The talking points ahead of the Preliminary Final between Adelaide and Geelong.
Mix and match-ups
Adelaide and Geelong played only eight weeks ago, but the magnets on both team boards could be in different positions on Friday night. Cats utility Harry Taylor blanketed Sydney Swans star Lance Franklin last week, but kicked five goals against the Crows in Round 18 and the return of defender Tom Lonergan from illness could allow Taylor to start forward again in the Preliminary Final.
Adelaide’s own swingman Andy Otten could play at the opposite end to where he lined up in the last meeting with Geelong. In the absence of injured pair Kyle Hartigan and Jake Lever, Otten started in defence in Round 18 but shapes as a replacement for Mitch McGovern (hamstring) in attack this time around.
The availability of Hartigan and Lever also gives Crows coach Don Pyke added versatility against a Cats forward line which may or may not include Brownlow Medallist Patrick Dangerfield. The reliable Jake Kelly got the job on Dangerfield when he was inside attacking 50m at Adelaide Oval in August. Paul Seedsman for Brodie Smith (knee) is the other change to the Crows team that took the field in Round 18.
Delve into AFL Media’s stat files to see the impact of Smith’s injury on Adelaide
A game of tag
Geelong has adopted two different approaches to Crows vice-captain Rory Sloane this season. Scott Selwood applied a hard tag to the All-Australian midfielder at Simonds Stadium in Round 11, but started on the bench when the teams met two months ago.
Mark Blicavs ended up running with Sloane until the versatile Cat injured his ankle in the third quarter. Blicavs held Swans skipper Josh Kennedy to 20 disposals, while collecting 19 of his own in last week’s Semi-Final. He also applied 14 tackles – the fourth-most tackles by any player in a final. Sloane is the obvious tagging target, but Chris Scott could also spring a surprise and put some time into one of the Crouch brothers instead.
The older Selwood sibling, Joel, was shadowed by young Crow Riley Knight in Round 18. Knight played with genuine aggression to keep the Geelong captain to 26 touches, and could get the job again on Friday night.
Tackling the issue
There is always plenty of heat in a final, but Friday night’s game between the top-two tackling teams in the competition promises to be extra fierce. The Cats average 75.7 tackles per game, while the Crows apply 72.2 tackles on average. Geelong (1.857) and Adelaide (1.853) also lead the League in pressure factor, and boast some of the best pressure players in the game.
The top tackler in the League, Sloane’s turnovers have led to more scores (120 points) than any other player in the League. Sloane has forced 83 turnovers this season (fourth) while in-form teammate Richard Douglas is equal-fifth in the competition with 82.
Cat Scott Selwood averages more pressure points (68.5) per game than any other player. Sloane ranks fifth (62.5) while promising Crow Hugh Greenwood is seventh overall (61.5).
The Crows cauldron
Every ticket for Friday night’s Preliminary Final has been sold, with a crowd of more than 53,000 forecast for Adelaide Oval. The biggest turnout for a game between the Crows and Cats was 53,141 at Adelaide Oval in Round Eight last season, while the attendance record for an AFL game at the venue is 53,698 at the Round Three Showdown this year.
The Crows have won 26 of their last 31 games at Adelaide Oval, including their only two finals at the venue. Geelong also has a good record at the iconic ground, having secured victory in four of its last five visits. It's the first time the Cats have played a final interstate since the 2005 Semi-Final loss to Sydney at the SCG.
The Crows faithful have been waiting 19 years to see their team in a Grand Final, and will be in full voice to try and cheer the home side over the line on Friday night. In a minor milestone, the man of the people Eddie Betts will become the first Crow to play 50 games at Adelaide Oval.
September experience
Geelong boasts the most experience of the four Preliminary Finalists. The selected Cats 22 has played an average of 124 games. The Giants are second with an average of 112 games played ahead of Adelaide (107) and Richmond (102).
The Cats also have more finals experience than the Crows. Geelong’s selected side has played a total of 199 finals compared to Adelaide’s 118. Joel Selwood (25), Andrew Mackie (25) and Harry Taylor (22) have contributed 72 of Geelong’s 199 finals.
Coaches Pyke and Scott are also experienced September campaigners. Scott played in 16 finals, including two premierships with the Brisbane Lions (2001, 2002). Pyke, who played in 14 finals, is also a dual-premiership player with West Coast (1992 and 1994). As a coach, Scott has a 6-7 record in finals while Pyke is 2-1. Scott led the Cats to a premiership in 2011.
