Balfours Showdown XXXVII
The Crows and Power have met 36 times. Port holds the overall advantage 20-16.
Crows games record holder Andrew McLeod has played in more Balfours Showdowns (27) than any player.
Port forward Jay Schulz leads the Coleman Medal race this season with 43 goals. Schulz is equal-first in the competition for contested marks (29), six clear of Adelaide forward James Podsiadly (23).
The biggest-ever crowd for a Balfours Showdown is 51,140 at AAMI Stadium in Round Five, 2003
Crows forward Taylor Walker has kicked 15 goals in his past four games against Port Adelaide. Walker didn’t play in the last two Showdowns because of injury.
Since his AFL return in Round Nine, Walker ranks No.1 in the competition for contested marks (13).
Adelaide champion Mark Ricciuto and former Port star Josh Francou share the record for most Showdown Medals (three). Ricciuto polled 11 Brownlow votes in 18 games against Port Adelaide.
Ricciuto holds the record for most possessions (41) in a Showdown in Round Seven, 2000.
The Power like to move the ball with speed. They play on from a mark more than any other team in the competition (37.2 per cent of the time). Port Adelaide ranks No.2 for long kicks to advantage and running bounces. The Crows are third in running bounces.
Crow Scott Thompson is ranked fifth in the AFL for total disposals (185) in the past six rounds. Only Gary Ablett, Scott Pendlebury, Dustin Martin and Dion Prestia have accumulated more touches in this period. Thompson is also second in clearances (46) behind Ablett in this time.
Port Adelaide is a high-scoring team – ranked No.2 in the League for goals. Port averages more inside 50ms (57.8) and takes more marks inside attacking 50m (15) than any other side. The Power are also tough to score against, conceding an average of only 74.8 points per game – ranked third behind Fremantle and Sydney.
Of the 36 Showdowns, 14 have been decided by two goals or less.
Port midfielder Kane Cornes leads the League in uncontested possessions (270) and handball receives (184) this season.
Clever forwards Eddie Betts and Robbie Gray are barometers for their respective sides. Betts and Gray are equal-ninth for scoreboard impact according to Champion Data rankings. These rankings incorporate scores and also score assists. Gray leads the League in goal assists (18), while Betts is equal-third (16). The pair is particularly dangerous around stoppages. Gray is No.1 for forward 50m clearances and Betts is 10th.
Coincidentally, in Adelaide (1997, 1998) and Port Adelaide’s (2004) premiership years a player has kicked seven goals in a Showdown during that year. Tony Modra slotted 7.2 against in Round Four, 1997, while Peter Vardy booted 7.5 in Round 19, 1998 as the Crows went on to win the flag. For the Power, Warren Tredrea kicked 7.2 against the Crows in Round Seven, 2004, on the way to the Club's first flag.
