Hawthorn v Adelaide, at Aurora Stadium, Sunday, April 13, 1.10pm
RECENT RESULTS AGAINST HAWTHORN:
2007, Elimination final, Hawthorn 15.15 (105) d Adelaide 15.12 (102), TD
Round 14, 2007 Adelaide 15.12 (102) d Hawthorn 4.7 (31), AAMI
Round 15, 2006 Adelaide 16.13 (109) d Hawthorn 11.7 (73), AAMI
Round 15, 2005 Adelaide 12.6 (78) d Hawthorn 10.8 (68), Aurora
Round 10, 2004 Adelaide 20.13 (133) d Hawthorn 6.11 (47), MCG
FORECAST:
Fine. minimum 7, maximum 19
BETTING:
Hawthorn $1.35, Adelaide $3.00
RECENT FORM:
Defeated Port Adelaide by 6, defeated West Coast by 76, defeated by Western Bulldogs by 3.
The Crows picked themselves up off the canvas to secure victory last week and on Sunday Adelaide will get back in the ring for the clash with the second-placed Hawks.
Many players are still sporting battle scars from last week’s brutal win over Port Adelaide, but the Crows will be hoping to heal some old wounds inflicted by Hawthorn in last year’s heartbreaking elimination final.
Expect Rob Shirley to return for the battered Crows and Bryce Campbell to play his first AFL game of the season.
STRENGTHS:
Adelaide fans were bursting with pride after last week’s hard fought win over archrivals Port Adelaide. The Crows were reduced to just 19 fit players in the second half, but defied the odds, and some interchange theorists, to claim a gutsy win.
The young midfield stood up under immense pressure with Bernie Vince, Richard Douglas and David Mackay all playing their best games for the club.
The Crows appear to have found a good mix of youth and experience in the middle and will be confident they have what it takes to match the talented Hawks onball brigade, minus Jordan Lewis (suspended).
POTENTIAL WEAKNESS:
Unfortunately, last week’s ledger-squaring win over Port Adelaide came at a cost. Enigmatic utility Luke Jericho will miss three weeks with a cracked sternum after being collected by the Power’s 98kg ruckman Dean Brogan, and Kris Massie (hamstring) is also likely to miss.
Nathan Bassett (concussion) and Jon Griffin (heavy knock) should be cleared to play, while the extent of Jason Porplyzia’s shoulder injury is still unknown.
Adelaide, with more than one quarter of its senior squad on the casualty list, will have its depth tested like never before against Hawthorn. Coach Neil Craig lamented a high injury count and the resulting inconsistency as a reason for Adelaide’s demise last season and hopefully it doesn’t hurt the Crows again on Sunday.
THEY’RE SWEATING ON:
The Adelaide defenders need no reminder of Hawthorn’s, and in particular Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin’s, goalkicking capabilities. For those who have managed to erase the painful memory of last year’s elimination final, Franklin single-handedly ended the Crows 2007 campaign and also Mark Ricciuto’s career with his seventh goal in the dying seconds of the game.
Massie had the arduous task of minding Buddy in the final, but without him the task is likely to be shared between Nathan Bock and Ben Rutten.
Bock and Rutten, like Buddy, have been in sensational form this season, but will have their hands well and truly full with the Hawks match winner.
DANGERMEN:
Nathan Bock: Bock is firming as an early favourite for All-Australian selection this season after brilliant performances in the first three games. The former rookie is averaging 24 possessions and eight marks a game in 2008 and will need to be at his best against Franklin.
Richard Douglas: The crafty ball winner picked up 19 touches and kicked three goals in Showdown XXIV and appears to be getting better by the week. The 21-year-old has clean hands, is a good user of the football and will be determined to continue his impressive form against one of the league’s best midfields.
Tyson Edwards: The reliable onballer was among Adelaide’s best players in both games against Hawthorn last season. In round 14 he picked up a career and equal league-high 41 possessions and will be on Hawthorn coach Alistair Clarkson’s radar this week. Edwards is also finding his feet as a pinch-hitting forward and, like Simon Goodwin, will provide the Crows with a handy target in attack.
IT’S NOT GENERALLY KNOWN:
Edwards averages 22 disposals and six marks against Hawthorn - his best return against any team in the competition.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
