Sloane knocked out as Crows down AFL Dees
Jul 15, 2017 - 1:20 PM Adelaide have reclaimed top spot on the AFL ladder with a bruising 46-point win over Melbourne in Darwin.The Crows led at every break and survived a late Demons comeback to post a 17.14 (116) to 10.10 (70) win at Tio Stadium on Saturday night.
Tom Lynch was outstanding in his return game, booting three goals and gathering 27 disposals just over a fortnight since being in intensive care with viral meningitis.
Star midfielder Rory Sloane was knocked out when his head slammed into the turf in a fair but heavy tackle from Melbourne's Dean Kent late in the third quarter.
A dazed and confused Sloane refused to be taken off on a stretcher and had to be instructed by skipper Taylor Walker to leave the field.
"He seemed alright," Crows coach Don Pyke said.
"Obviously, we'll have to test him during the week and see how he recovers."
Kent found himself in trouble shortly after the Sloane incident, suffering a dislocated shoulder when he landed awkwardly in a tackle.
Moments later, Demons defender Jayden Hunt unleashed a monster 65m torpedo on the three-quarter time siren to cut the margin to 22 points.
But Adelaide weren't to be denied, with Walker booting two of his four goals in an excellent final term.
"Clearly, they were a lot more efficient going forward," Demons coach Simon Goodwin said.
"They were very good around the footy and I thought they were more desperate than us in those areas."
The Crows led by 47 points early in the third term before the Dees threatened a comeback with a four-goal run.
Adelaide's star-studded forward line were again superb, with Walker, Lynch, Mitch McGovern and Eddie Betts all scoring multiple goals.
It was a different story for Melbourne, with Jesse Hogan held goalless and Tom McDonald managing just one major.
Midfielders Clayton Oliver and Jordan Lewis fought hard but were outmatched by Adelaide's Rory Laird, Brad Crouch and Matt Crouch.
Bernie Vince held Sloane to just eight disposals but the former Crow looks certain to face match review panel scrutiny.
Vince was reported for a head-high bump on Adelaide's Richard Douglas in the second quarter, and a first-quarter elbow to the head of Betts will also be closely assessed.
Crows defender Jake Lever sat out most of the fourth quarter, with Pyke saying he had suffered hamstring tightness.
Source: AAP
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