SUMMARY
The Crows will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of their maiden premiership, but the Saints are intent on rewriting history to stay in touch with the top eight. The 11th-placed Saints (5-5) are rested after the bye, which came at the perfect time after a disappointing 40-point loss to the Western Bulldogs in round 10. The Saints have a terrible recent record against the Crows, having lost eight of their past nine games. However, the Crows have shown they are vulnerable when they are put under pressure. Geelong, Melbourne and North Melbourne have laid out the blueprint of how to bring down the second-placed Crows (8-3), who have lost three of their past five games. The Saints have struggled for consistency this season, but are capable of mixing it with the best in the competition, having knocked off premiership favourite Greater Western Sydney.
WHERE AND WHEN: Adelaide Oval, Friday, June 9, 7.20pm ACST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for the AFL's broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R11, 2016, Adelaide 19.19 (133) d St Kilda 6.9 (45) at Adelaide Oval
R7, 2015, Adelaide 18.11 (119) d St Kilda 10.13 (73) at Adelaide Oval
R23, 2014, Adelaide 22.9 (141) d St Kilda 9.8 (62) at Adelaide Oval
R4, 2014, Adelaide 20.16 (136) d St Kilda 7.8 (50) at Etihad Stadium
R8, 2013, Adelaide 12.15 (87) d St Kilda 6.11 (47) at AAMI Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. When these teams last played, the Crows were at their attacking best in the first three quarters, kicking 16 goals to five before cruising home. Josh Jenkins kicked seven goals and Rory Sloane starred with 32 disposals, one goal and eight tackles.
2. Despite their loss to Geelong, the Crows remain the highest scoring team this season, averaging 118 points per game. The Saints are mid-table, averaging 89 points.
3. Adelaide has dominated St Kilda recently winning the past six matches, including three of the past four by more than 70 points. The Saints last defeated the Crows in Round 18, 2011 by 103 points.
4. The Crows are the No.1 contested possession team this year, averaging 159.3 per game. Rory Sloane is the leader in that department, with his 14.6 contested possessions per game ranking him seventh in the competition.
5. Not in St Kilda's favour is their record at Adelaide Oval. The Saints have lost all six of their games at the venue against the Crows and Port Adelaide, with four defeats by more than 60 points. The Saints have played the Crows at Adelaide Oval three times for losses by 79, 46 and 88 points.
6. Crows midfielder Matt Crouch has risen to 81st in the Schick AFL Player Ratings. The 22-year-old is second in average possessions this season with 32.2 per game.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR… Eddie Betts
The mercurial small forward was restricted to just one goal with Zach Tuohy limiting his influence against Geelong last week. Betts will be keen to be more involved, having booted 12 goals in his past three games against the Saints.
AFL MEDIA PREDICTION: Adelaide by five points
