SUMMARY
Two last-start winners face off at Adelaide Oval under the Friday night lights. For Collingwood to have any chance of an upset victory they are going to have to slow down Adelaide's slick ball movement. Half-back flanker Rory Laird is getting leather poisoning, Bryce Gibbs and Rory Sloane are leading the midfield and link-up forward Tom Lynch is a welcome return after missing the first two games of the season. The ruck battle between Sam Jacobs and Magpies big man Brodie Grundy will be one to savour. The Magpies tagged Sloane last year, but with Levi Greenwood out with a knee injury, it will be interesting to see who gets the job, or if they go head to head. Adam Treloar, Taylor Adams and Travis Varcoe could all spend time in attack as the Magpies change things up and go away from a conventional forward set-up. They'll need something special to beat the Crows for the first time in five years.
WHERE AND WHEN: Adelaide Oval, Friday, April 13, 7.20pm ACDT
LAST FIVE TIMES
R19, 2017, Collingwood 15.13 (103) drew with Adelaide 16.7 (103) at the MCG
R17, 2016, Adelaide 14.13 (97) d Collingwood 10.9 (69) at Adelaide Oval
R2, 2015, Adelaide 12.18 (90) d Collingwood 9.9 (63) at Etihad Stadium
R18, 2014, Adelaide 14.14 (98) d Collingwood 12.10 (82) at the MCG
R9, 2014, Adelaide 10.16 (76) d Collingwood 7.13 (55) at Adelaide Oval
THE SIX POINTS
1. The last clash between these clubs was a classic. The Magpies led by 38 points at half-time, before the Crows stormed home, with a Mitch McGovern goal after the final siren levelling the scores. Daniel Wells was best on
2. Both of these teams have found plenty of the footy this season. The Crows are ranked first in possessions with an average of 411 per game, while the Magpies are averaging 395.7.
3. Last year's draw ended a streak of four straight wins for the Crows against the Magpies. The Magpies haven't beaten the Crows since round 16, 2013.
4. The Magpies move the ball by hand better than any side in the League, ranked first with 181.3 handballs per game. The Crows aren't far behind, averaging 177.3.
5. Adelaide Oval has been an unhappy hunting ground for the Magpies, who have lost all four visits to the venue. The Crows have won 12 of their
6. Two of the best ruckmen in the competition will square off. Collingwood's Brodie Grundy is a career-high 30th in the Schick AFL Player Ratings. He's third for ruckmen, just ahead of Adelaide big man Sam Jacobs, who is fifth
Dual All Australian defender Daniel Talia is in solid form ahead of his 150th game for the Crows. Talia is an imposing presence in the Crows' backline and rarely gets a big bag of goals kicked on him.
PREDICTION: Adelaide by 27 points
