SUMMARY
Adelaide kicks off its 2017 SANFL campaign against the reigning premiers in a testing start to the season. The Double Blues ended the SANFL Crows’ finals run last year in the Preliminary Final at Adelaide Oval and are likely to be one of the hot contenders again this season. Sturt boasts a hardened midfield led by two-time Magarey Medallist Zane Kirkwood and former Crow Aidan Riley. The return of Brad Crouch will help Adelaide match the Double Blues on the inside and in-form duo Harrison Wigg and Hugh Greenwood will also be important if they play at SANFL level on Sunday. It’ll be the first official League match for several young Crows as well as Ryan O’Keefe’s debut as the Club’s SANFL coach.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Adelaide: 3
Sturt: 4
WHERE AND WHEN: Peter Motley Oval, Sunday, April 9, 2.10pm ACST
LAST FIVE TIMES
PF, 2016, Sturt 15.13 (103) d Adelaide 10.8 (68) d at Adelaide Oval
R15, 2016, Adelaide 13.9 (87) d Sturt 11.9 (75) at Thebarton Oval
R10, 2016, Sturt 10.10 (70) d Adelaide 9.6 (60) at Peter Motley Oval
R18, 2015, Sturt 7.7 (49) d by Adelaide 24.12 (156) at Peter Motley Oval
R9, 2015, Sturt 14.7 (91) d by Adelaide 22.8 (140) at Peter Motley Oval
THE SIX POINTS
1. The SANFL Crows lost by 35 points to Sturt the last time the two teams met in the Preliminary Final at Adelaide Oval. Hugh Greenwood and Wayne Milera Junior booted three goals apiece while Josh Hone and Ben Hansen kicked four goals each for the winners.
2. Hansen has enjoyed strong recent form against the Crows, booting 10 goals from his last three games against Adelaide.
3. A handful of Crows could play their first official game for the Club on Sunday including Jordan Gallucci, Myles Poholke, Elliott Himmelberg, Matthew Signorello and rookie Ben Jarman.
4. Several players from Adelaide’s SANFL development list will also be required with numerous new names in the mix to play SANFL League football for the first time.
5. State League Club Champion Jonathon Beech continues to push his case for an AFL debut after a stellar 2016 SANFL season. The hard-working utility kicked two goals and had seven marks among his 16 possessions in last Friday’s trial against Norwood and looks set for another big season.
6. Adelaide biggest SANFL victory ever was against Sturt in Round 18, 2015. The SANFL Crows defeated the Double Blues by 107 points on the back of a nine-goal haul to James Podsiadly.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR… Hugh Greenwood
Greenwood is likely to lead Adelaide out as the Club’s sole SANFL skipper on Sunday with co-captain Alex Keath on the sidelines with a hamstring injury. The 25-year-old improved dramatically throughout the year last season and finished as one of the team’s most influential players during its maiden finals series. Greenwood relishes the physical contest and loves to hit the scoreboard, and the Crows will need him to fire from the first bounce on Sunday if Adelaide is to come away with a victory.
