Crows midfielder Patrick Dangerfield is tackled by Carlton's Dennis Armfield during their Round 3 NAB Cup match at AAMI Stadium. Source: Getty Images
Carlton's Andrew Walker takes a huge mark over Adelaide's Sam Shaw. Source: Getty Images
ADELAIDE forward Taylor Walker kicked five goals as the Crows burst Carlton's pre-season bubble with a three-point victory last night.
Walker's haul included two super-goals as Adelaide triumphed 4.11.7 (109) to 2.13.10 (106) at AAMI Stadium to inflict Carlton's first defeat this pre-season and under new coach Mick Malthouse.
The Crows were sparked by Walker and dual club champion Scott Thompson, who collected 26 disposals, while Bernie Vince and David Mackay were also prominent.
Carlton's Kane Lucas booted three goals, teammate Dennis Armfield capped a fine game with two majors, while Brock McLean was a standout with 24 touches and two goals, including a super-goal.
Adelaide laid the platform for its victory with a dominant third term which returned six goals to Carlton's two.
The scoring spree came after smooth passages of play in a free-flowing opening, with the scores locked at 2.7.4 (64) apiece at halftime.
Click here for Live HQ to recap last night's NAB Cup matches
And both teams booted two super goals in the second quarter as Carlton's McLean and Marc Murphy and Adelaide's Walker and Sam Jacobs all scored nine-pointers.
Crows forward Walker also potted two regulation goals in the opening half for the home side, who were largely propelled by onballer Thompson's 17 disposals by the main break.
The Blues, who trailed by two goals at quarter-time, also had plenty of the ball with McLean prominent and Lucas scoring three goals for the half.
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 08: Sam Jacobs and Patrick Dangerfield of the Crows celebrate a goal during the round three NAB Cup AFL match between the Adelaide Crows and the Carlton Blues at AAMI Stadium on March 8, 2013 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Morne de Klerk/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images
The third quarter proved decisive with Walker adding another super-goal to help Adelaide craft a five-goal advantage at the last change.
But Adelaide stopped to a near walk in the final quarter and didn't score as Carlton kicked four unanswered goals to creep within three points.
Challenged by coach Brenton Sanderson to change their bad attitudes, the Adelaide players finally proved they are primed for the AFL premiership season by holding off the previously unbeaten Blues.
Telling in Adelaide's response to a tough week of self-assessment after an underwhelming NAB Cup series that included a 63-point loss to Geelong on Saturday was a return to the Crows' trademarks established in Sanderson's start-up season last year.
There was the critical intensity for the contest; there was speed in Adelaide's ball-moving patterns; there was superiority at clearances even when Carlton dominated the ruck.
And, as a contrast, there was the Crows' increasing habit to over-use handball again in the first half and staggering black-out in the last term.
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 08: Ed Curnow of Carlton kicks the ball during the round three NAB Cup AFL match between the Adelaide Crows and the Carlton Blues at AAMI Stadium on March 8, 2013 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Morne de Klerk/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images
Overall, the game was enough to suggest Adelaide is ready for the AFL premiership opener against Essendon at AAMI Stadium on Friday week when the Crows will start minus just one first-choice player: defender-midfielder Brodie Smith (collarbone).
Adelaide specialist forward Ian Callinan, who was on the edge as a first-choice selection, suffered a left-knee injury in the first term forcing him to be subbed for the experienced Graham Johncock at quarter-time.
The veteran defender continues to be effective as a forward with Johncock last night scoring 1.2.
More successful was the other small, specialist forward Jared Petrenko who made an impressive return from the shoulder surgery forced by injury in last year's final series.
He was subbed at the last change when he iced both knees in reaction to a hot return.
Adelaide last night made its declaration in the audition to replace Kurt Tippett in the goalsquare and as lead ruckman Sam Jacobs' partner - it is Josh Jenkins ahead of Shaun McKernan.
Brenton Sanderson of the Crows looks on during the round three NAB Cup AFL match between the Adelaide Crows and the Carlton Blues at AAMI Stadium on March 8, 2013 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Morne de Klerk/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images
Crows assistant coach Matthew Clarke explained the Adelaide match committee had focussed on first covering Tippett as a forward rather than as a back-up ruckman. Here, Jenkins was ahead of McKernan.
Jenkins repaid the vote of confidence. The new Jenkins-Taylor Walker tandem in attack produced seven of Adelaide's 15 goals.
Walker is clearly primed for the premiership season in which he faces his biggest challenges against the league's best defenders.
Adelaide's other big personnel decision - the need to cover for the retirement of experienced defender Michael Doughty - has Sanderson believing in the one-game Luke Brown.
Adelaide's off-field preparations for the premiership season also were re-tuned last night.
Crows strategy coach Dean Bailey last night appeared on Adelaide's match sheet for the last time before starting his 16-game ban from Melbourne's 2009 tanking saga.
To prepare for Bailey's absence, the Crows put its Melbourne-based strategist Rob Harding into Bailey's match-day roles in Sanderson's coaches' box.
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