The Adelaide Crows welcome the Western Bulldogs to the Adelaide Oval, with the home side looking to bounce back after last week’s Showdown loss. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 7:50pm (AEST).
It would have been a tough week for the Crows, Mitch McGovern having seemingly won them the Showdown with his converted set shot, only for Steven Motlop to go up the other end and snatch the win for the Power in the dying seconds.
It was four points that definitely got away from them, especially when you consider they had the lead before Robbie Gray put in one of those special performances you see once in a lifetime.
But Don Pyke’s group have overcome adversity already this season, arguably in more difficult circumstances, so one should expect them to be back to their best this weekend.
They do have some injury concerns, but they seem to find ways to cover the absence of certain individuals, so it shouldn’t have too big of an impact, especially being at home.
In team news for the Crows, Sam Gibson will make his Adelaide debut after coming across from the North Melbourne Kangaroos. Darcy Fogarty, Lachlan Murphy and Kyle Hartigan also come into the side.
Luke Brown (adductor), Matt Crouch (hamstring), Taylor Walker (glute) and McGovern (ankle) are all out.
As for the Western Bulldogs, it was a hard fought-win against the Brisbane Lions last week. There was nothing pretty about it, but they got the job done.
The senior players are starting to get some continuity, leading from the front – as you would expect. Jack Macrae led the way with an incredible 47 disposals against the Lions, and Marcus Bontempelli proved clinical, kicking four goals.
In team news, Dogs captain Easton Wood, Jackson Trengove and Jordan Roughead all return, while Aaron Naughton (ankle), while Mitch Honeychurch and Lewis Young have been omitted.
Prediction
This is a different Bulldogs side to the one that won the flag back in 2016, and it’s also so young. They’ll learn from this game, but won’t get any premiership points from it.
The Crows by 33.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 7:50pm (AEST).
Cat
Roar Guru
Daughters of the West could kick a bigger score.
XI
Roar Guru
I mean, this requires a tinfoil hat to be truly appreciated
mds1970
Roar Guru
For those of you who like numerology: At three quarter time, the Western Bulldogs were 1.10.16. The date of their last Grand Final win was also 1.10.16.
Michael Pallaris
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the call, Lachlan! It was quite a scrappy game to watch! I thought that the Bulldogs played better than the scoreboard suggests. However, they really have to improve their goal-kicking accuracy. Crows did well, considering their injury woes.
JB
Guest
spoken like a true Victorian
Kane
Guest
2 goals in a game of footy, what a sad and tragic football club this is.
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Cheers for joining me tonight everyone, I hope you enjoyed the call!
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Thoughts on that Roarers?
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Full Time Eddie Betts the difference in the end kicking four goals in the wet. The Western Bulldogs were good in patches, but just weren't clinical enough going forward. Adelaide Crows: 9.9 (63) Western Bulldogs: 2.14 (26)
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Behind 01.20 - Minor for the Crows. Adelaide Crows: 9.9 (63) Western Bulldogs: 2.14 (26)
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Behind 04.11 - Minor for the Dogs, again. Been a few of those. Adelaide Crows: 9.8 (62) Western Bulldogs: 2.14 (26)
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Behind 04.42 - Minor for the Dogs, again. Adelaide Crows: 9.8 (62) Western Bulldogs: 2.13 (25)
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Behind 05.45 - Minor for the Dogs. Adelaide Crows: 9.8 (62) Western Bulldogs: 2.12 (24)
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Goal 06.19 - Betts marks and should kick his fourth. He goes back and converts! Adelaide Crows: 9.8 (62) Western Bulldogs: 2.11 (23)
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Goal 07.30 - Betts wins the free and will line up for goal. You'd back him going by his form tonight, and he's done it again. He has three goals. Adelaide Crows: 8.8 (56) Western Bulldogs: 2.11 (23)
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Behind 11.47 - Minor for the Crows. Adelaide Crows: 7.8 (50) Western Bulldogs: 2.11 (23)
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Behind 12.16 - Gallucci marks inside 50. He goes back on the set shot and misses. Adelaide Crows: 7.7 (49) Western Bulldogs: 2.11 (23)
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Behind 13.45 - Minor for the Dogs. Adelaide Crows: 7.6 (48) Western Bulldogs: 2.11 (23)
KenoathCarnt
Guest
Are Bulldogs missing their kicking coach surely he could call in and tell them to aim for the middle posts.
Lachlan Ballingall
Roar Guru
Goal 15.45 - Suckling pulls one back and gets the Dogs their second goal. Adelaide Crows: 7.6 (48) Western Bulldogs: 2.10 (22)