After perfecting the “Adelaide double,” demons soar to the top; Pickett faces criticism for his high hit.

Clayton Oliver’s six interceptions (16%) in the first half versus Adelaide represent one of his more effective first halves in recent memory.

But despite Oliver’s uncommon collapse—the explosive midfielder appeared to still be limited by a finger injury—Melbourne led by 17 points at the break and took control of the closing minutes following a lackluster start.

Oliver only managed 16 touches in the end, but the Dees had other players step up and contribute.

While regular engine room drivers Max Gawn, Christian Petracca, and Jack Viney made sure the Dees had a successful, faultless six days in Adelaide and the top spot on the leaderboard, South Australian Tom Sparrow’s cameo was impressive.

Following a disastrous second-quarter smother that saw Crow Jake Soligo collected high, Kysaiah Pickett is under investigation by the MRO.

When Soligo attempted a handball, the electrifying but occasionally unruly Demon left the ground to smother him, but the play went wrong.

With a follow-through, Pickett tucked his arm in and used his shoulder to catch the young Crow’s head.

Even though Soligo played the entire game and was one of Adelaide’s best, Pickett will be facing his third suspension in as short as a year.

After receiving two weeks for a high hit on Carlton captain Patrick Cripps during the playoffs, he was suspended for two games for taking Western Bulldogs star Bailey Smith high in the first round of the previous season.

Adelaide’s ferocious late rally kept the Demons goalless after three quarters, delighting the boisterous, full-voiced 48,020 fans.

However, the rearguard arrived far too late and too late, having already suffered too much damage from two terrible middle two terms that have condemned them to a 0–4 start.

Melbourne’s skilled interceptors behind the ball pounced on Adelaide’s plodding, predictable ball movement, resulting in turnovers that accounted for nearly half of the Demons’ eventual score.

The Crows are already well behind schedule to start 2024, despite playing a visually striking and intense brand of football and just missing out on the playoffs the previous season.

The Crows’ fourth straight loss this season has been attributed by Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks to subpar play and bad decision-making.

According to Nicks, the Crows lacked self-assurance and used the ball carelessly.

He remarked, “I felt like we were in the game for the most part, but we weren’t playing well at all.”

“We didn’t look like ourselves tonight—at moments, we played the ball so slowly. There are currently far too many players that aren’t performing to their full potential.

“We need to figure out how to get past that. We must be able to regain the level of confidence that we know is possible.

Nicks conceded that Adelaide fans and members found it difficult to see the Crows’ style of play.

Sometimes it truly annoys me. We’d really want to have the footy a little bit clearer and cleaner,” he remarked.

Nicks stated that although the Crows were too clumsy with the ball, he was pleased with their structure and system after both were absent in the first three rounds.

Melbourne has disclosed that they were in Adelaide for the week as part of a prearranged plot to win consecutive games at Adelaide Oval.

Five days after reducing Port power by seven points and accounting for the Crows by fifteen points on the first night of Gather Round, the goal was completed.

Jack Viney, a former captain, claimed that the road trip had strengthened the Demons’ unity.

“It helps to build connection with your teammates to be able to spend a little more time with them, go out to dinner, go out for breakfast, all that kind of stuff,” Viney said to Channel 7.

It has been applied to the football field. Men displaying selflessness and men enjoying actions in which they may not have participated but are nevertheless delighted for their colleagues to succeed. That has the potential to spread.

After losing their season opener to Sydney, Melbourne has already won four straight and is atop the leaderboard following the Gather Round match.

“We are currently content with a lot of things,” Viney stated.

According to Viney, the Demons have been putting in a lot of effort during the summer on their stoppage and clearance techniques as well as their effective forward ball deployment.

It’s wonderful to see a fair variety of goalkickers, he remarked.