SUMMARY
Adelaide will enter this game with plenty of confidence after an excellent win over Richmond last week which kept alive the Crows' finals hopes. The win left them in ninth position, but only 0.1 per cent separates Adelaide from eighth-placed Geelong. The Crows should fancy their chances to extending their form against an Essendon team that is effectively already preparing for next year. The Bombers lost by 32 points to Greater Western Sydney, which was the ninth loss in their last 10 games. James Hird has committed to playing a number of younger players as the season draws to a close, and they will be hoping for a little more success in the last month of the year.
WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Sunday, August 15, 1.45pm AEST
LAST FIVE TIMES
R14, 2014, Essendon 15.11 (101) d Adelaide 14.8 (92) at Etihad Stadium
R1, 2013, Essendon 18.9 (117) d Adelaide 11.16 (82) at AAMI Stadium
R19, 2012, Adelaide 16.8 (104) d Essendon 15.10 (100) at AAMI Stadium
R17, 2011, Essendon 12.12 (84) d Adelaide 10.13 (73) at AAMI Stadium
R14, 2010, Adelaide 19.10 (124) d Essendon 5.10 (40) at AAMI Staidum
THE SIX POINTS
1. It will be a battle of the best and worst clearance teams this season: the Crows are ranked first in the competition (averaging 42.6 a game) and Essendon ranked last with only 35.1 a game.
2. Last week was the 10th time this season the Bombers have kicked under 10 goals for a game. Their loss to GWS saw their average score this season drop to just 71 points.
3. Adelaide poses a threat inside-50, ranking second in the competition for marks in that area of the ground (13.1 a game). However, their conversion has not been as good, ranking 10th in the competition for goalkicking
4. Heavily in Essendon's favour is its record against Adelaide at Etihad Stadium, where it has won five of seven games and 12 of 14 in total in Melbourne.
5. A seven-goal-to-two first term set up Essendon's nine-point win over Adelaide last year, but it was an even game in all the statistics. Crows midfielder Scott Thompson won the three Brownlow Medal votes for his 41-disposal game.
6. Adelaide star Rory Sloane is the fifth-best midfielder according to the Official AFL Player Ratings. Sloane is ranked seventh overall.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Heath Hocking.
The Essendon midfielder returned to the senior team last week but might face the challenge of stopping Patrick Dangerfield this weekend.
PREDICTION: Adelaide by 35 points
