SUMMARY
It must have felt like a long pre-season for the Crows, who surrendered meekly to Richmond on Grand Final day last year and have had nearly six months to think about it before opening their season against the Bombers. Adelaide will have some new faces in their line-up but will be hoping to again be one of the most dominant sides in the League, having been the best side for the majority of last season. Plenty of eyes will also be on Essendon who, after an embarrassing elimination final loss to Sydney, went to the trade period and came out with Jake Stringer, Devon Smith and Adam Saad. All three will be expecting to make an impact from the start, with high hopes for the Bombers in 2018 to break their 13-year drought since a finals win.
WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Friday, March 23, 7.50pm AEDT
LAST FIVE TIMES
R21, 2017, Adelaide 18.15 (123) d Essendon 12.8 (80) at Etihad Stadium
R4, 2017, Adelaide 24.9 (153) d Essendon 13.10 (88) at Adelaide Oval
R19, 2016, Adelaide 22.11 (143) d Essendon 9.7 (61) at Adelaide Oval
R20, 2015, Adelaide 27.9 (171) d Essendon 8.11 (59) at Etihad Stadium
R14, 2014, Essendon 15.11 (101) d Adelaide 14.8 (92) at Etihad Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. Will we see more of the same high scoring from these sides in 2018? Last year the Crows were the highest scoring side in the competition, averaging 107 points a game. Essendon wasn't far behind with an average of 95 points.
2. Adelaide starts its season away from home. Last year, the Crows won six of 11 matches interstate, with one draw. They won three of six games in Victoria.
3. Essendon will be hoping to turn around a shocking recent record against Adelaide. The Bombers have lost their past four games to the Crows by an average margin of 76 points.
4. The Crows were the No.1 team in the competition last year for marks inside 50, averaging 15 a game. Taylor Walker led the way with 61 for the season and Eddie Betts had 49.
5. Essendon won five of nine games at Etihad Stadium last year but the home ground advantage hasn't been of much use against the Crows, who have won four of their past five games against the Bombers at Docklands.
6. Zach Merrett is Essendon's highest ranked player in the Schick AFL Player Ratings at No.20. Brendon Goddard, Joe Daniher and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti are the other Bombers in the top-100.
Bryce Gibbs is set to make his Crows debut on Friday night
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …
Bryce Gibbs tried and failed to get to Adelaide in the 2016 trade period, but finally a deal was reached at the end of last season that saw the star Blue become a Crow. Friday night will be his first major outing in Adelaide colours and he looms as a huge recruit.
PREDICTION: Adelaide by 16 points.
