The Sloane Ranger finds his deputy

RORY Sloane is clearly Adelaide's best midfielder but one player has emerged as the Crows' clear second banana.

Matt Crouch has collected the second most disposals in the AFL, behind Hawthorn's Tom Mitchell, without earning any headlines for the 31.9 touches he gets a game.

The 22-year-old's consistency is his biggest attribute. He has not grabbed fewer than 27 disposals a game this season (his lowest tally was in round 11 against Geelong) and is on the cusp of being an elite midfielder.

Matt's older brother Brad – who broke his cheekbone against Geelong on Friday – has been outstanding too, not only winning contested possessions but using the ball well.

As part of a midfield that has taken the Crows to the top of the ladder, the pair deserve more praise.

However, Matt is the man, picking up the slack as best he can when Sloane is tagged out of games.

In 2017 Matt Crouch is:

• 6th in the AFL for assisted metres gained
• 11th for contested possessions
• 17th for clearances
• 2nd for disposals. 

Matt Crouch leaves Saint Jack Steven clutching at air in round 12. Picture: AFL Photos

Crouch has become the classic example of a player whose individual standing increases when the collective midfield works in unison.

Hugh Greenwood is shooting up the charts with a bullet, his eight games pushing him to be the 22nd ranked midfielder in the competition.

Greenwood is aggressive, tall and a contested ball winner who has already shown he is potentially an X-factor in the Crows' challenge, playing forward as well as in the midfield.

Those three are genuine contenders to be the Crows' second best midfielder, with Richard Douglas, Rory Atkins and David Mackay rounding out the midfield that has helped the Crows take a stranglehold on top spot with five games remaining.

In their current four-game winning streak, the Crows have:

• been in front for 90 per cent of game time
• won two of those games while scoring fewer than 100 points

How the Crows turned the tables on Geelong

The Crows' level of intensity and shape around the contest was so much better at Adelaide Oval in round 18 against Geelong than it had been in round 11.

Those two games are almost a complete mirror image of each other, with the Crows' ability to win the ball and move it quickly to gain territory almost completely reversed in the second encounter.

The question needs to be asked: can Sloane-Crouch now be spoken in the same breath this season as Dangerfield-Selwood, Kennedy- Parker, Ward- Shiel or Martin-Cotchin?

If they can lead the Crows to a premiership, there will be no doubt.

21st Century Blues

Carlton's struggles to reach 100 makes it the AFL's equivalent of cricketer Shane Watson, who battled to make tons in his Test career.

The Blues have now gone a League-high 28 consecutive games without reaching 100 points.

They are closing in on the longest sub-100 sequence this century, since Gold Coast went from round eight, 2011 to round 19, 2012 without raising the bat.

On the flipside, as Blues coach Brendon Bolton builds their defence the Blues have only conceded 100 points on five occasions this season, and are ranked 10th for points against.

West Coast has also failed to crack the ton for 11 consecutive matches, equal with the Eagles' previous worst streak set in 2008. Setting an unwanted club record against the Lions this weekend won't ease fans' discontent after they sipped out of the eight last round.

#FreeKickR18

More free kicks were paid in round 18 than any other round this season: 42 per game.

The umpires' whistles sounded most frequently in round 17 in the Adelaide v Geelong blockbuster, with a whopping 61 frees paid on Friday night.

Most free kicks per game in 2017: 42, round 18

Least per game in 2017: 33, round 7

Then there were ... eight?

Recent history suggests that teams outside the top eight after round 18 have no chance of winning the flag.

And before the Western Bulldogs performed their miracle last season, no flag winner had been outside the top four after 18 rounds since the Brisbane Lions in 2003.

Top eight after round 18

Adelaide
Geelong
Greater Western Sydney
Richmond
Port Adelaide
Sydney Swans
Melbourne
Essendon

Ladder position of eventual premiers after round 18

2016, Western Bulldogs: 7
2015, Hawthorn: 3
2014, Hawthorn: 1
2013, Hawthorn: 1
2012, Sydney: 1
2011, Geelong: 2
2010, Collingwood: 1
2009, Geelong: 2
2008, Hawthorn: 3
2007, Geelong: 1
2006, West Coast: 2
2005, Sydney: 4
2004, Port Adelaide: 4
2003, Brisbane Lions: 6

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