WHEN & WHERE: Sunday 1.10pm, Skilled Stadium.
COVERAGE: Channel 9 (Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Sydney & Brisbane)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 20. Geelong 8, Adelaide 12.
LAST TIME: Adelaide 11.10 (76) d Geelong 8.11 (59), round 10, 2003 at Skilled Stadium. Adelaide withstood a second half challenge from Geelong but prevailed by 17 points. The visitors set up the win with five goals to zip in the second quarter in a low-scoring affair. Scott Welsh booted three goals for the winners, while Aaron Lord was Geelong’s leading goal-scorer, also with three majors. Adelaide’s Ian Perrie received the three Brownlow votes and Geelong’s Cameron Ling was his side’s best.
WORRIES: Just one win from five matches is a genuine concern for the Cats, after an outstanding pre-season campaign that landed them in the Wizard Home Loans Cup grand final. Geelong has been hit hard by injury since the opening round of the season and is only gradually regaining its best line-up. Two credible losses – against Sydney and Fremantle – haven’t helped their win/loss ratio either. Adelaide’s start to the season began poorly when it was whacked by the Kangaroos in the first round, which was then followed by three close losses against quality opposition – Brisbane Lions, Fremantle and St Kilda. A 0-4 win/loss start to the year was the worst start by any team in the competition, but the Crows did inflict a 75-point drubbing on Richmond last round to chalk up their first win of the season. Backing that win up will be Adelaide’s next major challenge.
THE WHITEBOARD: Statistically, both side’s defensive units are evenly matched, yet the ability to win more of the ball and kick a greater scores sits with the Crows. Geelong’s Matthew Scarlett is likely to line-up on football great Wayne Carey, which will leave Tom Harley to take Ken McGregor. Up forward, Ben Graham will be the Cats’ focal point – if he can overcome a groin complaint – with either youngster Trent Hentschel or Nathan Bassett set to take him on in his 200th game for Geelong. In the middle, Adelaide’s Mark Ricciuto, Andrew McLeod and Brett Burton have won more possessions than any other Geelong player, with Cats’ leader Cameron Ling the closest of the trio, suggesting the Crows will have the edge.
AND THE WINNER IS…..Adelaide: Although the Crows will be venturing east, the Cats have also returned from the west and have two less days to prepare for the round-six clash. Adelaide’s form is gaining momentum and appears to be getting back on track, while a healthy Geelong side is yet to grace the park. The Cats haven’t defeated the Crows since 2000, with the trend likely to continue this week, in a close one. Adelaide by four points
