Adelaide and Gold Coast have met on eight occasions. The Crows have won all eight matches, by an average margin of 73 points.
The Suns had a bright start to the season winning their opening three games, but have lost five straight games since as the club’s injury toll has mounted.
Gold Coast has used 35 players this season – second only to Collingwood (36). In contrast, Adelaide has used the equal-fewest number of players (27).
Saturday’s match will be Adelaide’s first in a state other than South Australia or Victoria this season. Prior to this week, the Crows have played four away games in Melbourne.
However, it will be Adelaide’s second trip to Metricon Stadium for the year having played Gold Coast in the final round of the NAB Challenge.
Crows captain Taylor Walker has averaged four goals in each of his five games against Gold Coast.
The Suns average the fewest contested possessions (131) per game of any team, and have the fifth-highest uncontested possession percentage (62.7).
Read AFL Media’s preview of Saturday afternoon’s clash at Metricon Stadium
Aaron Hall has starred for the Suns in a full-time midfield role this season. Hall is ranked fifth in the AFL for total disposals (247). The Gold Coast playmaker is second in the League for handball receives (124), fourth in uncontested possessions (175) and loose ball-gets (35), sixth for inside 50ms (41) and eighth in effective kicks (92).
Hall is third in the competition for metres gained (4,559) this season. Crow Brodie Smith is seventh overall with 4,292 metres gained.
Gold Coast forward Tom Lynch is second in the Coleman Medal race. Lynch has kicked 30 goals behind only Sydney Swans star Lance Franklin (34). Crow Josh Jenkins is equal-third with 25.
Gold Coast’s next-best goalkicker is emerging star Jack Martin with 10.
Lynch has been the target of 73 forward 50m entries – ranked behind only Lance Franklin (107), Charlie Dixon (94) and Tom Hawkins (79) in the AFL this season. Lynch is also second in the competition in contested marks (22).
Lynch’s possible opponent this week, Daniel Talia, is ranked second in the League for spoils.
Midfielder Scott Thompson holds the record for most possessions by a Crow against Gold Coast. Thompson amassed 51 touches at Metricon Stadium in Round 22, 2011. Thompson averages 31.8 possessions against the Suns – his highest average against any team.
Sun Dion Prestia has averaged 33 possessions in his past three games against the Crows.
Gold Coast averages 13.2 bounces per game compared to Adelaide’s 5.6. Only the Greater Western Sydney Giants average more bounces (15.1) in Season 2016.
The Crows average the fewest disposals inside attacking 50m per goal of any team (3.0). The Suns are also efficient going forward, averaging 3.3 disposals inside 50m per goal – ranked fourth.
Adelaide has a 100 per cent winning record at Carrara (Metricon Stadium) from eight matches dating back to 1992.
