SUMMARY
Adelaide must approach its last two SANFL matches as early Elimination Finals, beginning with Sunday’s massive clash with ladder leaders Woodville-West Torrens. Last week’s crunch win over North Adelaide kept the Crows in with a chance of a last-gasp finals appearance in the team’s first victory from its last six starts. Woodville-West Torrens has hit an unusual patch of form after a stellar run so far this season. The top-of-the-table Eagles were smashed by South Adelaide by 83 points last round and lost to Norwood the week prior. The Eagles can secure their third consecutive minor premiership with a win this week, but the Crows will be out to spoil the party and secure a second straight SANFL victory.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Adelaide: 3
Woodville-West Torrens: 4
WHERE AND WHEN: Maughan Thiem Hyundai Oval, Sunday, August 20, 2.10pm ACST
Carnival atmosphere for SANFL clash
LAST FIVE TIMES
R5, 2017, Woodville-West Torrens 14.14 (98) d Adelaide 8.5 (53) at Maughan Thiem Hyundai Oval
R17, 2016, Woodville-West Torrens 10.13 (73) d Adelaide 8.5 (53) at Maughan Thiem Hyundai Oval
R3, 2016, Woodville-West Torrens 8.5 (53) d by Adelaide 14.12 (96) at Maughan Thiem Hyundai Oval
R17, 2015, Woodville-West Torrens 10.7 (67) d Adelaide 10.3 (63) at Maughan Thiem Hyundai Oval
R10, 2015, Woodville-West Torrens 14.11 (95) d Adelaide 12.10 (82) at Maughan Thiem Hyundai Oval
THE SIX POINTS
1. Adelaide went down to the Eagles by 45 points in the last meeting between the two teams in Round Five in the Club’s heaviest loss ever to Woodville-West Torrens. Harrison Wigg had a team-best 28 disposals while development player Josh Wittwer kicked three goals.
2. Woodville-West Torrens boasts the best defence in the competition, conceding just 63 points per game. The Eagles also rebound the ball more than any other team after conceding an inside 50m (78 per cent rebound rate).
3. Adelaide is the No.1 team for hard-ball gets (756) in the SANFL so far this season. The Eagles are ranked eighth (596).
4. Paul Seedsman had an equal-round high 31 possessions in last week’s win over North Adelaide which included 16 effective kicks – ranked equal-second for Round 16 at SANFL level.
5. Adelaide is the most accurate goalkicking team in the SANFL this year (61.4 per cent conversion).
6. Young Crows onballer Matthew Signorello won 11 loose-ball gets in Adelaide’s victory over the Roosters – more than anyone else in the SANFL last weekend.
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR… Kyle Cheney
Cheney is free to return after serving a two-match SANFL suspension. Adelaide’s young state league defence has stood tall in recent times, but will benefit greatly from the experience, strength and leadership of the veteran backman. The Eagles boast plenty of firepower up forward, led by three-time Ken Farmer Medallist Michael Wundke, and will need to be at their best to ground the Eagles this Sunday.
