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"You know that I liked him before the draft and for him just to slot in today and just get into the rhythm of the game really quickly was really pleasing for me," Sanderson said.



"It's unfair to do 'Vince for Matt Crouch' because Matt Crouch is just 18 and starting his career, Bernie's in the twilight of his career as a 28-year-old.



"I was really happy to see Bernie play well, he was really good [on Friday night] but all my energy and all my focus now is on my boy which is Matt Crouch.



"It was a football decision that was made and we've got Matt Crouch on our list now and ... as I said, 10 years, 12 years of Brad and Matt playing together is going to be really exciting for our footy club."



Along with Crouch's performance and the five-goal haul from Eddie Betts, Sanderson said he was most pleased with an improved kick-to-handball ratio and the quality of his side's attacking-50 entries.



Adelaide had 223 kicks to 198 handballs on Sunday after averaging 217 to 151 last year.



"We were up around 1.6 kicks to handballs last year but this game we were almost one-to-one," he said.



"We certainly flicked the ball around a little bit more, looked to run and carry a little bit more.



"Eddie kicked five ... but the most important thing was that we got the ball to dangerous parts of our forward 50.



"Last year we went a lot wider than what we did today, which was good."



The only injury concern to come out of the match was a slight ankle issue for Crows forward Jason Porplyzia, but Sanderson said the forward could have played on if required. "You know that I liked him before the draft and for him just to slot in today and just get into the rhythm of the game really quickly was really pleasing for me," Sanderson said."It's unfair to do 'Vince for Matt Crouch' because Matt Crouch is just 18 and starting his career, Bernie's in the twilight of his career as a 28-year-old."I was really happy to see Bernie play well, he was really good [on Friday night] but all my energy and all my focus now is on my boy which is Matt Crouch."It was a football decision that was made and we've got Matt Crouch on our list now and ... as I said, 10 years, 12 years of Brad and Matt playing together is going to be really exciting for our footy club."Along with Crouch's performance and the five-goal haul from Eddie Betts, Sanderson said he was most pleased with an improved kick-to-handball ratio and the quality of his side's attacking-50 entries.Adelaide had 223 kicks to 198 handballs on Sunday after averaging 217 to 151 last year."We were up around 1.6 kicks to handballs last year but this game we were almost one-to-one," he said."We certainly flicked the ball around a little bit more, looked to run and carry a little bit more."Eddie kicked five ... but the most important thing was that we got the ball to dangerous parts of our forward 50."Last year we went a lot wider than what we did today, which was good."The only injury concern to come out of the match was a slight ankle issue for Crows forward Jason Porplyzia, but Sanderson said the forward could have played on if required.









Matt Crouch (right) attempts to tackle Ollie Wines in their NAB Challenge clash. Picture: AFL Media



Adelaide's easy 60-point victory was hardly surprising considering the number of high-quality omissions on the Power's team sheet.



Last year's semi-finalists were without seven of their eight leadership group members, including captain Travis Boak, reigning best and fairest Chad Wingard and star duo Brad Ebert and Hamish Hartlett.





Click here to watch Ken Hinkley address the media



Power coach Ken Hinkley said that although he had no issues in selecting an understrength side to face the Crows, most of his stars would return next week.



"We made the decision six weeks out what we were going to look like round one of the NAB Challenge and that was based on preparation for round one," Hinkley said.



"We know that with only two games to go [before round one] the opportunity to give them (young players) a look at that level of football ... was probably only going to be this week.



"All the boys that weren't out there today you'll see next week pretty much – barring injury obviously." Power coach Ken Hinkley said that although he had no issues in selecting an understrength side to face the Crows, most of his stars would return next week."We made the decision six weeks out what we were going to look like round one of the NAB Challenge and that was based on preparation for round one," Hinkley said."We know that with only two games to go [before round one] the opportunity to give them (young players) a look at that level of football ... was probably only going to be this week."All the boys that weren't out there today you'll see next week pretty much – barring injury obviously."





However, Hinkley insisted the game was far from a write-off from the Power's perspective.

Draftees Jarman Impey (pick No.21) and Karl Amon (No.68) were among the young Port Adelaide players to show something against a far more experienced Crows outfit.

"You see Impey play some good bits of footy. We put him down on to Betts, who was causing some problems ... and we see him win some one-on-one battles in the contest against a good player," he said.

"We saw Amon do some stuff. We saw Polec, I thought, play really well in his first game for the club and (be) really strong and solid in the contest.

"There were some real positives still to come out of the game."

Twitter: @AFL_Harry













Jarman Impey is pursued by Eddie Betts during the Crows-Power NAB Challenge game. Picture: AFL Media

ADELAIDE'S decision to trade Bernie Vince to Melbourne for the opportunity to draft Matt Crouch was vindicated on Sunday by the 18-year-old's polished NAB Challenge debut, says coach Brenton Sanderson.Crouch looked instantly at home as he collected 23 possessions in his first competitive appearance for the Crows.The younger brother of emerging Crows midfielder Brad, Crouch was drafted to West Lakes with pick No.23 at last year's NAB AFL Draft - the selection the Crows received from the Demons for Vince.Labeling Crouch "my boy", Sanderson said he had no regrets trading Vince to bring the talented teenager into the group.