SUMMARY
Melbourne had its best win of the season when it defeated Adelaide by 41 points at Adelaide Oval in round eight. It was made to be an even more impressive victory given that Jesse Hogan and Max Gawn were missing from the side. Hogan and Gawn may be back for Saturday night's match in Darwin, but the Demons will again be without co-skippers Nathan Jones and Jack Viney. Replacing the output of those two leaders remains a major challenge for the Demons despite falling in for a win over Carlton by eight points last weekend. The Crows were ruthless in their 59-point thumping of the Western Bulldogs last Friday night, with forwards Taylor Walker and Josh Jenkins combining for seven goals. It's the first-placed Crows pitted against the fifth-placed Demons in what will be Adelaide's first ever premiership match in the Top End.
WHERE AND WHEN: TIO Stadium, Saturday, July 16, 7.10pm ACST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R8, 2017, Melbourne 17.5 (107) d Adelaide 9.12 (66) at Adelaide Oval
R15, 2016, Adelaide 18.12 (120) d Melbourne 15.8 (98) at the MCG
R3, 2015, Adelaide 12.8 (80) d Melbourne 7.13 (55) at Adelaide Oval
R7, 2014, Melbourne 11.4 (70) d Adelaide 9.13 (67) at Adelaide Oval
R22, 2013, Adelaide 18.12 (120) d Melbourne 7.10 (52) at AAMI Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. The Demons stunned the Crows earlier this season, kicking 12 goals to three in the second half to claim a 41-point win. Jack Viney starred with 30 disposals, 12 tackles and seven clearances but the co-captain will miss this week with injury.
2. No team handballs more this season than Melbourne, with the Demons averaging 193.5 handballs per game. The Demons are also ranked third in the AFL for disposals. Adelaide is sixth for handballs and fourth for disposals.
3. The Crows have managed to score 100 points or more in a game this season 10 times, more than any other side. Adelaide is the highest-scoring team in the competition, averaging 113 points per game. Melbourne has reached 100 points in a game seven times.
4. Melbourne has a mixed record at TIO Stadium, winning three of seven games. The Demons defeated Fremantle in 2016, their first win at the venue since 2011. Adelaide has never played a match in Darwin.
5. The Crows are the number-one ranked contested-possession team in the AFL in 2017, averaging 157 per game. The Demons are second with an average of 151.9 per match.
6. Tom McDonald has averaged 21.2 Schick AFL Player Ratings points in his last four matches, ranked third in the AFL over that period.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Max Gawn.
Gawn was well beaten by Carlton counterpart and All Australian contender Matthew Kreuzer last week. The Demons big man is still getting readjusted to the tempo after missing 11 straight rounds, from round four to 13, with a serious hamstring injury. Sam Jacobs is another player vying for the All Australian ruck spot and has been in good form, so it will be vital for Gawn to impose himself on the contest, especially in the absence of key midfielders Jones and Viney.
PREDICTION: Adelaide by 20 points
