Roar Guru
A rampant Adelaide Crows produced a massive win over premiership favourites GWS Giants by 56 points at Adelaide Oval.
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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.