Adelaide backs its injury-hit midfield to do the job against in-form Melbourne in Alice Springs

ADELAIDE assistant Matthew Clarke is confident the Crows can stick to its methods and get a result against the Demons in Alice Springs but there’s one crucial battle that could decide the outcome.

The ruck battle between Sam Jacobs and Max Gawn will be crucial to the game’s outcome. Picture: Getty

ADELAIDE will back its contested work against another midfield bull of the competition in what is tipped to be a game full of grit against Melbourne at Alice Springs’ Traeger Park on Sunday afternoon.

Melbourne is third on the ladder after winning its past four matches — and past 14 quarters — and the Demons’ percentage was boosted with a 109-point win against Carlton last week.

The Demons have a 6-3 record and are just ahead of the Crows on percentage.

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The match will pit the midfield might of Clayton Oliver, Jack Viney, Christian Petracca and Nathan Jones against the injury-struck Crows, which has had in-form players such as Cam Ellis-Yolmen and Hugh Greenwood filling the shoes of those on the sidelines.

But one obvious and central battle will be in the ruck, where 2016 All-Australian Max Gawn will face Sam Jacobs, which Adelaide assistant coach and former ruckman Matthew Clarke called a match within a match.

“Melbourne’s numbers on the back of last week’s game are through the roof,” Clarke said. “They’re number one in almost every category. But they just come off a 100-point victory.

The ruck battle between Sam Jacobs and Max Gawn will be crucial to the game’s outcome. Picture: Getty

“So if you take that one out then they come back to about where they sit on the ladder, which is still really strong and Max is a big part of that.

“I know Sam is personally looking forward to that challenge. It’s a great one for him individually and us collectively to try and combat one of the All-Australian ruckmen over the last few years. Great challenge.”

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Clarke had noted the Demons’ midfield domination in recent weeks but would back Adelaide to match them in that area.

He dismissed suggestions Melbourne had done it against lesser sides, saying each match presented a challenge of its own.

“Their form line is really, really solid,” Clarke said. “I don’t really ever buy into who they’ve played because the competition is really, really even so every week is a great challenge.

“It might look like an easy game on paper but it rarely is.

Recruit Bryce Gibbs has stepped up in the absence of Rory Sloane and the Crouch brothers. Picture: Sarah Reed

“What is true is that they’ve won 14 quarters in a row and play with a really dynamic style so it will be a great challenge for us. But we’ll bring something to the table that they’ll have to deal with.”

As for the midfield crunch, Clarke said the Crows wouldn’t alter their plans.

He predicted the teams would go head-to-head rather than devise stopping tactics.

“I think we’ll go about playing our style,” Clarke said. “You’re always mindful of what the opposition’s strength is but it is also our strength so it should be a game worth watching, I think.”

The Crows defeated the Demons by 46 points the last time they met, in Darwin in Round 17 last season.

But Melbourne has taken another step forward in its development since then.

The Demons’ attack — which includes Jake Melksham, Tom McDonald, Alex Neal-Bullen and Jesse Hogan — has been in fine form and kicked a combined 14 goals in the huge win against the Blues.

At the other end, Eddie Betts is back in form for the Crows after a slow start to the season.

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