Adelaide and Melbourne have met 31 times, with the Crows holding the overall advantage 21-11. The Crows have won three of the past four meetings between the two teams.
Eddie Betts kicked his 300th career goal against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday. The lively forward is ranked 2nd in the AFL for score assists this season.
Crows tall Josh Jenkins has kicked 11 goals in his three games this season. He’s ranked No.1 in the AFL for goals alongside Geelong premiership player Tom Hawkins in the last three rounds.
The Crows have kicked 86 goals in the first six rounds – ranked No.3 in the competition. Melbourne is ranked 18th with 45 goals for the year. However, the defensively-minded Demons have conceded fewer goals (65) than Adelaide (87) in 2014.
Bernie Vince will play his first game against his former club on Saturday. Vince has added class to the Demons midfield. He’s ranked third in the League for kicks (104) and was No.1 in effective kicks last weekend (19). Vince has gained more metres this season than any other Melbourne player (3000m).
Coach Paul Roos has brought elements of the Sydney game style with him to the Dees. In 2014, Melbourne games have the most stoppages.
Scott Welsh holds the record for most Crows goals in a game against Melbourne. Welsh slotted eight at Football Park in Round 14, 2004.
Melbourne co-captain Nathan Jones is third in the AFL for total disposals (181) and 13th in clearances (36) and inside 50ms (28). Jones has amassed 30 or more possessions in four of his six games.
James Frawley has been the Dees’ go-to man inside attacking 50m since making the move from defence. Frawley and small forward Shannon Byrnes are two of Melbourne’s leading goalkickers (five).
In the past three weeks (since shifting Frawley forward and then regaining Chris Dawes from injury), the Demons have showed a propensity to go long down the boundary line. During this period, they rank No.1 in the AFL for long kicks and No.1 in boundary ball movement.
There has been considerable change to the Crows side since these teams last met in Round 22, 2013. Of the 22 who played the Dees last August, nine weren’t part of the Adelaide team that beat the Bulldogs on the weekend.
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