SUMMARY
The stakes couldn’t be much higher for Sunday’s SANFL Showdown VI at Alberton Oval. The Crows haven’t lost three games in a row all season and, after two defeats in the past fortnight, Adelaide will be desperate to steady the ship this weekend. A win would be a timely boost for Heath Younie’s men heading into the Club’s final bye of the year and would almost certainly seal Adelaide’s first ever SANFL finals campaign. The Magpies on the other hand are making a late charge towards the top five off the back of a three-game winning streak, which includes convincing victories over finals contenders Woodville-West Torrens and Central District. The Crows could all-but end its rival’s season with a win on enemy soil on Sunday.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Adelaide: 2
Port Adelaide: 3
WHERE AND WHEN: Alberton Oval, Sunday, July 31, 1.40pm ACST
BROADCAST INFO: Live on Channel 7 Adelaide, coverage begins at 1.30pm ACST
LAST FIVE TIMES
R2, 2016, Adelaide 15.14 (104) d Port Adelaide 10.14 (74) at Mannum Oval
R11, 2015, Port Adelaide 10.9 (69) d by Adelaide 13.11 (89) at Alberton Oval
R7, 2015, Adelaide 15.9 (99) d by Port Adelaide 20.14 (134) at Balaklava Oval
R14, 2014, Port Adelaide 15.16 (106) d Adelaide 7.12 (54) at Alberton Oval
R5, 2014, Adelaide 13.9 (87) d by Port Adelaide 20.12 (132) at Clare Oval
THE SIX POINTS
1. Adelaide has won its past two matches against the Magpies, including the most recent meeting at Mannum Oval in Round Two. Riley Knight and Keenan Ramsey both booted four goals in the 30-point win, while Tom Doedee played his first game for the Club.
2. Port Adelaide is one of the form teams in the SANFL at the moment. The Magpies are the highest scoring side in the competition since Round 14 and also rank No.1 for average disposals and marks through the past four rounds.
3. Both teams played Woodville-West Torrens in their last SANFL outings. The Crows lost to the Eagles by 20 points last Saturday, while the Magpies defeated the 2015 Grand Finalists by 41 points a fortnight ago before breaking for a bye last weekend.
4. Adelaide‘s score of 15.9 (99) against Port Adelaide at Balaklava Oval in Round Seven of 2015 remains the SANFL Crows’ highest losing score. The Magpies kicked 20.14 (134).
5. Promising forward Harry Dear has kicked 12 goals in his last four matches, including a game-high three majors in Adelaide’s loss to Woodville-West Torrens last Saturday.
6. Port’s Sam Colquhoun is the only player in the SANFL who has taken more than 100 marks this season (109). Crows duo Mitch Grigg and Jonathon Beech rank equal-11th with 84 marks each.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR… Reilly O’Brien
Recently promoted to Adelaide’s senior list for the third time in two seasons, Reilly O’Brien continues to press his claims for an AFL debut. The 201cm, 98kg ruckman is dominant at the stoppages, can take a strong contested mark, and has proven he isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty on the ground too. But the impressive 20-year-old has added yet another string to his bow in recent weeks, pushing forward to kick four goals in two games to take his tally to nine majors for the year. He’s now kicked more goals than any other recognised ruckman in the SANFL this season, excluding teammate Luke Lowden who tends to spend more time inside forward 50. Could an AFL opportunity come ROB’s way if he continues this run of rich form?
