The West Coast took a small step forward despite a disappointing 31-point loss to Adelaide at Adelaide Oval today.

The Crows jumped the Eagles in the first quarter and led by that 31-point margin at the first change before a more competitive contest thereafter as Adelaide won 13.10 (88) to 8.9 (57).

Importantly for West Coast some its senior players built on their form, with skipper Luke Shuey, wingman Andrew Gaff and defender Shannon Hurn all significant contributors in their performance.

Unfortunately, it was again a case of too little too late with the Crows controlling the game in the opening stanza when they rattled on five goals, owned field position and kicked their goals a little too easily.

Their spread out of the middle was damaging as Matt Crouch, Rory Laird and Ben Keays consistently pumped the ball into the Eagles defensive half.

They had key forwards Taylor Walker and Darcy Fogarty  (three goals each) presenting strongly and causing issues for the Eagles defence.

After quarter time, the Eagles lifted their intensity around the contest with Shuey, Gaff, Tim Kelly and Jack Redden winning their share of the ball while Jack Darling (two goals) was again a threat deep in attack.

The Eagles nudged to within 21 points in the final term, but could not find the next goal that would have piled pressure on the Crows.      

DETAILS

ADELAIDE 5.2 9.6 10.10 13.10 (88)
WEST COAST 0.1 3.4 5.5 8.9 (57)

GOALS  
Adelaide: Fogarty, McAdam, Walker 3, Soligo 2, Laird, Milera
West Coast: Darling 2, Cripps, Gaff, Kennedy, Petrevski-Seton, West, Redden

BEST  
Adelaide: Laird, Walker, Fogarty, Crouch, Hately, McAdam
West Coast: Gaff, Kelly, Shuey, Darling, Hurn, Redden

INJURIES 
Adelaide: Parnell (quad)
West Coast: Winder (knee)

LATE CHANGES
Adelaide: Nil
West Coast: Jeremy McGovern (back) replaced in selected side by Luke Foley

SUBSTITUTES 
Adelaide: Harry Schoenberg (replaced Parnell in the fourth quarter)
West Coast: Patrick Naish (replaced Winder in the fourth quarter)