ADELAIDE defender Daniel Talia doesn't think Nick Riewoldt can be beaten by one player alone but is certain quelling the St Kilda captain will go a long way to deciding Sunday's contest at Etihad Stadium.
Riewoldt, 31, has been in magnificent form this season, booting 10 goals in his three appearances and leading the Saints to two wins. Talia has enjoyed success against the veteran forward in the past, holding him to just one goal in the sides' clash last year.
He said the key to restricting Riewoldt and dealing with his aerobic ability was to share the load.
"If we can stop Nick – he's in ripping form, he's a champion player – it'll go a long way to helping us win the game," Talia said.
"He runs players off their legs and if he doesn't beat you in the forward 50 he can take you up the ground.
"I don't think one player can run with him the whole day and stop him - I think it's about a couple of us playing on him in different parts of the ground and negating his influence.
"The last couple of times, I've played on him when he's been close to goal and then a more running player has played on him when he's higher up the ground."
Talia said superstar midfielder Patrick Dangerfield would definitely line up against the Saints despite taking a sore ankle out of last Saturday's loss to the Sydney Swans.
Dangerfield trained with a heavily strapped ankle on Wednesday and while claiming the acting skipper would have no worries backing up this weekend, Talia said he needed more support from teammates to help beat tags.
Close attention from opposition players has seen Dangerfield perform well below his best so far this season, averaging fewer disposals, marks and goals than he did last year.
"He'll be fine … he's been getting a bit bruised and battered lately and I think he's been a bit sore from that," Talia said.
"As a team we've got to do a bit more to help him out."
In Adelaide's three losses this year - to Geelong, Port Adelaide and the Swans - it has faded terribly in each game, but Talia insisted the morale amongst the group remained positive.
"People forget we've come up against three really good teams in Geelong, Port, who are flying as well and Sydney, who really hit their straps on the weekend," he said.
"We've got a chance to win a game against St Kilda and that's all we're really focused on, we're not worried about what's happened in the past."
Crows legend Andrew McLeod joined Talia and Adelaide's other players at AAMI Stadium on Wednesday to announce that the club had joined the Recognise movement; a campaign to have Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people recognised in the Australian constitution.
"It's great that the Adelaide Football Club's been able to do it, Port Adelaide has done it as well, so it's nice that our state's two clubs have jumped on board in supporting such a great initiative," McLeod said.
