must be pinching himself at his good fortune at arriving in Adelaide after a decade of largely unrewarded toil at Carlton. Rory Laird (32) and Paul Seedsman (26) also providing plenty of drive. Sam Jacobs eventually got right on top in the ruck.
WATCH: Bryce Gibbs kicks a long goal
Seedsman appears to have fitted seamlessly into the rebounding half-back role while Brodie Smith recuperates from his ACL injury, while last week's NAB AFL Rising Star nominee Tom Doedee was again impressive with his intercept work across half-back. The Crows might have moved on from Jake Lever more quickly than expected.
"We had a chat at half-time about what was happening and what we were feeling as a group. We just returned to being a bit more predictable, if you like, in how we wanted to move the ball to each other. That allowed us to get a bit more flow," said Adelaide coach Don Pyke.
"At times, we didn't play as well as we would have liked, but to be able to get away with a win was what we came for, so we'll take that and move on."
WATCH: Eddie and Tex combine to hurt Saints
Jack Newnes, Jack Sinclair, Seb Ross and Jack Steven all won a bit of the ball for the Saints at varying stages and Steven in particular, battled hard after spending time off the ground for treatment on a leg injury. Debutant Nick Coffield did some nice work, while ruckman Rowan Marshall looked good early and showed signs that he could soon leapfrog Billy Longer and Tom Hickey in the club's ruck pecking order.
WATCH: St Kilda's Nick Coffield kicks his first ever goal
But the confidence seems to have evaporated at Moorabbin and coach Alan Richardson faces a huge task in righting the ship with flag fancies Geelong, Greater Western Sydney, Hawthorn and Melbourne to come.
MEDICAL ROOM
St Kilda: Jack Steven played the game out with a proppy ankle.
Adelaide: No apparent concerns for the Crows.
NEXT UP
The Saints leave Etihad Stadium for the first time this year, heading into the cauldron at GMHBA Stadium to face Geelong. The Crows face a short turnaround, but a big Friday night looms at Adelaide Oval with the Magpies coming to town.
ST KILDA 2.6 3.9 4.12 7.13 (55)
ADELAIDE 3.2 5.7 11.10 15.14 (104)
GOALS
St Kilda: Sinclair, Acres, Coffield, Bruce, Gresham, Geary, Armitage
Adelaide: Betts 3, Walker 3, Seedsman 2, McGovern 2, Atkins 2, Douglas, Jenkins, Gibbs
BEST
St Kilda: Sinclair, Dunstan, Ross, Newnes, Steven
Adelaide: Gibbs, Laird, Jacobs, Seedsman, Douglas, Betts
INJURIES
St Kilda: Membrey (knee soreness, replaced by Wright)
Adelaide: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Brown, Findlay, Ryan
Official crowd: 19,324 at Etihad Stadium
