Head to head: Adelaide 10 wins, Melbourne 8 wins
Last time: Melbourne 7.15 (57) d Adelaide 5.11 (41), round 3, 2010 at MCG
MISSING IN ACTION
Adelaide
Brett Burton (knee) - TBC
James Craig (hamstring) - indefinite
Phil Davis (shoulder) - test
Chris Knights (foot) - indefinite
Andrew McLeod (knee) - TBC
Brad Moran (knee) - indefinite
Andy Otten (knee) - season
Daniel Talia (knee) - season
Will Young (knee) - 4 weeks
Melbourne
Rohan Bail (fractured cheekbone) - 1 week
Sam Blease (leg) - 1-2 weeks
Max Gawn (knee) - 5 weeks
Daniel Hughes (ankle) - 1 week
James McDonald (hamstring) - 1 week
John Meesen (ankle) - indefinite
Michael Newton (calf) - 1 week
Ricky Petterd (shoulder) - season
Jake Spencer (knee) - test
Luke Tapscott (hip) - 2 weeks
FORM
Adelaide: LWLWL
Melbourne: LWLLD
SUMMARY
The Crows were chastised for losing to last year’s wooden spooners in round three, but thoughts on the matter have changed in the past nine weeks.
Adelaide has replaced Melbourne at equal-bottom of the AFL ladder, while the Dees have shrugged their tag as the easy-beats of the competition.
Neither side is expected to make the top eight, but that didn’t seem to faze Melbourne in round 12.
The Dees overcame a slow start to secure a draw against top-four fancies Collingwood. The Crows also fought back from a lacklustre first quarter in their clash with Hawthorn, but fell apart again in the final term to go down by 47 points.
All three of Adelaide’s wins this season have come within the confines of AAMI Stadium.
The Dees have lost their past 13 games at the venue by an average of 56 points, but appear better positioned to challenge that embarrassing record this week.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Imposing Adelaide forward Kurt Tippett played arguably his best game of the season against the Hawks in Launceston. The 201cm Queenslander had some issues with his goalkicking, booting 4.3, but provided a strong target all day and also amassed 10 hit-outs and four tackles. The match-up between Tippett and in-form Dees defender James Frawley looms as a highlight on Sunday.
Damaging onballer Aaron Davey set the Dees alight after quarter time in the club’s draw with Collingwood. Davey finished with 28 disposals against the Pies and has the pace to trouble the Adelaide midfield, which is adapting to life without retired veteran Tyson Edwards and injured star Andrew McLeod.
QUESTION MARKS
Can the Crows get themselves up for the contest? The high surrounding Adelaide’s gutsy win over Fremantle in round 11 was eradicated by an inconsistent effort against the Hawks. The Dees have challenged some of the best sides in the competition this season and won’t be beaten with two quarters of decent football.
Will Melbourne end its AAMI Stadium hoodoo? The Dees have managed just one win away from the MCG this year and need to improve their interstate record fast if they are to be any chance of making the eight, with games at Subiaco, AAMI Stadium and the Gabba still to come.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
The inconsistent Crows have managed just two four-quarter efforts this season so it’s hard to know which Adelaide side will show up on Sunday. The club also has concerns over the fitness of star pair Nathan Bock (groin) and Bernie Vince (ankle).
The Dees were devastated not to beat the Pies last weekend, but should take heart from the effort. The young side should be refreshed after a week off and could be on the verge of a breakthrough win in South Australia.
PREDICTION
Melbourne by 18 points.
Chat with host James Bartold and other fans in the AFL Match Centre on afl.com.au from 2.10pm Sunday or join the conversation on Twitter: #aflcrowsdemons
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
