A rampant Adelaide Crows produced a massive win over premiership favourites GWS Giants by 56 points at Adelaide Oval.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Adelaide Crows 22.15.147
GWS Giants 14.7.91
This year’s premiership favourite the GWS Giants will travel to South Australia in the first round where they take on an injury-depleted side in the Adelaide Crows at Adelaide Oval. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 3:20pm AEDT Sunday afternoon.
Both clubs have a rout of injuries to start their opening fixture for the season as Crows captain Taylor Walker is named but under a hamstring cloud as well as vice-captain Rory Sloane (fractured eye socket) touch and go up until the bounce.
Important midfielders Brad Crouch (hamstring), Scott Thompson (shoulder), and Paul Seedsman (groin) are also missing.
The Giants will miss midfielders Stephen Coniglio (ankle), Lachie Whitfield (suspension), and new-recruit Brett Deledio (calf) for the match.
The Crows will want to make amends for a semi-final loss and get the jump on the premiership favourites.
Their form in the preseason has been moderate with a loss to Richmond, a close win over the Cats and a convincing win a fortnight ago against North Melbourne.
Curtly Hampton will debut for the Crows against his former club alongside Troy Menzel (ex-Carlton) who returned home to South Australia.
Sam Jacobs will line up for his 150th match while Charlie Cameron will play his 50th.
A lot of pressure is on GWS Giants to perform this year after reaching the preliminary final in 2016 and narrowly missing out on the big dance to the eventual premiers.
Building on their maiden finals run, the Giants brought in star recruit Brett Deledio (unavailable), but will see the debut of exciting No.2 draftee Tim Taranto and recycled Fremantle Docker Tendai Mzungu.
Head to head, they’ve met on seven occasions with Adelaide taking the spoils 6-1. The last time they met was in round 10 2016 when the Crows were victorious by 22 points.
Prediction
The Giants have too much class across the board and will be bathing Taranto and Mzungu in Gatorade after the match.
GWS Giants by 15 points.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 3:20pm AEDT.
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
I don’t know how the Crows keep doing it given the lack of stars in their midfield. Don Pyke might just be the best coach in the league. You have to start asking questions about Leon Cameron given what he has at his disposal. That was a disturbing loss.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Lovely blog, Damien! Definitely a surprising result to the game. Just one game to go, I sure hope Freo can ride the wave of underdogs to get a victory!
JB
Guest
So the team with a midfield too weak to even make the eight this year beats the premiership favourites - the experts are doing great so far this season.
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
» Click here to read the full match report</strong
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Crows Women win, Port win, Crows win, Adelaide United win....anyone else playing this weekend? There's going to be some cheer to spare down at various Adelaide pubs this weekend.
TomC
Roar Guru
What a brilliant performance by Adelaide. Superb.
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Adelaide Crows 22.15.147 GWS Giants 14.7.91 Betts kicks one on the siren and the Crows win by 56! Massive.
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Betts gives a don't argue to hit up Menzel to go back to Betts for a shot 30 metres out on a slight angle. Charlie Cameron looks winded.
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
The Crows will surge to the top of the ladder with this big win, pending the last match in Perth this evening.
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Adelaide Crows 21.15.141 GWS Giants 14.7.91 Riley Knight kicks another! A great inclusion today as he kicks his second alongside 18 disposals.
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
5 minutes left as the junktime ticks over. Percentage will be a key factor for both teams here.
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Adelaide Crows 20.15.135 GWS Giants 14.7.91 Charlie Cameron crawls to get a handball away to Betts who runs in and passes to Jenkins straight in front of goal. Jenkins puts it away. The Crows have been unstoppable today.
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
McGovern goes down to the change rooms. Don't expect him back out there with this game wrapped up.
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Adelaide Crows 19.15.129 GWS Giants 14.7.91 Eddie Betts doesn't worry. He's kicked truly from 45 metres out for another goal.
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Now Dylan Shiel is hobbling off the ground. Rory Lobb doesn't look great either. Injuries everywhere.
TomC
Roar Guru
Leigh Matthews said it best earlier: being young and talented doesn't mean you automatically get better at a steady rate. The Giants have a long way to go yet.
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
The play is underway again in the centre of the square but there's a Crows player down.
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Adelaide Crows 18.15.123 GWS Giants 14.7.91 It doesn't matter though. Milera gets it back at the other end.
TomC
Roar Guru
Good stuff that umpire. Very calm under pressure.
Damien Peck
Roar Guru
Adelaide Crows 17.15.117 GWS Giants 14.7.91 Patton kicks from the goalsquare and that's the end of that.