HAVING snuck into the top eight for the first time this year by beating Collingwood last weekend, Adelaide will be desperate to maintain its position by grounding the Eagles at home. NBA star and Crows ambassador Patty Mills will be in attendance but West Coast is unlikely to make things easy for Adelaide after being upset by the Tigers in Perth last Friday. With top-eight qualification still mathematically possible and a healthy percentage, the unlikeliest of finals charges for the Eagles must start here.
WHERE AND WHEN: Adelaide Oval, Saturday August 2, 1.10pm ACST
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LAST FIVE TIMES
R23, 2013, Adelaide 19.15 (129) d West Coast 5.13 (43) at Patersons Stadium
R15, 2013, West Coast 11.9 (75) d Adelaide 9.15 (69) at AAMI Stadium
R17, 2012, Adelaide 19.10 (124) d West Coast 11.9 (75) at AAMI Stadium
R24, 2011, West Coast 22.13 (145) d Adelaide 7.8 (50) at Patersons Stadium
R12, 2011, West Coast 15.16 (106) d Adelaide 10.7 (67) at AAMI Stadium
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THE SIX POINTS
1. West Coast travels to Adelaide Oval for the first time; at AAMI Stadium the Crows held a winning record of 13-8 against the Eagles.
2. Since Taylor Walker’s return in round nine, Adelaide has won six of its 10 matches, kicking an average score of 94 points. Three of its losses have been by two goals or less.
3. The Crows are the number one contested marking side in 2014, averaging 11.4 a game, while West Coast is ranked sixth with an average of 10.4.
4. West Coast is ranked second for hit-outs averaging 49.2 a game, although it hasn’t transferred into clearance success, where the Eagles are ranked 11th for total and centre clearances.
5. There haven’t been many close clashes between these sides in recent seasons; since 2006, six matches have been decided by 50 points or more and three by more than 80.
6. Adelaide defender Brodie Smith is gaining on Sydney Swan Nick Malceski as the second best small-medium defender in the game according to the Official AFL Player Ratings. Smith is seven points behind Malceski, who is nine points behind Hawthorn's Shaun Burgoyne.
Prediction: Adelaide by 23 points
