SUMMARY
A Grand Final spot awaits the winner of Sunday’s massive Preliminary Final between Adelaide and Sturt. The SANFL Crows have stormed into potential premiership calculations off the back of 72 and 54-point wins over Central District and South Adelaide in the Club’s first two SANFL finals. Adelaide managed to overcome a slow start in last week’s clash with the Panthers, but will not want a repeat against the dangerous Double Blues this Sunday. Sturt battled bravely against minor premiers Woodville-West Torrens last weekend and should take some positives out of their performance against the SANFL’s benchmark outfit. Led by now two-time Magarey Medallist Zane Kirkwood, Sturt has arguably the best midfield mix in the competition and will look to assert its dominance around the stoppages against some of Adelaide’s young and inexperienced onballers.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Adelaide: 3
Sturt: 3
WHERE AND WHEN: Adelaide Oval, Sunday, September 18, 2.10pm ACST
LAST FIVE TIMES
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
R17, 2014, Sturt 13.9 (87) d Adelaide 12.9 (81) at Natural Gas Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. Adelaide came-from-behind to win by 10 points in a sizzling contest with Sturt in the last meeting between the two teams in Round 15. Keenan Ramsey and Harry Dear both kicked three goals, while Cam Ellis-Yolmen earned two Magarey Medal votes after amassing 29 possessions and 10 clearances.
2. Adelaide will miss the grunt of Ellis-Yolmen in the midfield, who has been ruled out of Sunday’s match with a hamstring injury. Sturt boasts a wealth of strong, inside midfielders who could cause Adelaide some headaches, including Dual Magarey Medallist Zane Kirkwood and former Crows Aidan Riley and James Battersby.
3. Another ex-Crow Brodie Martin is expected to overcome back soreness to play in Sunday’s Preliminary Final. The skilful Double Blue was almost a late withdrawal from last week’s loss to Woodville-West Torrens, but still managed to contribute with 17 disposals and a goal.
4. Crows Jonathon Beech and Harry Dear are the SANFL’s top two goalkickers in this year’s finals series. Beech booted a career-best seven goals in last week’s Semi-Final win over South Adelaide to lift his tally to eight overall, while Dear has seven majors from Adelaide’s two finals outings.
5. Adelaide recorded its biggest SANFL victory ever against the Double Blues in Round 18, 2015. The SANFL Crows downed Sturt by 107 points courtesy of nine goals to James Podsiadly.
6. Sturt’s Kory Beard has been one of the SANFL’s most effective forwards this year. He ranks No.1 in the League for contested marks (48) and marks on a lead (37), and is second for total marks (139). Beard has also kicked 50 goals, behind only Ken Farmer Medallist Brett Eddy (74).
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR… Harrison Wigg
The teen Crow has been a revelation for Adelaide this season, transforming himself from a rebounding defender to reliable inside midfielder. But Wigg, along with fellow inexperienced onballers Dean Gore and Hugh Greenwood, will need to bring their absolute best to match Sturt’s hardened midfield in the absence of Cam Ellis-Yolmen. Wigg has enjoyed a standout season and was crucial in Adelaide’s victory over Sturt in Round 15, kicking two goals from 24 possessions including a clutch major late in the contest. The SANFL Crows will need another huge performance from Wigg and co. to claim victory on Sunday afternoon.
