Crows midfielder Matthew Wright expects a brutal encounter against the Sydney Swans on Saturday as both clubs battle for their first win of 2014.
The Crows go into the game following disappointing losses to Geelong and Port Adelaide in the opening two rounds of the season.
The Swans have also been below-par so far this season, suffering a shock loss to GWS in Round One and a 20-point defeat at the hands of Collingwood last week. Wright said the Crows were expecting the 2013 preliminary finalists to respond in a physical fashion this weekend.
“Both sides are desperate for a win, they haven’t had the start that they are after,” Wright said on FIVEaa on Tuesday.
“Their contested ball … has been the benchmark for a number of years. Everyone knows the type of brand that Sydney is going to play on game day, so we’ve got to be prepared for that and embrace it.”
The Swans haven’t lost the first two games of the season since 2006, but Wright said their early-season form wasn’t an accurate reflection of their ability.
“They’ve got a fantastic squad,” Wright said.
“I don’t think it changes too much to be honest, whether they’ve won 10 on the trot or lost a couple in a row, everyone knows the type of brand that Sydney plays.
“We definitely respect what they’re capable of.”
Despite the attention surrounding Saturday’s historic match, Wright said the best way for Adelaide to gain ascendency was by focusing on itself.
“We’ve got to play our brand of footy,” Wright said.
“We’ve got evidence that if we do that, then we can get a good result and play some good exciting footy and get the four points.”
One highlight to come from last weekend’s Showdown for the Crows was the unveiling of the Club’s new home at Adelaide Oval.
Adelaide will host its first official home game at the venue this Saturday, and Wright said the players were itching to make the redeveloped stadium their own.
“It’s a fantastic ground to play on,” Wright said.
“It’s a picturesque sort of stadium and no doubt one of the world’s best.”
“We are looking forward to playing there in front of a sell-out crowd against a great opposition and getting the job done.”
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