SUMMARY
After five straight losses and sporting a crippling injury toll, it's hard to see how Gold Coast can push Adelaide, but stranger things have happened. The Suns have lost their past three matches by a combined 284 points, and despite a loss to Geelong last week and a tough early draw, the Crows have been one of the competition's early season pacesetters and still sit in eighth spot. They have just one more win than Gold Coast though and would love the four points to get some breathing space. The Suns have injuries all over the park, but their defence is particularly vulnerable and looks ripe to be picked by the multi-dimensional Crows forward line of Taylor Walker, Josh Jenkins, Eddie Betts and Tom Lynch. The Suns are better at home, but this looks like one-way traffic.
WHERE AND WHEN: Metricon Stadium, Saturday, May 21, 2.10pm AEST
LAST FIVE TIMES
R17, 2015, Adelaide 19.11 (125) d Gold Coast 12.8 (80) at Adelaide Oval
R6, 2015, Adelaide 18.11 (119) d Gold Coast 11.12 (78) at Metricon Stadium
R11, 2014, Adelaide 16.13 (109) d Gold Coast 11.11 (77) at Adelaide Oval
R14, 2013, Adelaide 16.15 (111) d Gold Coast 11.17 (83) at Metricon Stadium
R23, 2012, Adelaide 22.21 (153) d Gold Coast 9.8 (62) at AAMI Stadium
ENEMY: Triple talls eye recalls
THE SIX POINTS
1. The last time these teams met, the Crows led by just nine points at the final change before running away with a comfortable win. Charlie Cameron and Eddie Betts combined for seven goals, while Gary Ablett injured his knee and missed the rest of the season.
2. Gold Coast is the lowest-ranked clearance team so far in 2016, averaging 31.8 a game. It is ranked equal 13th in centre clearances.
3. Gold Coast is yet to defeat Adelaide from eight contests, with six of the Crows' wins by more than 40 points and three by more than 60 points.
4. The Suns are also struggling in contested possessions this season, averaging 131.1 a game to rank last. Adelaide is ranked third with 152.8 a game.
5. In the past three weeks the Suns have lost by an average margin of 95 points, conceding an average score of 159 points.
6. Tom Lynch – of the Adelaide variety – has reached a career-high in the AFL's Schick AFL Player Ratings, following his 19 disposals against Geelong. He is now ranked 91st overall, while his Gold Coast namesake is at No.35 overall.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Sean Lemmens.
With Adam Saad missing with a hamstring injury, the job in minding Adelaide livewire Eddie Betts will likely fall to Lemmens. Saad kept Betts goalless when the teams met during the NAB Challenge, and a similar job from Lemmens – or whoever is given the job – would go a long way towards Gold Coast being competitive or springing a surprise.
AFL.COM.AU PREDICTION: Adelaide by 45 points
