Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs have met 38 times, with the Dogs holding the overall advantage 21-17. The Crows have won two of the last three clashes, but haven’t upset the Bulldogs in Victoria since Round Two, 2007.
The Western Bulldogs are efficient once inside their forward 50m, ranked third in the AFL for percentage of goals per inside 50m (28.1%). They sit behind only Hawthorn and Port Adelaide in this statistic.
The Crows are ranked No.4 in the League for goals per game, averaging 14.6. Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and Geelong are the top three teams.
Dogs midfielder Matthew Boyd is sixth in the League for total disposals (145). He also leads the club in contested possessions and clearances.
Impressive Dogs youngster Jack Macrae leads the competition in uncontested possessions (109).
Matthew Jaensch is ranked No.1 in the AFL for effective kicks (69) level with Essendon defender Michael Hibberd.
The Dogs like to move the ball with handballs – ranked No.3 in total handballs and 17th in total kicks. They are efficient when they kick the ball though, ranked No.2 in kicking efficiency.
The Crows are third in the AFL in contested marks, averaging 10.4 per game. The Dogs are 17th in this area.
Brodie Smith is No.1 in the competition in rebound 50ms (27) level with Fremantle’s Michael Johnson and North Melbourne defender Nathan Grima.
Bulldogs veteran Bob Murphy has averaged 26.3 possessions and 6.7 marks in his past three games against the Crows.
Eddie Betts is equal-sixth in the AFL for goal assists (six).
The Crows have improved their scoring accuracy from 55.2% (Ranked 13th) in Rounds 1-3 to 61.3% (Ranked sixth) over the past fortnight.
All-Australian ruckman Will Minson is fourth for hit-outs to advantage with 42 – one more than his direct opponent this week, Sam Jacobs (41).
The Crows are creating turnovers and reading the ball well, ranked No.1 in contested marks from opposition kicks with 26 – five more than the next best club, North Melbourne (21).
The average age of the Crows and Dogs teams in Round Five was nearly identical. Adelaide had an average age of 24.7 and the Bulldogs 24.8.
Recruit Stewart Crameri leads the Dogs’ goalkicking this season (13). Liam Jones is the next best on seven.
