Adelaide Crows’ big opportunity to fly for a third premiership flag
THE Advertiser’s Chief Football Writer Michelangelo Rucci takes a look at the Crows’ huge chance to host a preliminary final at Adelaide Oval.
THE Advertiser’s Chief Football Writer Michelangelo Rucci takes a look at the Crows’ huge chance to host a preliminary final at Adelaide Oval.
ADELAIDE v GWS GIANTS
Qualifying final, Adelaide Oval, Thursday, 7.20pm
WILL SLOANE PLAY?
NO AFL finalist is more grateful than Adelaide to AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan for the bye between the home-and-away series and the start of the top-eight final series on Thursday at Adelaide Oval.
The extra break - of at least five days - will make all the difference to club champion Rory Sloane, who had appendix surgery on Tuesday.
The inside midfielder has 11 days to recover - rather than just three had the finals started at the weekend.
All of Sloane’s team-mates are backing the 2016 All-Australian vice-captain to play in the qualifying final - and deliver.
The other question is with lead ruckman Sam Jacobs who is dedicating his finals campaign to his brother, Aaron, who died on Wednesday morning.
The emotional strain on Jacobs’ could play both ways as coach Don Pyke recognises his ruckman is finding “the head space to play.
But do not under-estimate how the respect Jacobs commands will generate more from his team-mates.
FIREPOWER AT HOME
ADELAIDE opened the season sending a message across the AFL for its attacking power, scoring 147 points in the Round 1 win against Greater Western Sydney.
For much of the first third of the home-and-away season, the Crows were averaging 20 goals a game. As part of the “evolution” the Crows game this year - and the inevitable reaction of opposition teams - Adelaide’s scoring average did fall (but remain league best) at 110 points by season’s end.
In their past three games at the Oval, the Crows have scored 42.49 with poor conversion at the southern end against the Riverbank Stand.
Adelaide’s average scoreline at the Oval this season is 112-67.
The Crows lost just three of 12 games at the Oval this year, each time being held up on the scoreboard with scores of 66 (Melbourne), 82 (Hawthorn), Sydney (80).
FINALS PREVIEW: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CROWS v GIANTS
TALENT OR TEAM?
GIANTS coach Leon Cameron is working the most-talented AFL squad, a point underlined by Greater Western Sydney negotiating a heavy injury curse to still finish in the top four for the second consecutive season.
But the old-fashioned question - “team of champions” or “champion team” - is still to be answered by the Giants.
The injury list is small this week with midfielder Ryan Griffen needing to prove he has overcome an ankle injury.
But has there been enough time to make these Giants find more than their undeniable individual talents to become a premiership team?
Also, has the GWS fitness team learned the lesson from the mistakes made during the long lead-in to the Round 1 56-point point loss to the Crows at Adelaide Oval to ensure the Giants do not look flat in this double-chance final?
STRONG AT THE CONTEST
IT is a simple game, isn’t it? And the key question the Giants get to pose on top-ranked Crows is how much have they improved on contested football after being exposed in last year’s semi-final against Sydney at the SCG.
By the numbers, GWS is the AFL’s best at stoppages. On game averages this season, the Giants have won clearances by 7.6 and centre clearances by 2.2.
They also are very strong at taking this advantage to the scoreboard ranking third for scores from stoppages.
The contribution of Giants key forwards - Jeremy Cameron, Jonathon Patton and Rory Lobb - could be magnified in a hotly contested, high intensity final. They scored 6.1 of the Giants 14.7 last time at the Oval.
THE ODDS
MATCH
Adelaide $1.53
GWS $2.50
FLAG
Adelaide $3.25
GWS $5.50
MEDICAL ROOMS
CROWS
R. Sloane (appendix) test
E. Himmelberg (foot) season
J. Gallucci (jaw) season
C. Ellis-Yolmen (knee) season
GIANTS
R. Griffen (ankle) test
M. Buntine (knee) season
A. Kennedy (knee) season
THIS SEASON
Adelaide 22.15 (147) d GWS Giants 14.7 (91), Round 1 at Adelaide Oval.
EARLY CALL
Crows by 26 points
Rucci: Time for clubs to put old rivalries aside
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There should be no asterisk against 2020 premiership
The team that wins this year’s AFL premiership should be lauded for adapting in the most trying of circumstances. There must be no doubts over the legitimacy of the season, writes Michelangelo Rucci.