Crows thrash Bombers by 65 points in AFL

Apr 15, 2017 - 1:16 PM Adelaide's attacking aces Taylor Walker and Eddie Betts have gone on scoring sprees in a 65-point AFL drubbing of Essendon.

The Crows remain top of the ladder after their 24.9 (153) to 13.10 (88) win on Saturday night at Adelaide Oval.

Betts responded to the week's racism controversy with a six-goal haul.

And Walker slotted five in remarkable first half by the unbeaten Crows.

Walker scored four majors in the first term as Adelaide piled on 9.2, just two points shy of the club's record highest score for an opening quarter.

And then his sidekick Betts took centre stage in the second term, booting three as Adelaide built a commanding 15.6 to 7.2 halftime lead - both Betts and Walker had five goals each at the long break.

The free-scoring Crows broke the 100-point barrier just four minutes into the third quarter in a power-packed display.

Vice-captain Rory Sloane (34 disposals, two goals), halfback Brodie Smith (33 possessions), Rory Laird (35 disposals) and Matt Crouch (30 touches) ran rampant.

They provided frequent chances for Betts, who was in fine fettle after being involved early in the week in a racism row - there were anti-racism messages on the venue's large screens and on the Crows' banner.

By halftime, Betts' captain Walker had five goals and four score assists against the off-key Bombers, who are with a pair of wins and losses this season.

Essendon's Anthony McDonald-Tipgungwuti was a standout with four goals and young teammates Travis Colyer (three) and Kyle Langford (two) also hit the scoreboard.

And Zach Merrett (34 possessions) and Brendon Goddard (34 disposals) battled gamely to try to stem the Adelaide tide.

Their feats helped turn the second half into something of a scoring stalemate - Adelaide's nine to Essendon's six goals - but the Crows' job was already done.

Adelaide coach Don Pyke was rapt with his side's fourth consecutive triumph, particularly their stunning opening half.

"We dropped away in the third quarter but the first half we played some really strong footy," Pyke said, while praising Betts' ability to overcome his troubled week.

Essendon's Conor McKenna faces a report for making head-high contact on Adelaide's Riley Knight.

"Probably what bothered me the most was .. just how far off the mark we were," Bombers coach John Worsfold said.

"We couldn't slow the game down at all."

Source: AAP