Adelaide Crows spearhead Taylor Walker didn't get much support against the Bombers. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: Sunday Mail (SA)
IT'S hard to defend a six-goal loss but anyone questioning Adelaide's forward line without Kurt Tippett should hold fire.
On the evidence of Friday night, fears the Crows would become a one-trick pony and too predictable in front of goal were not substantiated.
Adelaide had more marks inside 50 and the same number of scoring shots as Essendon - yet lost by 35 points.
You won't win many games kicking 11.16.
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But just as damning was the inside-50 count, which Essendon won comfortably.
Adelaide's forward line looked a million bucks early. Had the midfield not lost the plot after quarter time, the result would have been different.
Taylor Walker will be the focal point all season. The question is the quality and spread of support around him.
Tex had Graham Johncock, Jason Porplyzia, Ricky Henderson, Richard Douglas, Jared Petrenko - and at times Josh Jenkins - for company on Friday night.
Johncock started roaming across half-forward and was the best player on the ground at quarter time.
Douglas kicked two goals and Henderson and Porplyzia at least threatened to do the same.
Walker looked ominous when he booted the first goal of the game, and although he wasn't sighted again until his two goals in the final term, he broke even with Jake Carlisle.
The problem was the supply.
"We didn't help our forwards with our use. A few times we had even-number contests ahead of the ball and couldn't take advantage of the situation," coach Brenton Sanderson said afterwards.
Sanderson pushed his forwards up the ground, with even Walker in the defensive half when the Bombers were inside 50.
While the fast break looked dangerous on the counter-attack, Adelaide's sloppy skills gave Essendon time to halt the charge.
"We didn't make the most of our opportunities. We looked quick down there at times and other times we looked quite slow," Sanderson said.
"We're still trying to settle what our best options are - sometimes tall, sometimes small.
"I like the quick forward lines (and) at different times Jenkins looked good."
Jenkins got the nod ahead of Shaun McKernan and Lewis Johnston, who have their chance to put pressure on selectors in the SANFL.
But for now, Jenkins did enough in his tandem role as ruckman/forward to keep his spot.
Of the small forwards, Ian Callinan would have played had he not injured his knee last week and Tim McIntyre reminded coaches he's still around with four goals for Sturt against Central District on Friday night.
The burning question of what lies in store for Adelaide's forward line without Tippett will be debated all season.
A six-goal loss in Round 1 should not sound any alarm bells at West Lakes. Yet.
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