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Venue: Adelaide Oval First Bounce: 2:10 AEST TV: FOX FOOTY Live Betting: Crows $1.08; Dockers $8.00
Adelaide
FB: Luke Brown, Kyle Hartigan, Jake Lever
HB: Rory Laird, Daniel Talia, David Mackay
C: Paul Seedsman, Scott Thompson, Brodie Smith
HF: Tom Lynch, Josh Jenkins, Matt Crouch
FF: Eddie Betts, Taylor Walker, Charlie Cameron
R: Sam Jacobs, Rory Sloane, Richard Douglas
IC: Rory Atkins, Kyle Cheney, Jarryd Lyons, Mitch McGovern
Fremantle
FB: Cameron Sutcliffe, Zac Dawson, Lee Spurr
HB: Stephen Hill, Alex Pearce, Tommy Sheridan
C: Lachie Weller, Michael Barlow, Danyle Pearce
HF: Brady Grey, Matthew Pavlich, Hayden Ballantyne
FF: Michael Walters, Chris Mayne, Matt Taberner
R: Jonathon Griffin, David Mundy, Lachie Neale
IC: Hayden Crozier, Darcy Tucker, Connor Blakely, Zac Clarke
It was a close first half in this clash, as it was only Fremantle’s inaccuracy that kept them in arrears. The Crows led by 12 points at the main break, and it promised (at that stage) to be a good contest the rest of the way.
It wasn’t to be however, as the Crows put on four goals to one in the third quarter to kick away to a 32-point lead, and it was out of reach from that point forward. The Dockers were good in the final quarter, but this was Adelaide’s day.
Rory Sloane was dominant for the Crows, picking up 31 disposals to go with 8 tackles and a goal. Eddie Betts kicked four for the victors, while Sam Jacobs controlled the stoppages.
Michael Walters was brilliant in a beaten side today, picking up 29 disposals and 3 goals. Matthew Pavlich kicked 1.4 for the day, and will be left to rue his missed opportunities.
Final score
Adelaide Crows 14.13 (97)
Fremantle Dockers 8.16 (64)
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Match preview:
The Adelaide Crows have been on the best teams so far in 2016, yet they still find themselves outside the top eight. They’ll get a chance to move up when they face the winless Fremantle Dockers at Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 2:10pm AEST.
The Crows have been fantastic so far in 2016, with their only losses being to the undefeated Kangaroos, and the reigning premiers Hawthorn. That was one of the games of the year so far, as the Hawks relied on a late Paul Puopolo goal to get up by three points. With the midfield in sublime form, the Crows’ ceiling is as high as anyone’s at the moment.
The Dockers are having a stinker of the season, one which has been exacerbated by their home loss to the Blues last weekend. That loss was made even worse by the news that Nat Fyfe will be out indefinitely with a broken leg. The Dockers have shown nothing so far this season, and they fully deserve to be last on the ladder at this point.
The Crows have named an unchanged side for this clash, and with the side in such good condition, it’s hard to take anyone out at the moment. Cam Ellis-Yolmen, Wayne Milera, and Ricky Henderson are the emergencies.
The Dockers have named two changes, with David Mundy and Connor Blakely coming in for Nat Fyfe and Michael Johnson. For a side with so many injuries, losing those two players is almost an early death sentence for their season.
The Dockers have had the wood on the Crows recently, as they have won the last four clashes between these two sides, including the last two in Adelaide. However, these are two completely different sides, and the Crows will start as extremely short-priced favourites.
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Prediction
This one could get ugly. The Crows are much better than their current ladder position, while the Dockers are winless for a reason. With the most dangerous forward-line in the comp, the Crows could make life very difficult for the Dockers.
Crows by 52
