Recent results against Essendon:
Round 11, 2009, Adelaide 21.4 (130) d Essendon 18.6 (114), Etihad Stadium
Round 20, 2008, Adelaide 19.15 (129) d Essendon 10.13 (73), Etihad Stadium
Round 10, 2008, Adelaide 9.20 (74) d Essendon 10.9 (69), AAMI Stadium
Round 17, 2007, Essendon 18.9 (117) d Adelaide 16.9 (105), Etihad Stadium
Round one, 2007, Essendon 16.9 (105) d Adelaide 10.14 (74), AAMI Stadium
Medical room
Adelaide
Nathan Bock (heel) - test
Nathan van Berlo (back) - test
David Mackay (ankle) - available
Jon Griffin (calf) - test
Rob Shirley (hamstring) - 1 week
Brad Moran (knee) - indefinite
Shaun McKernan (broken arm) - season
Brodie Martin (knee) - season
Chris Schmidt (shoulder) - season
James Moss (hip) - indefinite
Brian Donnelly (knee) - season
Ricky Henderson (hip) - season
Essendon
David Zaharakis (groin) - test
Kyle Reimers (knee) - assess
Mark McVeigh (hand) - assess
Courtenay Dempsey (hamstring) - assess
Alwyn Davey (shoulder) - 2-4 weeks
Scott Gumbleton (back) - indefinite
Bachar Houli (leg) - season
Jason Laycock (foot) - season
David Hille (knee) - season
John Williams (shoulder) - season
*Matthew Lloyd (suspended) - 4 weeks
*Paddy Ryder (suspended) - 1 week
*Sam Lonergan (suspended) - 1 week
Summary
The Crows stitched up fifth spot on the ladder and sent a warning to the rest of the competition on the eve of the finals with an emphatic 72-point win over Carlton in round 22.
Led by Kurt Tippett, Chris Knights and Jason Porplyzia (four goals apiece), Adelaide recorded 13 individual goalkickers on its way to a season-high score of 27.14 (176).
The win has enhanced the Crows’ credentials as genuine premiership contenders, but will quickly be forgotten if the home side is unable to progress to the second week of finals with a win over Essendon on Friday night.
The Bombers overcame league leader St Kilda and reigning premier Hawthorn to snatch eighth spot but they have paid a hefty price for a cutthroat month of football.
Matthew Lloyd, Paddy Ryder and Sam Lonergan will join the likes of David Hille, Alwyn Davey and Scott Gumbleton on the sidelines this week after being suspended in the fiery win over Hawthorn.
Adelaide came from behind to beat the Bombers in a high-scoring affair in round 11 and will start warm favourites in front of a sell-out crowd on Friday night.
The club has been knocked out in the first week of September in each of the past two seasons but there’s a certain aura about this group that suggests fans shouldn’t make other plans for September 26 just yet.
Key match-up
Kurt Tippett v Dustin Fletcher
Fletcher didn’t play when the two sides met at Etihad Stadium earlier this year and the Bombers had no answer for the Crows’ key forward. Tippett booted a career-high seven goals to help secure the 16-point win in round 11 and could force coach Matthew Knights’ hand this week. The Bombers prefer to leave Fletcher in a position to create the play in defence, but have few other viable match-ups for the 201cm Tippett.
Kick it to me
Chris Knights got under Essendon’s guard with five goals in round 11. The penetrating left-footer has bagged 38 majors in the past 16 games and has been held goalless just once in that time. Knights, who kicked another four goals against the Blues in round 22, has the ability to push up the ground and is just one prong in the multi-faceted Adelaide attack.
Somebody stop me
Midfielder Jobe Watson is another player feeling the strain of a demanding season. He aggravated an ankle complaint in the round 21 loss to Fremantle, but still managed to play against Hawthorn the following week, finishing with 20 possessions and five tackles. Watson, who leads the club in handballs, is an integral clearance and link-up player in Essendon’s fast-paced game style and can also be dangerous in front of goals, having booted three against the Crows in round 11.
At the selection table
Defender Nathan Bock (heel) trained better than expected at AAMI Stadium on Tuesday night and is now in the running for a recall. David Mackay has recovered from an ankle sprain, but the club is sweating on the fitness of Nathan van Berlo (back). Scott Stevens is also sore after copping a knee to the back in the win over the Blues, but the Crows are confident he will play on Friday night.
It’s not generally known that...
Adelaide and Essendon have met just once in the finals - back in 1993 when Kevin Sheedy’s ‘baby’ Bombers came back from a seven-goal deficit at half time to clinch victory by 11 points in the preliminary final before going on to win the flag.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
