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.
cm
Guest
Tigers should probably have a) not been a merged team with a very strange board setup causing ever dwindling interest and b) emailed every kid on their database with 4 free tickets for the second week in a row.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
A worthy win against a legitimate finals aspirant.
XI
Roar Guru
Still ended up with more than Wests got to their match in Campbelltown. I think I must be one of those weird Western Sydney people who actually goes to the football.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Giants will get to finals. Great win win. Not just because of the points but because it proves they can beat some well performing teams. Barrinng a disaster.
TomC
Roar Guru
That's all from me. Enjoy your evening.
TomC
Roar Guru
For the first three quarters the momentum shifted back and forth, with GWS generally taking better advantage, in particularly early, when they kicked the first five goals of the game. It was late in the third term, after the Crows lost a couple through injury, that the Giants really began to capitalise on their opportunities, rattling off five more consecutive goals to end this game as a contest before three quarter time. Cam McCarthy with three goals in that third term was a highlight, but there were plenty of contributors. Adelaide had three major contributors today - Walker kicked four good goals, Betts had three and look very dangerous, while Dangerfield worked hard and gave plenty of forward momentum. Young Mitch Grigg also did some good things, but Adelaide had a lot of passengers. GWS' list of best players pretty much covers their entire midfield - Treloar, Shiel, Griffen, Smith, Ward, Greene, Scully all had good games, and were mostly consistent for the bulk of the game. Josh Kelly would be very happy with his return to the team. Really, the margin of 24 points flattered Adelaide. While the game went back and forth, GWS were on top for longer periods and generally looked more threatening. So GWS go to 6-2, and very much have the inside running on a debut finals berth. Adelaide come back to the pack a little on 5-3, and I'm not quite convinced they have the depth of contributors to have a big impact on the rest of the season. They'll be very keen to get Rory Sloane back ASAP.
TomC
Roar Guru
The final siren sounds to bring to an end a very lackluster final term. That was rather an anticlimax after most of the game was of such high quality. GWS win by 24 points.
TomC
Roar Guru
Jacobs with a big strong mark in the forwardline for Adelaide. He is one man who doesn't stop working. His shot is offline, however.
TomC
Roar Guru
Great hands by Thompson to find Lyons on the outside. His pass hits up Betts in the forward pocket. Betts make a rare error, missing the shot to the near side. GWS lead by 25 points as we tick into the final three minutes.
TomC
Roar Guru
TomC
Roar Guru
Betts is lively again for Adelaide in the forwardline. He finds some space and hits up Sam Jacobs in front of goal. Jacobs converts, and Adelaide get slightly closer. GWS 108 Adelaide 81 Betts has been great in this second half.
TomC
Roar Guru
Scully with a searing pass to Cameron. Daniel Talia apparently had a thread of jumper under his fingernail and Cameron wins a fortunate free kick. His shot doesn't even score, which is poetic justice I feel. Five and a half minutes left, with GWS leading by 33 points.
TomC
Roar Guru
Ward with a couple of bounces through the middle of the ground, and kicks long toward Cameron. Hoskin Elliott sharks the ball and sets up Stewart to run into an open goal. Stewart misses. Another one the GIants should've kicked. GWS 108 Adelaide 75 This fourth quarter has been pretty hard to watch, to be honest.
TomC
Roar Guru
Taylor Walker takes an intercepting mark and bombs long, and once again, it's easily cut off by the Giants defence with no Adelaide player nearby. That'll need to be a focus during the week for Geoff Walsh. Far too many times have the forward 50 entries not given the Crows forwards even the merest chance of scoring.
TomC
Roar Guru
Adelaide's forward movement has been patchy today. Jenkins kicks it long without looking and Davis marks it for GWS without a Crow anywhere near him.
TomC
Roar Guru
Haynes clears long to James Stewart at half forward for GWS. He sends it forward to Greene, who's in plenty of space. His centering kick is marked by Hoskin Elliot, about 30m out. Hoskin Elliot misses a very gettable set shot. GWS 107 Adelaide 74 Eleven and a half minutes of playing time left. GWS are probably safe, but you still don't want to miss those.
TomC
Roar Guru
GWS have made their sub, with Zac Williams coming on. He's immediately caught holding the ball, so that's a poor start.
TomC
Roar Guru
Scott Thompson wins a free kick for Adelaide. He has a long look and then measures a pass superbly onto Taylor Walker's chest in the forward pocket. Walker with a tough kick for his fourth, but he judges it beautifully. GWS 106 Adelaide 74 From limited opportunities, Walker has done very well today. Great assist from Thompson as well.
TomC
Roar Guru
This game has been played at a frenetic pace for the most part, but right now the intensity has dropped a bit.
TomC
Roar Guru
Dangerfield marks and plays on, and is bizarrely awarded a fifty metre penalty as the Giants players went to tackle him. He kicks the goal from 10m out. GWS 106 Adelaide 68 Hmm. Did the umpire think he was just going back on the mark? He certainly appeared to be playing on sideways.