2012 Pre-Season Cup | Adelaide Football Club

Brenton Sanderson enjoyed a dream start as Adelaide’s senior coach, leading his side to an unbeaten pre-season series on the way to the 2012 pre-season NAB Cup title.

The Crows clinched their first piece of silverware since 2003 and the $180,000 prizemoney by overcoming West Coast in the final at AAMI Stadium, on March 17.

Midfielder Bernie Vince responded to a controversial week, winning the Michael Tuck Medal as best afield after collecting 29 disposals.

Taylor Walker booted three goals, including a super goal in the second term to spark an Adelaide revival, and Matt Jaensch kicked an important nine-pointer in the third term after being subbed on at the main break.

Scott Thompson, Patrick Dangerfield, Brent Reilly and Sam Shaw also played major roles for the Crows and were the players able to stem the flow when the Eagles made a charge early in the final quarter to cut the margin to 12 points.

Sanderson said the pre-season cup was a “nice reward” for the Crows’ perfect pre-season of five wins from five matches.

“We have a very young group so there are going to be some ups and downs,” he said. “But what this gives is a bit of confidence that we can match it with the better sides.”

It was Adelaide’s second pre-season title from five grand finals. Michael Doughty, Graham Johncock and Brent Reilly also played in the 2003 pre-season Cup win.

The team:

B: Graham Johncock, Daniel Talia, Andy Otten

HB: Brodie Smith, Sam Shaw, Michael Doughty

C: Brent Reilly, Scott Thompson, David Mackay

HF: Jared Petrenko, Kurt Tippett, Bernie Vince

F: Jason Porplyzia, Taylor Walker, Matthew Wright

R: Sam Jacobs, Patrick Dangerfield, Nathan van Berlo

Int: Rory Sloane, Shaun McKernan, Ian Callinan, Rick Henderson

Activated subs: Tom Lynch, Matthew Jaensch, Sam Kerridge

Coach: Brenton Sanderson

Adelaide 0.2.2 1.3.6 2.6.13 2.10.17 (95)

West Coast 2.0.2 2.1.6 2.4.7 2.5.13 (61)

Goals: Walker 3 (including 1 super goal), Jaensch (1 super goal), Callinan, Jacobs, Mackay, Petrenko, Porplyzia, S. Thompson, Tippett, Vince.

Best: Vince (Michael Tuck Medal), Thompson, Dangerfield, Walker, Reilly, Shaw, Mackay.

Crowd: 27,376 at AAMI Stadium

2012 NAB Cup winning Crows — The Adelaide Crows celebrate with the 2012 NAB Cup after the Grand Final at AAMI Stadium, Adelaide.

Nathan van Berlo of Adelaide leads his team onto the field during the NAB Cup Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the West Coast Eagles at AAMI Stadium, Adelaide. (Photo: Michael Willson/AFL Media)

Andy Otten of Adelaide and Jack Darling of West Coast in action during the NAB Cup Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the West Coast Eagles at AAMI Stadium, Adelaide. (Photo: Michael Willson/AFL Media)

Patrick Dangerfield of Adelaide kicks for goal during the NAB Cup Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the West Coast Eagles at AAMI Stadium, Adelaide. (Photo: Michael Willson/AFL Media)

Scott Lycett of West Coast (L) attempts to mark over Ashton Hams (C) of West Coast and David Mackay of Adelaide during the NAB Cup Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the West Coast Eagles at AAMI Stadium, Adelaide. (Photo: Michael Willson/AFL Media)

Kurt Tippett of Adelaide marks ahead of Eric Mackenzie of West Coast during the NAB Cup Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the West Coast Eagles at AAMI Stadium, Adelaide. (Photo: Michael Willson/AFL Media)

Ian Callinan of the Crows chased by Darren Glass of the Eagles during the NAB Cup Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the West Coast Eagles at AAMI Stadium, Adelaide. (Photo: AFL Media)

Brodie Smith of the Crows during the NAB Cup Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the West Coast Eagles at AAMI Stadium, Adelaide. (Photo: AFL Media)

Brent Reilly and Andy Otten of the Crows fly with Scott Lycett and Koby Stevens of the Eagles during the NAB Cup Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the West Coast Eagles at AAMI Stadium, Adelaide. (Photo: AFL Media)

Jared Petrenko of the Crows celebrates a goal during the NAB Cup Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the West Coast Eagles at AAMI Stadium, Adelaide. (Photo: AFL Media)

Kurt Tippett of the Crows tackles Adam Selwood of the Eagles during the NAB Cup Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the West Coast Eagles at AAMI Stadium, Adelaide. (Photo: AFL Media)

Patrick Dangerfield of the Crows breaks away from Matt Priddis of the Eagles during the NAB Cup Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the West Coast Eagles at AAMI Stadium, Adelaide. (Photo: AFL Media)

Brenton Sanderson (L) and Rory Sloane (R) celebrate after the NAB Cup Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the West Coast Eagles at AAMI Stadium, Adelaide. (Photo: Michael Willson/AFL Media)