Sydney has everything against it but can still beat Adelaide, writes David King

ADELAIDE is healthy and possess a forward line with multiple options, while John Longmire’s biggest headache is the functionality of the Swans forward 50, writes DAVID KING.

Lance Franklin. Picture: Toby Zerna

SYDNEY and Adelaide are polar opposites.

The Crows are healthy, possess a forward line with multiple options, a backline that counterpunches with fluency and an underrated midfield.

Everything the Crows are right now, the Swans aren’t. John Longmire’s biggest headache is the functionality of the Swans forward 50.

Last week Lance Franklin and Isaac Heeney played a considerable distance from the Sydney goals and failed to impact the scoreboard.

Xavier Richards, George Hewett, and Tom Papley simply ran to positions which allowed their immediate opponents to drop off them and protect more dangerous space and outnumber the Swans forwards, hence a seven-goal team return.

If Sydney give the Crows the football on turnover across the half back line, they’ll pay a price as Adelaide scores the AFL most from the defensive half of the field.

Lance Franklin had little impact on the scoreboard last week against the Giants. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Brodie Smith and Rory Laird are the competition’s best score initiators from the defensive end of the field.

The Crows’ high-speed ball movement has allowed the forward line much opportunity both one on one against their direct opponent and back leading into vacant space, Adelaide goal-side.

Clearly the competition’s best attack, averaging 114 points as game, they’ll prove difficult to curtail.

Aliir Aliir will have the most difficult match-up in his 12 game of AFL, stifling the impact of Taylor Walker who took 11 marks last weekend.

Rarely does any team have the ability to select their very best 22, but that is the situation the Crows currently find themselves in.

Big Tex is the Crows’ best contested marker and is the conduit between the defensive half and the forward line for the Crows.

The Eddie Betts v Nick Smith battle will again be a fascinating spectacle.

Four goals last time they met in Adelaide but only a four-goal return from the previous five meetings prior has us salivating in anticipation of this contest.

How will the Swans cover the injury losses of Callum Mills and Kurt Tippett?

Toby Nankervis and Jeremy Laidler assume the vacated roles which is hardly ideal; conversely, the Crows’ health this season is remarkable.

Taylor Walker takes a strong grab against North Melbourne last week. Picture: AAP

Adelaide used only 29 players throughout the home and away season, five fewer than the Swans.

Rarely does any team have the ability to select their very best 22, but that is the situation the Crows currently find themselves in.

The midfield will be where the game will be won.

John Longmire has put his charges on notice. Tackle, pressure and harass, regardless of reputations or standing in the game.

The Swans midfield went missing last weekend and Rory Sloane, Matt Crouch and Scott Thompson must handle the heat the Swans bring.

If they can then the Crows are on their way to a Friday night preliminary final bout against Geelong at the MCG.

Any ball-up inside the Swans’ forward 50m must ring alarm bells for the midfield core of the visiters.

Only GWS have scored more from forward 50m stoppages. It’s Josh Kennedy’s playground!

I’m leaning towards Sydney in a tight one. Swans by two goals.

KEEP AN EYE ON ...

1. Isaac Heeney to impact the scoreboard. Last week he only played 19 per cent of game time in the forward line compared to his season average of 75 per cent. Given his four-goal return against the Crows last time, expect Isaac to settle forward.

2. Dane Rampe had a stinker last week against Jeremy Cameron but expect the All-Australian and the AFL’s best intercept ball winner to bounce back. Expect Rampe to play further from the defensive goal square to allow more opportunity to impact.

3. Scott Thompson. Has again been the Crows’ best clearance player this season and has been an awesome contested-possession midfield performer over 16 years of high quality AFL football. Only Sam Mitchell, Chris Judd and Simon Black have had more clearances since 2001.