More magnets than spots as Adelaide Crows prepare for Brisbane at the Gabba

Adelaide defender Daniel Talia sees plenty of positives for the Crows with an effective, gritty new playing style and several key players close to a return from the injury list.

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Adelaide is chasing its first five-game winning streak since the start of 2017 and the best bit for defender Daniel Talia is that it bears next to no resemblance to the brilliant beginning of the club’s grand final year.

Back then it was all about quick movement and putting monster scores on the board with the Crows being one of the must-watch teams of the competition.

But Talia, an old-fashioned full back, likes the way the Crows have turned around a pedestrian start this season to reach a 5-3 record: with grit, contest and a defence that has been singled out as one of the team’s strongest sections.

“It’s funny; it feels completely different,” Talia said. “Obviously the results — we’re not 5-0; we’re 5-3 — and we had a pretty poor start of the year.

“It’s been a bit more enjoyable in that we’ve really found what works for us this year and that’s just winning the contested ball.

Matt Crouch (hip) and Sam Jacobs (knee) running laps at Crows training at West Lakes pic.twitter.com/MJcGvR9aMF

— Jesper Fjeldstad (@JesperFjeldstad) May 15, 2019

“We’ve really focused on that and made it really simple four weeks ago and that’s all we’ve really talked about for four weeks.

“It’s certainly different from 2017 when we were five and zip and I think we were transitioning the ball a lot and kicking huge scores.

“We’re certainly not doing that at the moment.

“We’re grinding games out. We’re winning in a completely different way and it’s been really enjoyable to turn around a really bad patch of form at the start of the year.”

Talia has also enjoyed the recognition of the defenders.

Alex Keath took out the Showdown Medal last weekend and players such as Brodie Smith, Rory Laird and Kyle Hartigan have been in fine form.

“We feel like we’re playing really well back there as a back six or seven,” Talia said. “We feel like we’re starting to gel back there.

Adelaide’s Bryce Gibbs takes part in the warm-up before Crows training on Thursday. Picture: Sarah Reed

“But we know we’ve got to carry that forward this week.

“They’ve got an interesting forward line, a bit smaller and really dangerous.

“We know (former Crow) Charlie (Cameron), guys like Cam Rayner and Eric Hipwood who are really dangerous as well.

“We’re going to have a big test this week.”

Talia’s call came as Adelaide’s injury woes are coming closer to an end with at least three regular players pushing for selection after Thursday’s main training session at West Lakes.

As the club prepares to fly to Queensland to play Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday afternoon among those who can be considered for senior selection include Richard Douglas, Paul Seedsman and Bryce Gibbs.