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Sydney Swans vs Adelaide Crows: AFL live scores, blog

29th March, 2019
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Sydney Swans

62

Match Complete

Adelaide Crows

88

23
SYD62 : 88ADE

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29th March, 2019
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2647 Reads

Sydney Swans

62

Match Complete

Adelaide Crows

88

Fourth Quarter
Rushed23:07
L. Franklin22:04
Rushed20:29
19:53S. Jacobs
14:56D. Mackay
11:10R. Knight
Rushed9:27
L. Franklin7:34
2:37J. Jenkins
W. Hayward1:26
28:54E. Betts
27:05T. Lynch
25:23T. Walker
T. Papley21:36
18:07C. Jones
B. Ronke15:43
L. Franklin12:13
10:34R. Knight
7:51C. Jones
7:21Rushed
J. P. Kennedy6:52
1:07R. Atkins
L. Franklin29:01
L. Franklin25:08
21:53B. Crouch
W. Hayward19:04
L. Franklin16:45
15:34T. Lynch
13:02T. Walker
12:38Rushed
S. Reid11:27
9:39T. Walker
6:37R. Knight
4:16B. Smith
L. Parker3:26
J. P. Kennedy2:57
D. Rampe2:11
N. Blakey0:41
29:27P. Seedsman
28:38R. Atkins
26:47P. Seedsman
24:11J. Jenkins
T. Papley22:59
20:58E. Betts
17:52T. Walker
15:55D. Mackay
13:19C. Jones
9:17R. Sloane
B. Ronke4:53
I. Heeney3:21

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The Sydney Swans host the Adelaide Crows in an important Round 2 clash at the SCG on Friday night. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:50pm (AEDT).

Already this appears to be a season-defining clash, given the terrible record for teams making finals from a zero and two start.

Both clubs suffered upset losses in the opening round of the season, with the Swans producing a terrible performance against the Bulldogs, while Adelaide was simply outgunned in the coaching box by a genius.

The expected scores in Sydney’s game were ugly – they implied that the Swans should’ve lost heavily and were, in fact, lucky to get close in the final quarter.

Lance Franklin was heavily underdone, while Reid, Blakey and Hayward were okay at times but are hardly going to win games of football.

Isaac Heeney looms as Sydney’s most important player this season given his ability to play forward, but his presence in the midfield seems just as vital.

The Swans were beaten in the clearances 41-32, and as has been established through the season and in the first round of the year, this statistic appears to be more important than ever.

Kennedy and Parker appear to be lone rangers in the centre for Sydney, with a heavy reliance on Callum Sinclair’s follow-up work seemingly a key to their game plan.

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It is important for John Longmire to understand the necessity for strong inside midfielders to be unleashed as attacking-minded threats in the centre, as we saw from Adelaide in their loss.

The Crows were beaten by a team with a better coach, who was able to set up so well defensively to produce an easy victory from a poor clearance result – a likely outlier in the early stages of the season.

The Crouch brothers and Rory Sloane combined for 21 clearances and more importantly, were very much looking to get the ball moving forward when in contested situations.

While it didn’t end up in a positive overall result for the club, there was a still a sense of danger produced from Adelaide’s midfield.
Walker and Jenkins were awful, which accounted for the loss.

The key forwards combined for one point and were simply unable to get into the game thanks to Hawthorn’s defensive structure.

Adelaide wasn’t able to maximise the space 6-6-6 can provide, but given the strength through the midfield, it won’t take much tweaking for the forward line to work more efficiently.

Given both defences tend to be structured quite well, and featured some of the better one-on-one players in the competition, it’s easy to understand why this will be a battle of the midfield and forward line.

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Prediction
Sydney needs to back in George Hewett and Jordan Dawson into the midfield more often on Saturday night to prevent the potential dominance of Adelaide.

Both are big bodies that can help Kennedy and Parker in neutralising contests at the very least, and maximising Dawson’s long kicking would be a smart move.

It’s also hard to imagine Buddy Franklin having recovered much since last week, where he ended up being a liability for the Swans. Adelaide, despite having Doedee missing, will feast any slowness from Sydney’s key forwards.

The Crows have their own issues, but less rushed clearances and more damaging entries into the attacking 50 will be enough on the night.

It’s looking like one of these sides is on the up in 2019 despite a slow start, while the other is headed for disappointment. It’s time to start following the Crows.

Adelaide by 26 points.

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