BERNIE Vince says he will welcome any Showdown biff on Sunday, claiming the melee between Adelaide and Fremantle last Saturday night only fired his teammates up.

 

Vince was fined $1200 for his role in the first-term scrap along with five Dockers and teammate Scott Thompson.

 

The Crows came out the stronger side and took a narrow lead into quarter-time, before losing the game.

 

"I reckon we play a bit better when something like that does happen, but you don't go out and plan it or anything," Vince said.

 

"Our starts have been pretty good the last few weeks so it certainly didn't put us off our game.

 

"We'll welcome it if they want to try it … it's something that hasn't really happened for a while but it didn't really work [on Saturday]."

 

Vince admitted the Power was a much tougher opponent this year compared to last, talking up the cross-town rival's defensive ability.

 

Under new coach Ken Hinkley, the Power have had an incredible transformation from the competition easybeats to a disciplined side that has proven it can take on the best.

 

"From the games I've watched I just reckon their pressure on the ball carrier and tackling and things like that have improved a lot this year," he said.

 

"They haven't given teams time to use the ball and see what's happening up the field.

 

"That's been, from my point of view, their biggest improvement this year.

 

A season-ending ankle injury to Josh Jenkins further soured Adelaide's 22-point loss to the Dockers and added to the damage of losing Taylor Walker to injury earlier in the season.

 

Jenkins will require surgery to repair the ankle and is expected to be sidelined for three months.

 

Vince had a simple solution to his side's lack of firepower up forward.

 

"I'm going to kick 10," he joked.

 

"With 'Tex' (Walker) going down early we've had to find other avenues to goal, whether that be other forwards that come in, 'Lewie' Johnston's probably going to come in this week I'd suggest.

 

"Midfielders, wingmen and even halfbacks, we're all going to have to pick up the rope where these guys (Jenkins, Walker, Tippett) have left for us.

 

"We've just got to be an even spread, I'm sure we can kick enough goals though."

 

The midfielder said Johnston, who has booted 13 goals from his last three games in the SANFL, would provide the Crows with a reliable target inside 50.

 

The former Sydney Swan is a rated as arguably the best shot at goal at West Lakes.

 

"He's a very good kick – I've seen a few of his SANFL games this year and that's one of his real strengths," he said.

 

"Hopefully he can kick them straight for us because we weren't able to do that on the weekend."