Nathan Buckley previews Super Saturday for round 12 on Fox Footy

Much has been made of the Crows’ poor record away from the Adelaide Oval, but Nathan Buckley says their game suits the SCG this week — and he has the stats to back it up.

Adelaide are looking to turn their record away from home around. Picture: Getty Images

There’s only three games on Super Saturday this weekend as the bye rounds begin.

But the stakes are only getting higher as the season progresses.

Nathan Buckley previews every match below.

GOLD COAST V FREMANTLE, 1.20PM

People First Stadium

•The Fremantle ruck balance will be laid bare again on Saturday. Luke Jackson has had two cracking performances as a solo ruck and yet the moment he was fit to play, Sean Darcy has been brought back into the mix. Freo’s best form has not come with two rucks in the team and the flow-on effect with rotations and positional flexibility may be the reason. Still, Fremantle clearly believes that this is going to be good long term. Let’s see!

•The Suns are on fire in the turnover game this season. The balance and flow of their offence and defence, and how it feeds into each other has been excellent. They are the most efficient team at scoring from turnovers and sit second behind Collingwood at defending them. It’s a powerful mix and one that will carry them a long way if they can maintain their shape and get a good run with availability.

Touk Miller in action. Picture: Getty Images

•Touk Miller has been asked to play a different role this season as a hard-running, high forward and his numbers are better than ever. He has hit the scoreboard more often and found just as much outside ball without having to start inside at clearance as often. He has polled votes in the AFL Coaches Association MVP award in nine of his 10 matches this season, so clearly the Suns coaches are happy with his work, as are the opposition.

•Shai Bolton has lifted his rating in the last few weeks when Freo needed it most. He is standing up with more midfield time and is bringing line-breaking speed, polish and finish to the Dockers’ front half when he is up and about. It’s everything they brought him in for. Standing up in these big games when absolutely required is the next test for Bolton. He is a difference maker and could carry Freo’s hopes today.

Campbell Gray. Picture: Getty Images

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY V RICHMOND, 4.15PM

Engie Stadium

•The Tsunami has well and truly been back in recent weeks and it has come at a good time. The Giants have scored 21 goals from back half turnovers in the last three weeks, clearly ranked No.1, six goals in front of Brisbane and Adelaide. In that time frame they have been double the AFL average at scoring from the back which is a warning sign to the rest of the competition.

•Richmond brings back in eight premierships worth of experience this week in Toby Nankervis, Dion Prestia and Tom Lynch. They have definitely lacked the structure that the big boys, in particular, bring to the team and in Prestia they have a player who, when fit, just knows exactly where and when to run to help an attack come together or put his body in the right place to defend. “When fit” has been the big challenge for him, so here’s hoping he gets a decent run at it again.

•Cody Angove is the next in a line of baby-faced assassins coming out of the Giants’ camp. He is yet to fully develop physically, but his football smarts and knack of doing the right thing at the right time is already shining through. A clean gather and slick hands to put his team into space out of a late third quarter centre bounce when the Blues were coming was exceptional. He seems to do the basics well and could be a mainstay in years to come.

•Campbell Gray is a young Tigers player who is getting exposure ahead of time. He has shown great athleticism in his key back role since coming across from Essendon’s VFL team in last year’s mid-season draft. He moves really well for his size, attacks the aerial contests well and uses the ball well. There are plenty of hard yards for the Tigers but finding a few unexpected diamonds will make it all worthwhile.

Alex Neal-Bullen has been a brilliant addition for the Crows. Picture: Getty Images

SYDNEY V ADELAIDE, 7.35PM

SCG

•The Swans are in a world of hurt, unable to find their best football often enough to get the results we are so accustomed to seeing. Sydney has only had two seasons in the last 16 which have ended worse than a 50% win ratio – and one of them was the 2020 Covid year. At 4-7, they risk dropping too far behind unless they create and take their chances right now. Uncharacteristically for the Swans, there have been inconsistent efforts and contests that will be addressed and answered in a must-win game tonight.

•The Crows have relished the open expanses of their home deck and grounds like the MCG to get their damaging offence going. On the smaller SCG ground, ‘contest is king’ and the Crows stack up well in this area this season – top 2 in contested ball on the ground and in the air, and they are also a top 6 clearance and tackle team. This will be a hot game, given the opposition’s plight. Strap yourselves in for plenty of in-and-under across the four quarters.

•Alex Neal-Bullen was said to be the glue that kept the Melbourne locker room together. He moved to the Crows with the Demons blessings, given family circumstances and has picked up in exactly the same manner. “Best bloke I’ve met in footy” is an expression not thrown around too often but it seems to be consistent with Alex. He is selfless, team focused and hard working. A player with that type of presence lifts others and is worth more than his role alone. The Crows have a beauty in him!

•Tom McCartin’s position was highly discussed and dissected in the early rounds. He is a competitive beast and has brought that to the table consistently. But he, like his teammates, are yet to settle and gel as a unit. McCartin is likely to get Riley Thilthorpe and quelling his aerial presence will be crucial to give the Swans a chance.