Adelaide and Essendon have met 35 times. The Bombers hold the overall advantage, 18 – 17.

The Crows have won the past two clashes between the teams.

The biggest home and away crowd for a game featuring Adelaide and Essendon was 46,309 at Football Park back in Round Eight, 2004.

Eddie Betts has kicked 13 goals in his past three matches against the Bombers.

Betts is one shy of his 200^th goal for the Crows, having kicked 199 in his first 72 games for the Club. The brilliant forward’s 100^th Crows goal was against Essendon at Etihad Stadium in 2015.

Remarkably, the legendary Tony Modra reached the double ton in just 42 games.

Betts is also only 11 goals away from kicking his 500th career AFL goal (489).

Tall forward Joe Daniher booted four of Essendon’s nine goals when the teams last met at Adelaide Oval in Round 19, 2016.

On that occasion, the Crows were victorious against the undermanned Bombers by 82 points.

Saturday night’s game will be only Essendon’s second trip to Adelaide Oval to play the Crows. The Bombers recorded their first and only win at the venue in 2014 against Port Adelaide.

Crow Tom Lynch ranks equal-first in the AFL for score assists (eight) this season. Bombers cult hero Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti is joint-second with seven.

Lynch is also equal fourth in the League for marks (25).

Young Essendon star Zach Merrett has gained 1,983 metres this season second only to Richmond Star Dustin Martin (2,223) in the competition.

Brodie Smith is the highest-ranked Crow (10^th) with 1,620 metres gained.

The influential Merrett also ranks second in the AFL for kicks (68) and effective kicks (44), as well as equal-fourth for total disposals (98).

As a team, Essendon is averaging the second most short kicks (92.7) in the League.

Merrett (67) and Adelaide defender Rory Laird (63) are third and fourth for uncontested possessions. The pair is also top three for handball receives.

Rory Sloane sits equal-third for contested possessions (52) after three games.

Sloane is currently the second-best clearance winner in the competition with 25 behind Brisbane Lions onballer Tom Rockliff (33).

Sloane (28) and teammate Curtly Hampton (25) are both top five for tackles.

Sloane polled three Brownlow votes against Essendon in Round 19 last season. Laird, who had 36 possessions, received two and Betts one. Betts also received two votes when the teams met at Etihad Stadium in Round 20, 2015.

Bombers backman Michael Hurley has generated the third-most rebound 50s (23) of any player in Season 2017.

Clever forward Orazio Fantasia leads Essendon’s goalkicking with nine – one fewer than Betts (10).

The efficient Crows have kicked goals from 30.6 per cent of their forward 50m entries – second only to Geelong (37.7 per cent).

Adelaide defender Daniel Talia ranks equal-second in the AFL for intercept possessions (26).

The first-placed Crows have started the season with three straight wins for only the fifth time in the Club’s history (2017, 2015, 2002, 1996 and 1993). The resurgent Bombers, who have won two matches, are currently seventh on the AFL ladder.

The Bombers are averaging the second-most uncontested marks (96.7) of any team, and the third-fewest contested marks (8.0) per game. In contrast, the Crows are third for contested marks with an average of 13.3 and are 10^th for uncontested marks (74.3).

The Crows will be without one of their best contested-marking players, Mitch McGovern. McGovern, who sustained a serious hamstring injury last weekend, has taken six contested grabs this season – equal with ruckman Sam Jacobs at Adelaide.

In the absence of captain Taylor Walker, McGovern kicked four goals against Essendon last year.

Tony Modra and Trent Hentschel share the record for most Crows goals in a game against the Bombers – both with bags of eight.