EDDIE’S 300TH GAME BLITZ IS TOO MUCH IN CROWS MAULING

ADELAIDE’S folk hero Eddie Betts has celebrated his 300th AFL match with six goals in a 73-point thrashing that dumped Gold Coast back to earth.

Betts was chaired from Adelaide Oval on teammates’ shoulders after the Crows’ resounding 18.11 (119) to 6.10 (46) win yesterday.

The triumph was created by a second-term blitz of five goals to none as the Suns slipped to their second loss of the season. Betts, the sixth indigenous player to reach 300 AFL games, capped his milestone with a trademark freak goal – a 30m left-foot checkside from the boundary line in the last quarter.

Betts had nine scoring shots as the Crows banked a second win of the season.

Co-captain Taylor Walker and fellow forward Lachlan Murphy kicked three goals apiece, while halfback Brodie Smith (27 disposals, two goals) was outstanding in his 150th AFL game.

Smith provided great dash from defence while Rory

Sloane (32 possessions), Matt Crouch (36 touches), his brother Brad (34 disposals) and Cam Ellis-Yolmen (29 touches) formed a dominant midfield.

The onball brigade helped the Crows break the game open after a forgettable first term when Adelaide’s Murphy kicked the sole goal.

The Crows then piled on five consecutive goals to craft a decisive 34-point halftime lead, despite losing utility Wayne Milera to a left shoulder injury. Milera was hurt in a crunching bump with Gold Coast’s Pearce Hanley and didn’t feature after halftime.

Hanley (29 disposals) was among the better players for Gold Coast, who are still yet to beat the Crows.

Emerging Sun Brayden Fiorini kicked a goal among his 30 possessions, Peter Wright kicked three majors and Touk Miller (29 disposals, 10 tackles) battled gamely.

The Suns host Brisbane next Saturday afternoon, while the Crows meet St Kilda in Melbourne on Saturday night.