The Crows will need to reverse a recent trend to beat the Sydney Swans this weekend. The Swans have won the past four meetings between the two teams, including three in South Australia.
Adelaide’s last victory against Sydney was a five-point thriller at the SCG in Round Six, 2012.
However, the Crows still hold the overall advantage having won 22 of the 36 games between the two teams since 1991.
A new crowd record for a game between Adelaide and Sydney could be set on Saturday night. The current highest attendance is 47,426 at Adelaide Oval in Round Three, 2014.
The Swans are one of three undefeated teams in Season 2016. Sydney has beaten Collingwood, Carlton and cross-town rivals Greater Western Sydney in the opening three rounds.
Scott Thompson is set to become the eighth player to play 250 games for the Crows this week.
Thompson, who also played 39 AFL games for Melbourne, will follow Andrew McLeod (340 games, 1995-2010), Tyson Edwards (321 games, 1995-2010), Mark Ricciuto (312 games, 1993-2007), Ben Hart (311 games (1992-2006), Nigel Smart (278 games, 1991-2004), Simon Goodwin (275 games, 1997-2010) and Mark Bickley (272 games, 1991-2003) in achieving the milestone.
Thompson is 12 games-shy of joining the illustrious group of players to reach 300 AFL games.
Thompson, Matt Crouch and Swan Josh Kennedy have all won 22 clearances this season – ranked equal-sixth in the League.
The Crows have won more clearances (128) than any other team after three rounds.
Swans midfielder Luke Parker is one of the form players of the competition. Parker ranks fourth in the AFL for total disposals (99) and third for contested possessions (49). He’s also averaging a goal a game.
Parker leads the AFL Coaches Association Champion Player of the Year award, having polled 29 of a possible 30 votes in the first three rounds.
The Swans have won 482 contested possessions – ranked second in the AFL. Adelaide is fifth overall with 445. Sydney has taken more contested marks (44) than any other team in the competition.
Adelaide is the highest-scoring team (369 points) after three rounds. The Swans are third having scored 357 points so far this season.
Sydney has conceded the second-fewest points (192) to its opponents, while Adelaide has given up 285 points – the eighth-best record in the League.
Lance Franklin has kicked 12 goals this season to be equal-second in the Coleman Medal race. Crow Josh Jenkins is equal-fifth with 11 goals.
Jenkins is second in the AFL for goal assists (six). Eddie Betts is equal-third in score assists.
Dan Hannebery had 40 possessions and kicked three goals to collect the three Brownlow Medal votes when these two teams last met at the SCG in 18 last season. Franklin and former Crow Kurt Tippett also kicked three goals each in Sydney’s convincing 52-point win. For Adelaide, Tom Lynch led the goalkicking with three.
The Swans have generated more inside 50m entries (21) than any other team this season.
Sydney is ranked No.1 in scores from stoppages, averaging 49.3 points per game.
Kieren Jack is equal-second in the League for inside 50ms (20), while teammate Tom Mitchell is fourth with 19. Mitchell is also third in the AFL for tackles (25).
Four players share the record for most Crows goals in a game against Sydney. Scott Hodges (Round Three) and Rod Jameson (Round 18) both bagged six back in 1991. Peter Vardy slotted 6.2 in Adelaide’s 1998 Semi-Final win over the Swans and Mark Stevens kicked six in Round Five, 1999.
Inaugural captain Chris McDermott holds the record for most possessions by a Crow against Sydney. McDermott racked up 40 disposals and a goal against the Swans in Round 14, 1993.
