SUMMARY
Not since 2002 has Adelaide started a season with three consecutive wins, but it will in 2015 if it can knock Melbourne off at home on Saturday afternoon. The Crows are flying at the minute, having beaten Collingwood in Melbourne last weekend and – ominously for the Demons – their stars are shining. Patrick Dangerfield has been superb, Sam Jacobs dominant in the ruck, Taylor Walker a huge target up forward and Daniel Talia rock-like in defence. The Demons appeared well placed to also enter this match undefeated but were overrun by Greater Western Sydney. They beat the Crows at Adelaide Oval last year as underdogs and they're faced with the same situation this weekend.
WHERE AND WHEN: Adelaide Oval, Saturday April 18, 1.40pm (ACST)
LAST FIVE TIMES
R7, 2014, Melbourne 11.4 (70) d Adelaide 9.13 (67) at Adelaide Oval
R22, 2013, Adelaide 18.12 (120) d Melbourne 7.10 (52) at AAMI Stadium
R22, 2012, Adelaide 22.18 (150) d Melbourne 11.15 (81) at the MCG
R7, 2011, Melbourne 22.17 (149) d Adelaide 8.5 (53) at the MCG
R13, 2010, Adelaide 16.21 (117) d Melbourne 11.7 (73) at AAMI Stadium
IN THE MIX: ADELAIDE
Having played a full game in the SANFL, veteran midfielder Scott Thompson is set to return to the senior line up. The 32-year-old was the game's leading possession-winner with 29 disposals and he also managed nine clearances and 11 tackles along with four behinds. Jarryd Lyons was great with 20 possessions, 11 clearances and two goals and Matt Crouch was solid with 23 disposals and 12 clearances. Thompson would be the leading candidate to replace Brodie Smith, who will be assessed closely during the week after sustaining a concussion against Collingwood. Rookie ruckman Reilly O'Brien continued to impress with 36 hit-outs and two goals in the SANFL.
IN THE MIX: MELBOURNE
Despite allowing 13 unanswered goals in a 45-point loss to Greater Western Sydney, Demons coach Paul Roos does not envisage wholesale changes this week. Roos is prepared to back his players in, with Melbourne facing a tough test against the top-of-the-table Crows in Adelaide. The good news for Melbourne is a number of players pressed their case for selection after strong performances for Casey in a VFL practice match last weekend. Should there be a change, expect Jack Grimes (30 disposals, one goal), Matt Jones (29 touches), Jimmy Toumpas (29 touches, two goals) and Viv Michie (25, three goals) to come into the selection mix. Jay Kennedy-Harris, who was dropped to make way for key forward Chris Dawes after the club's win against Gold Coast, will be considered if the Demons decide to play an extra runner.
THE SIX POINTS
1. The Demons upset the Crows the last time the sides met, winning a low scoring thriller at the Adelaide Oval in 2014. It could have been a different result though with the home side dominating the inside 50s 64-41 and winning both the tackling and marking counts.
2. Adelaide has taken the ball inside 50 more times in the first two weeks of the season than any other side with a total of 121 entries. Melbourne is ranked 14th with 86 entries.
3. Melbourne’s upset win over the Crows in 2014 ended a long losing streak in Adelaide; prior to last season the Demons had lost their previous 17 games in the City of Churches with 11 by more than 50 points.
4. The Demons have been the number one contested marking side in the first two weeks, taking 15 a game; Adelaide is ranked equal ninth averaging 10 a game.
5. No team has kicked the ball more in the first two weeks than the Crows; Adelaide is ranked first for kicks averaging 249.5 a game compared to 10th-ranked Melbourne with 202 a game.
6. Nathan Jones (100) is Melbourne's only player inside the top 100 players in the Official AFL Player Ratings. In contrast, the Crows have six: Patrick Dangerfield (four), Rory Sloane (five), Brodie Smith (22), Sam Jacobs (27), Richard Douglas (45) and Eddie Betts (58).
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …
With 20 disposals and three goals it was Chris Dawes who led the Demons to their upset victory over Adelaide in Round Seven last year. His opening game for the year last week was one to forget, though: goalless from 12 possessions. Can he replicate the heroics that saw his side home in 2014?
PREDICTION: Adelaide by 39 points
