Adelaide will take on Collingwood at AAMI Stadium tonight for a place in the 2012 NAB Cup Grand Final.
The Crows haven’t beaten the Magpies in any match - premiership or pre-season - since upstaging the Pies by four points at the MCG in round one, 2009.
Despite Collingwood’s dominance over Adelaide in recent years, matches between the two teams tend to be tight contests, with three of the past four games having been decided by an average of 10 points.
The last hit-out between the sides at Etihad Stadium in round nine last season was also close for three quarters, until Collingwood slammed on 11 goals in a remarkable fourth quarter to record a 43-point win.
Bernie Vince has been the Crows’ best-performed player in the last three games against Collingwood, averaging 34 possessions and six marks.
Adelaide has named a near-full strength squad to tackle the Pies, recalling skipper Nathan van Berlo, reigning best and fairest winner Scott Thompson, veteran Michael Doughty, Brent Reilly, Kurt Tippett, Sam Jacobs, David Mackay and Matt Wright.
Richard Douglas (soreness) and Ben Rutten, who is nearing a comeback after foot surgery, are the only two regular starters missing from the Crows line-up.
The Magpies have recalled premiership pair Harry O’Brien and Jarryd Blair, but will be without experienced players Heath Shaw, Luke Ball, Dale Thomas, Sharrod Wellingham, Alan Toovey and injured pair Alan Didak and Andrew Krakouer.
The clash between the Crows and Pies will pit first-year coaches and best mates Brenton Sanderson and Nathan Buckley head-to-head.
Sanderson and Buckley have remained close since living together while they were both playing at Collingwood in 1994.
Sanderson spoke about his relationship with Buckley and previewed Adelaide’s third-round NAB Cup clash with Collingwood at a press conference on Thursday.
Click the ‘play’ button above to watch Sanderson’s media conference in full.
Tickets to the Crows clash with Collingwood will be available at the gate, so get along to AAMI Stadium to cheer on ‘Sando’ and the team as they attempt to secure a spot in the NAB Cup decider.
