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The Adelaide Crows have thoroughly thumped a listless St Kilda Saints side at Adelaide Oval, winning by 88 point on Sunday.
REPORT: CROWS SMASH SAINTS AT HOME
Final score
Adelaide Crows 19.19.133
St Kilda Saints 6.9.45
The Adelaide Crows need to cement their place in the eight, but hot on their heels are the St Kilda Saints, who won’t hold back in their Sunday meeting at Adelaide Oval. Join The Roar from 4:40pm (AEST) for all the action, live.
Adelaide come into this game on the back of one of their best wins of the season, downing the red-hot GWS Giants, something many of their rivals have failed to do.
The Saints are also coming off a strong showing, challenged by Fremantle during their clash last weekend but pulling away to a convincing 31-point win.
Recent history favours the Crows heavily, especially in South Australia where the Saints haven’t pinched victory since 2009, a year they were grand finalists. While this current St Kilda team isn’t yet in the league’s top echelon, they certainly are on the way up, and with their season still very much alive this match is sure to be as entertaining as it is important.
The Crows’ heroes last weekend were the dynamic big/small forward duo of Taylor Walker and Eddie Betts, who combined for a whopping ten goals. Rory Atkins was also terrific, while the other Rory – Sloane – is well and truly stepping up as the team’s premier player since the loss of Patrick Dangerfield.
Worth noting is that the Crows rank third in the competition for gathering contested possessions, an area St Kilda (15th) are struggling in. Adelaide also impressively boast the most potent attack in the game, averaging the most goals in the league but also importantly the second highest goalkicking accuracy. Against a St Kilda backline that has lost stalwart Sam Fisher through injury, expect another large score.
The Saints’ strength is the speed at which they move the ball, catching defences unawares and punishing them on the scoreboard. Jack Steven continues his incredible run of form, as does Nick Riewoldt who at 33 is still having enormous impact on every game he plays.
The forward line of St Kilda is also suddenly looking very potent, with the Josh Bruce-Paddy McCartin-Tim Membrey trio meshing beautifully. Inconsistency has been their problem, as it tends to be with so many young teams. The upside of that, however, is that the Saints have proven that on a good day, their best is as good as anyone’s.
As previously mentioned, Fisher’s absence is a big blow for the Saints. Hugh Goddard has been given a mighty big opportunity to prove himself against the best. Jack Billings will also return to the side.. Rory Laird is a very welcome return for the Adelaide Crows.
Prediction
A close game for three quarters before the home side pull away in the last.
Crows by 28.
Can the St Kilda Saints keep their finals hopes alive with an unlikely road win or will the Adelaide Crows continue their rise up the ladder? Join The Roar from 4:40pm AEST for all the scores and live blogging – and join in the discussion below!
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