STOPPING Adelaide defender Brodie Smith will form a key strategy for Melbourne on Saturday as the Demons look to halt the Crows' scoring capacity at Adelaide Oval.
Crow-turned-Demon Bernie Vince said Smith was vital to Adelaide's structure and halting the 22-year-old's run would prove crucial if his side was to score a second win for the season.
Smith is ranked sixth in the League for rebound 50s (30) and fifth for running bounces (19).
Adelaide is the third highest scoring team in the competition.
While acknowledging the Crows had some serious midfield weapons in Scott Thompson and Patrick Dangerfield, Vince said Smith and David Mackay also needed to be watched closely.
"I guess maybe [Smith sneaks under the radar] to the footy public but not to us who studies the opposition, we see him as a real key player," Vince said.
"I've watched a few of the Crows games this year and he's been awesome off that half-back line, a real penetrating kick and one of their really important ball users.
"Dave Mackay's been in some pretty good form as well, his outside run's been good and Scott Thompson's back in form, Dangerfield's back in form – so they've got some real guns in there that can hurt us."
Vince also said the expected wet weather would aid his club's cause.
Heavy rain fell for much of Friday and showers are expected on Saturday in the City of Churches – hardly high scoring conditions.
Despite languishing in 17th position on the ladder with just one win, Vince insisted Melbourne had taken huge strides defensively.
This time last season the Demons were the most heavily scored against team in the AFL, but have improved that by 357 points this year, equating to 59.5 points a game.
"In the last few games we've been able to keep sides to pretty low scores but we haven't scored a lot ourselves," he said.
"I think we're averaging 10 goals less against [us] each game – that's a huge turnaround.
"Hopefully our attack can lift a bit for us because I think last week we only kicked five or six goals so I guess in the wet that might suit us.
"We've just got to make sure we tackle well, all the little things, contested ball … and hopefully stop their outside run because they build that from half back then can attack well."
