Adelaide’s recent form: beat Carlton by eight, beat the Swans by 24, lost to Port Adelaide by 12, lost to Collingwood by 32 and lost to Geelong by 68.

Recent results against Richmond:
Round 11, 2008, Adelaide 22.14 (146) d Richmond 14.12 (96), MCG
Round eight, 2007, Adelaide 14.15 (99) d Richmond 14.6 (90), AAMI
Round eight, 2006, Richmond 10.9 (69) d Adelaide 9.12 (66), TD
Round 13, 2005, Adelaide 20.12 (132) d Richmond 9.8 (62), TD
Round 20, 2004, Adelaide 21.12 (138) d Richmond 13.8 (86), AAMI

Strengths:
An ‘even contribution’ and an ability to ‘share the load’ are ideals preached by every club in the competition, but mastered by few. Last week, the Crows appeared doomed to succumb to the fast-finishing Carlton after, yet again, losing key players to injury before half time. But as was the case in Showdown XXV earlier this year, Adelaide rallied through an unlikely band of match-winners and pulled off another stirring victory.

The Crows, led by emerging stars Nathan van Berlo, Ivan Maric, Brad Moran and resurgent super stopper Rob Shirley, showed enormous spirit and, on the back of a second consecutive gutsy win, have developed a solid belief in their own ability.

The vastly improved Richmond has reversed its early season trend of honourable losses with five wins from the club’s past seven starts. But the Tigers have not beaten Adelaide at AAMI Stadium since round nine, 1999, and given the courage the Crows have demonstrated over the past fortnight, it’s hard to see that record changing this week.

Potential weakness:
Every week, the Crows’ goal scoring power is questioned and, every week, coach Neil Craig finds another joker in the pack. Against Carlton, blonde bombshell Brad Moran emerged as the game breaker with four goals and was well supported by Shirley, who booted his first two majors of the season. Ivan Maric also continues to impress as one of Adelaide’s straightest shooters.

This week, Adelaide will, again, be without its two leading goalkickers in Brett Burton and Porplyzia, and Craig will, again, need to find some new avenues to goal.

The forecast for slippery conditions should lower the bar for a match winning score, but the Crows will need to combat the exciting Tigers forward line of Nathan Brown, Matthew Richardson, Jack Riewoldt and 250-gamer Joel Bowden.

They’re sweating on:
With away games against finals contenders Essendon and St Kilda in the coming fortnight, a win at home against Richmond on Sunday is imperative to Adelaide’s finals chances. The Crows have lost just three games at AAMI Stadium this year and need to tick this one off as a win before returning home to play the Western Bulldogs in round 22.

Dangermen:
Andrew McLeod: Adelaide’s milestone man loves the big occasions and, on a personal level, it doesn’t get much bigger than 300 games (unless of course you’re Robert Harvey). McLeod started the season in brilliant fashion before being cruelled by a knee injury and with a strong contingent of family and friends watching, the five-time All-Australian will be keen to impress.

Kris Massie: last week the unassuming defender continued his solid season racking up 24 possessions, 13 marks and countless saving spoils and, on Sunday, is likely to get the job on in-form Tiger Nathan Brown. The crafty forward racked up 34 touches against Adelaide in round 11 playing as a loose man in defence, but is far more dangerous in attack where he has averaged 24 possessions and nearly four goals in each of his past three games

Scott Thompson: Thompson proved unstoppable for the Tiger defenders earlier this season when he replaced suspended star Brett Burton up forward and booted a career-high six goals. The gutsy onballer started the season in sizzling form, but has averaged just 20 possessions (five down on his season average) in the past three weeks, as he learns to cope with heavy opposition tags, and will be determined to make a greater impact in favourable, wet weather conditions on Sunday.

It’s not generally known…
Andrew McLeod has racked up more best on grounds (28) in Brownlow Medal voting than any other Crow. He is ranked seventh in VFL/AFL history in this category behind Robert Harvey, Nathan Buckley, Scott West, Greg Williams, John Platten and Peter Matera.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.