Brodie Smith and Matthew Jaensch are two of the best rebounding defenders in the game at the moment. The Crows pair is ranked equal-first in the competition combined inside 50ms (eight) and rebound 50ms (12) after two rounds. They are also both top-10 in Champion Data ranking points for defenders.
The Swans prefer to go long to a contest, ranked No.2 in the AFL in long kicks and last in short kicks. They also play on from marks more than any other team in the competition (38.7 percent).
Saturday’s clash will be Brenton Sanderson’s 50th at the helm of the Crows.
The Crows are ranked sixth in inside 50ms in Season 2014 – the equal- highest ranking of any team outside the top eight.
The Crows and Swans have met 34 times, with Adelaide holding the overall advantage 22-12. The Swans have won the two most recent games, both at AAMI Stadium.
Sydney has averaged 75 tackles per game this season – ranked No.4 overall. The Crows are 11th averaging, 63.5 tackles a match. They are also ranked No.2 for tackles against, demonstrating the congested nature of their games.
Rory Sloane leads Adelaide in tackling, ranked equal-fifth in the League (18). He’s also equal-sixth for inside 50ms (13).
Swans Myke Pike and Sam Reid are ranked equal-third in the League for contested marks.
Inaugural captain Chris McDermott holds the record for most possessions by a Crow against Sydney. McDermott racked up 40 disposals and a goal against the Swans in Round 14, 1993.
Sydney stoppage specialist Josh Kennedy is third in the AFL in contested possessions (35). Patrick Dangerfield (28) is the highest-ranked Crow in this statistic. Kennedy is also second in hard-ball gets (17). Again, Dangerfield leads Adelaide’s count with 13.
David Mackay has broken the lines well for Adelaide in the opening two rounds, ranked sixth in running bounces (nine).
Ryan O’Keefe starred with 28 possessions and 15 tackles when these two teams last met in Round 11 last season.
Adelaide’s highest-ever score against Sydney was 23.17 (155) in 1999.
Four players share the record for most Crows goals in a game against Sydney. Scott Hodges (Round Three) and Rod Jameson (Round 18) both bagged six back in 1991. Peter Vardy slotted 6.2 in Adelaide’s 1998 Semi-Final win over the Swans and Mark Stevens kicked six in Round Five, 1999.
