Adelaide be aiming to keep their 2013 campaign alive when they host Geelong on Sunday afternoon. We’ll have live scores from 3.20pm AEST.
Following a surprise third-place finish last year, the Crows have suffered a bad case of second-year blues under the coaching of Brenton Sanderson.
Sitting in 13th with a 6-9 record, their fans know that anything less than a victory this weekend will shift the focus at West Lakes entirely to 2014.
The story at sleepy hollow is a happier one, with Geelong humming along nicely in 2nd place (13-2).
They’ve won three matches on the trot and boast the third best attack and fourth best defence in the competition.
Adelaide’s star man, Patrick Dangerfield, and Matthew Jaensch make way for the maligned Richard Tambling and a débutante – the inside midfielder Mitch Grigg.
Renowned trio Joel Corey, Corey Enright and Matthew Stokes return for the visitors, replacing Steve Johnson (suspension), George Horlin-Smith and Jesse Stringer.
Like most places, AAMI Stadium has been a happy hunting ground for the Cats in recent years; they’ve won seven of their past nine games at the soon-to-be-disused venue.
Adelaide has suffered defeat in three straight games at home.
Be on The Roar for live stats and scores from 3.20pm AEST this afternoon!
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
STATS (Adelaide-Geelong) Kicks 233-193 Handballs 183-125 Marks 90-74 Tackles 68-57 Hitouts 30-38 Free kicks 20-20 Inside 50s 60-52 DISPOSALS R Douglas (Adl) 33 R Henderson (Adl) 32 R Sloane (Adl) 27 J Corey (Gee) 27 SCORES Adelaide - Wright (4.0), Lynch (3.1), Otten (2.0), Vince (2.0), Crouch (1.0), Jenkins (1.0), van Berlo (1.0), Porplyzia (0.2), Douglas (0.1), Henderson (0.1), Jacobs (0.1), Lyons (0.1), Smith (0.1), Thompson (0.1) Geelong - Selwood (3.1), Caddy (3.0), Hawkins (2.1), Motlop (2.1), Kelly (2.0), Blicavs (1.0), Lonergan (1.0), Bartel (0.1), Duncan (0.1), Murdoch (0.1), Taylor (0.1)
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Full Time For what it's worth, that is the Crows' first win over a top 14 team at home this season. They move up to 11th and face another crunch game - away to Fremantle - next week. The Cats can bounce back with a home match against St Kilda. Adelaide 14.10.94 Geelong 14.8.92
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Full Time Adelaide's season remains alive. With Dangerfield out, Thompson subbed off and a 30 point deficit, that is STIRRING. Geelong, for the third time in 2013, lose by less than a kick. Adelaide 14.10.94 Geelong 14.8.92
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Full Time WHAT. A. FINISH. With just seconds left, Harry Taylor brought down a pack mark in the forward line. Shooting at goal with effectively six men on the mark, he hooked the kick. Adelaide claim one of their best wins for a decade. Adelaide 14.10.94 Geelong 14.8.92
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Q4 – 31 minutes Bartel wins a free kick in the forward pocket... and MISSES! Adelaide 14.10.94 Geelong 14.7.91
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Q4 – 28 minutes REMARKABLE! Daniel Talia takes a crucial mark on the last line of defence. The ball is then transported from one end of the other with a combination of kicks, handpasses, nudges, soccers off the ground and finally, the boot of Matthew Wright. After trailing for 72 minutes, the Crows are in front! Adelaide 14.10.94 Geelong 14.6.90
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Q4 – 26 minutes Van Berlo, who has been excellent, snaps truly! The Crows have trailed since midway through the second quarter...and are only 2 points behind with 4 minutes left! Adelaide 13.10.88 Geelong 14.6.90
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Q4 – 25 minutes Now Simpson takes a big, defensive mark. The inexperienced Geelong talls are standing up. Adelaide 12.10.82 Geelong 14.6.90
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Q4 – 23 minutes Wet ball, long sleeves, half back flank - Blicavs takes a class mark. He turns the kick over, though. With 6 minutes remaining, this feels like a case of "next goal wins"... Adelaide 12.10.82 Geelong 14.6.90
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Q4 – 19 minutes Brodie Smith launches from long range. It's close. A video referral confirms a behind. Adelaide 12.10.82 Geelong 14.6.90
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Q4 – 17 minutes Blicavs kicks a clutch goal! He wobbles through a set shot after marking 30m out. Breathing space - again. Adelaide 12.9.81 Geelong 14.5.89
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Q4 – 15 minutes Still anyone's game. Tim Watson in commentary makes a valid point - the Cats are so used to these types of finishes. Bartel, Selwood, Hawkins, Enright, etc etc etc have through these situations together so often - in finals, grand finals, against Hawthorn thousands of times. You'd be brave to bet against them. Adelaide 12.9.81 Geelong 13.5.83
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Q4 – 13 minutes Van Berlo wins an in-the-back free kick in defence... and a 50 metre penalty. He gets the game moving quickly and the attack ends with Brad Crouch dribbling through a goal from close range. This is thrilling! Adelaide 12.9.81 Geelong 13.4.82
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Q4 – 10 minutes OTTEN!! In front of goals, he takes a spectacular one-handed mark against Harry Taylor, one of the best in the business. Cats by 7. Adelaide 11.9.75 Geelong 13.4.82
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Q4 – 9 minutes The quiet Travis Varcoe (4 disposals) has been subbed out. Jordan Murdoch on. Adelaide 10.9.69 Geelong 13.4.82
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Q4 – 7 minutes One-out with Tom Hawkins, Daniel Talia was out-bodied and slipped crucially. Hawkins ran in an easy goal. Breathing space. Adelaide 10.8.68 Geelong 13.4.82
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Q4 – 5 minutes Enright wins a free for kicking in danger. You don't see that paid as often these days, eh? It's willing out there. Both sides are going to work really, really hard for this win. Adelaide 10.8.68 Geelong 12.4.76
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Q4 – 2 minutes First blood to the Crows! Bernie Vince with a nice snap to reduce the margin further. Adelaide 10.8.68 Geelong 12.4.76
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Q4 - 1 minute Scott Thompson wasn't "moving well" according to Mark Bickley, Adelaide assistant coach. He wasn't happy to be subbed out, according to Cameron Ling on the boundary line. Adelaide 9.8.62 Geelong 12.4.76
Simon McInerney
Roar Guru
Three Quarter Time After going five goals down, Adelaide rallied - surely knowing their season is on the line. Richard Douglas (24) still leads all comers in disposals. The game is perfectly poised. The Cats have the wind; the Crows momentum. Adelaide 9.8.62 Geelong 12.4.76