Adelaide's Jordan Dawson, who triggered a scoring avalanche in a 99-point belting of West Coast, is the equal of any AFL captain, his coach Matthew Nicks says.
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Dawson's masterly 32-disposal display highlighted the Crows' 21.11 (137) to 5.8 (38) triumph at Adelaide Oval in Sunday's twilight fixture.
West Coast entered the game with three wins from their past six matches but slumped to their biggest loss of the season.
"I don't think anything can be an excuse for what we did today," Eagles coach Adam Simpson said.
"You have got to be honest, pragmatic, a sense of understanding that some days you're not going to have great days.
"But I thought we were sort of past these type of losses."
Adelaide amassed 7.4 to 0.2 in the first stanza with the dazzling Dawson kicking two goals, setting up another, gathering 12 disposals and having five inside-50s in the quarter.
"Daws' first quarter led the way and it seemed like the guys just got on board and momentum was then with us," Nicks said.
"He leads by example on the field, I think that's what everyone can see.
"He has got the other part too ... there's a reason we picked him as our captain, it wasn't just because of what he was doing on-field.
"He's as good as any."
Dawson's brilliance set a dominant tone for the Crows, who now hold 12th spot with four wins, a draw and six losses.
The skipper finished with nine inside-50s and nine marks and was among 13 Adelaide goalscorers - winger Chayce Jones kicked three and Taylor Walker, Darcy Fogarty, Josh Rachele, Brayden Cook and Ben Keays slotted two each.
Crows winger Lachlan Sholl had a game-high 34 disposals, midfielders Rory Laird (31, 10 clearances) and Matt Crouch (30) were busy, and Nicks had the luxury of resting young on-baller Jake Soligo, who was substituted at halftime with his side 61 points up.
Veteran West Coast defender Jeremy McGovern (25 possessions, seven marks) battled against the tide, Tim Kelly's 23 disposals included eight clearances, while No.1 draft pick Harley Reid was largely subdued - five disposals in the opening half and 14, plus a goal, for the match.
With Dawson in full flight early, Adelaide recorded their highest-scoring first quarter since logging 7.5 against the Eagles in round 13 last year.
West Coast couldn't manage a goal until the seventh minute of the second quarter and trailed 3.4 to 13.5 at halftime.
Adelaide outscored the Eagles eight goals to two in the second half, cruising to a percentage-boosting win before a 40,965-strong home crowd.
Australian Associated Press
