SUMMARY
It’ll be a finals dress rehearsal at Noarlunga on Saturday when second-placed South Adelaide hosts the fourth-placed SANFL Crows at Hickinbotham Oval. The Crows and Panthers, along with ladder leaders Woodville-West Torrens, are the form sides in the competition at the moment. South Adelaide claimed four wins in a row before breaking for a bye last weekend, while Adelaide’s record victory over West Adelaide was its third on the trot. Top spot is still mathematically within reach for the Panthers but it’s unlikely they’ll be able to dethrone the Eagles, who boast the best percentage in the competition by some margin. Adelaide will finish the season in fourth place no matter the result on Saturday afternoon. Both sides will be desperate to carry winning momentum into the major round, so expect this match to be played at a finals-like intensity.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Adelaide: 3
South Adelaide: 2
WHERE AND WHEN: Hickinbotham Oval, Saturday, August 27, 2.10pm ACST
LAST FIVE TIMES
R6, 2016, South Adelaide 14.7 (91) d Adelaide 13.12 (90) at Hickinbotham Oval
R17, 2015, South Adelaide 9.9 (63) d by Adelaide 10.17 (77) at Hickinbotham Oval
R5, 2015, South Adelaide 13.12 (90) d Adelaide 11.10 (76) at Hickinbotham Oval
R13, 2014, South Adelaide 7.9 (51) d by Adelaide 14.12 (96) at Hickinbotham Oval
R8, 2014, South Adelaide 13.11 (89) d by Adelaide 17.8 (110) at Hickinbotham Oval
THE SIX POINTS
1. South Adelaide stunned the SANFL Crows in the last meeting between the two teams in Round Six. The Panthers handed Adelaide its first loss of the season, winning by one point with the final kick of the day after trailing by as much as 41 points midway through the third term.
2. Adelaide and South Adelaide are ranked second and third respectively in points scored this season. Port Adelaide currently leads the statistic, but the Magpies have played one extra game and have a bye this weekend.
3. The Panthers are the most efficient scoring side in the SANFL. South Adelaide is No.1 for inside 50ms per goal, disposals per goal and overall scoring accuracy.
4. South Adelaide spearhead Brett Eddy is poised to claim his first Ken Farmer Medal as the SANFL’s leading goalkicker this season. Eddy has kicked 63.29 to be the runaway winner ahead of Sturt pair Mark Evans (45) and Kory Beard (44).
5. Regardless of Saturday’s result at Noarlunga, the SANFL Crows will play either Central District or Port Adelaide in their first SANFL final. The Bulldogs can consolidate fifth spot with a win over West Adelaide this weekend, but could drop out of the top five if the Bloods cause an upset and cost Centrals some percentage.
6. Adelaide’s score of 27.17 (179) in last weekend’s win over West Adelaide was the Club’s biggest SANFL score ever. It was also the largest score recorded by a SANFL club since, ironically, the Bloods kicked 30.9 (189) against Glenelg in Round Seven last year.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR… Jake Kelly
Both teams know how to kick a big total, but this week’s result could come down to a battle of the backlines. Young Crow Jake Kelly was Adelaide’s best defender in last week’s win over West Adelaide in Berri, which could see him handed the job on prolific Panthers goalkicker Brett Eddy. Kelly has the speed and reach to match Eddy on the ground and in the air, and it’s no secret the 21-year-old hates being beaten one-on-one. With fellow defenders Alex Keath (back) and Sam Shaw (concussion) on the sidelines, Adelaide’s SANFL backline as a whole will need to be at its best at Noarlunga on Saturday afternoon.
