Adelaide and Essendon have met 33 times. The Bombers hold the overall advantage, 18-15, and have won three of the last four outings between the two teams.

The Crows haven’t beaten Essendon at Etihad Stadium since Round 11, 2009. The most recent clash at the venue was in Round 14 last year when the Bombers prevailed by nine points.

In that match, Crow Scott Thompson collected 41 possessions, 10 clearances and laid seven tackles to receive three Brownlow Medal votes.

Thompson equalled Adelaide champion Tyson Edwards’ Club record against Essendon. Edwards amassed 41 touches, 10 tackles and nine clearances against the Bombers at Etihad Stadium in Round 11, 2009. The match was the reliable onballer’s 300^th AFL game.

Of the past four games between these two sides, three have been decided by fewer than two goals.

Essendon will be out to snap a four-game losing streak this weekend, while Adelaide will be chasing its fourth win from five starts.

The Crows have enjoyed success in recent Round 20 matches. Adelaide has won its past eight fixtures in the round, with the Club’s last Round 20 loss coming at the hands of the Western Bulldogs at the MCG in 2006.

The Bombers are a high-possession team, ranked fourth in total disposals (375 average). They also have the fourth-highest percentage of effective disposals at 73.9 per cent.

Essendon tries to maintain control of the play through kick-mark chains. The Bombers rank second in the AFL for marks behind only Hawthorn, and play on from the mark more than any team, with the exception of Port Adelaide.

Essendon ranks third in the League for uncontested possessions, averaging 239.3 per game, but are 13^th for contested possessions (134.3 average).

Saturday’s match will pit the best clearance team in the competition against the worst. Adelaide averages 42.6 clearances per game to be ranked No.1, while Essendon is 18^th with an average of 35.1.

Essendon moves the ball through the centre corridor the fourth-most of any team in the League, and uses the boundary line the third-least.

The Bombers have scored from 42 per cent of their forward 50m entries – ranked 18^th.

Essendon has been hit hard by injury this season, having used 39 players – only Gold Coast and Carlton have called upon more players. The Crows have only used 32 players – the third fewest behind Sydney and Fremantle (31 each).

Crow Eddie Betts, who has kicked 44 goals in 17 games, has climbed to equal-fourth in the Coleman Medal race one behind Sydney Swans star Lance Franklin (45). Taylor Walker is ninth (41 goals).

Impressive young forward Joe Daniher leads Essendon’s goalkicking with 34.

Walker has kicked nine goals in his past three games against the Dons.

Bombers swingman Cale Hooker is seventh in the competition for marks on average (7.5), while defender Michael Hurley (7.3) is 10^th. Walker is the highest-ranked Crow, averaging 7.1 marks per match.

Hurley, who hasn’t played for a fortnight because of injury, averages more rebound 50ms (5.5) than any player in the competition with the exception of GWS defender Heath Shaw.

Prolific ball-winner Brent Stanton averages 18.9 uncontested possessions per game – ranked sixth in the League and also tops Essendon in handball receives (204) and inside 50ms (68).

Brendon Goddard leads the Bombers in total disposals (475). Goddard starred in his team’s win over Adelaide last season, amassing 32 possessions, seven inside 50ms, four clearances and a goal.

Tony Modra and Trent Hentschel share the record for most goals by a Crow against Essendon. Modra kicked eight against the Bombers at Princes Park in Round 19, 1996, while Hentschel achieved the same feat at AAMI Stadium in Round 10, 2006.

Ben Howlett is averaging 6.2 tackles per game – ranked 11^th in the AFL, while ruckman Jon Giles has averaged eight clearances in his two AFL appearances this season.