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The Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Adelaide Crows have been two of the AFL’s biggest improvers in 2015, and one of them can climb further up the ladder today at Spotless Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 2:10pm (AEST).
A six-goal win to the Crows in these teams’ first encounter more than three years ago is as close as the Giants have ever been to knocking off Adelaide.
And yet, GWS will start today’s game as narrow favourites.
That’s how much the young Giants have shown in the first seven weeks of 2015, and their win over the reigning premiers in their last game at this venue is still fresh in the memory.
But let’s not forget that the Crows sit in fourth place with a 5-2 record and a strong percentage, just ahead of their opponents today.
While both sides are sitting comfortably in the top eight, both could be accused of having had soft draws, so things are likely to get tighter as the year goes on. Getting to six wins from eight games gives today’s victor some breathing space.
Both teams have exciting midfields, although the Giants can probably claim a slight advantage here, with greater depth.
Adelaide might be missing Rory Sloane, but the evergreen Scott Thompson has found another gear this season.
The biggest battle, physically and possibly for the outcome of the match, will be in the ruck, where Shane Mumford and Sam Jacobs are arguably the two best ruckmen in the league. Expect Mumford to take the honours at stoppages, but Jacobs to be more involved around the ground.
Another big man who’ll be worth watching is Giants full back Phil Davis. The former Adelaide player returns from injury this week. He’ll be sorely needed, because the Crows’ forward line is in fine form. Taylor Walker is humming along with 21 goals from seven games, Tom Lynch is returning to his best form, and Eddie Betts is playing the best footy of his career, with 20 goals from the last four games.
The Giants are no slouches at the other end either. Jeremy Cameron looks as dangerous as ever, while Cam McCarthy is providing a useful second option.
Josh Kelly joins Phil Davis as the Giants’ inclusions this week, with Lachie Whitfield missing through illness and Aidan Corr omitted.
Big man Josh Jenkins and young inside midfielder Cam Ellis-Yolmen come in for Adelaide, with Brodie Smith rested and Matthew Jaensch set for a long spell on the injured list.
Prediction
The Giants’ form and home ground advantage make them favourites today, but I’m not convinced that their disappointing loss against West Coast three weeks ago should be forgotten just yet.
Again they play a team that they’ve struggled to be competitive against in the past, and again it’s an opponent full of dangerous small and mid-sized forward options, which seems to be a bit of an achilles heel for GWS.
I predict Adelaide to win narrowly off the back of significant contributions from Eddie Betts and Tom Lynch.
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