Preview: Adelaide v Sydney
VENUE & TIME: AAMI Stadium, Saturday 27 June, 3.10pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 28, Adelaide 19, Sydney 9
LAST TIME: Adelaide 11.11 (77) def Sydney 6.17 (53) Round 17 2008 at SCG
WALKING WOUNDED: Adelaide captain Simon Goodwin faces a fitness test on the medial strain that kept him sidelined for the Round 12 clash with North though Brent Reilly (hamstring) and Jonathan Griffin (calf) will miss another week. The good news for the Crows is the likely return to the SANFL this weekend of Brett Burton following a knee reconstruction. Sydney onballer Jarrad McVeigh needs to prove that he's recovered from a heavy knock to the shoulder against Collingwood last Saturday. Craig Bolton faces a fitness test on his injured knees while Amon Buchanan (knee) will miss.
FORM: The Crows are sixth on the AFL ladder, the third of three teams on 7-5. They're in good form, having won four on the trot over Carlton, Hawthorn, Essendon and North.
The Swans slipped to 11th on the ladder with a 5-7 record following last Saturday night's loss to Collingwood which was their third in succession.
WHO'S HOT: The unheralded Michael Doughty enjoyed his most productive outing for the Crows for 2009 against North last round, picking up 31 disposals and laying seven tackles in the wet at AAMI Stadium to be Adelaide's best.
Doughty's numbers pale by comparison, however, with those achieved by Sydney's Ryan O'Keefe who racked-up a career-high 41 touches against Collingwood on Saturday along with eight marks, two goals and two tackles.
WE THINK: Adelaide has an outstanding recent record against Sydney with wins in nine of the past 10 head-to-head clashes dating back to Round 3, 2002. After conceding their first three matches at home this season, the Crows have won their past three at AAMI Stadium while the Swans are yet to win away from Sydney in 2009. The Swans were in winning positions in their past two matches against Hawthorn and Collingwood before letting it slip late. There was a season-defining aspect to both of those defeats that makes this week's clash absolutely and positively Sydney's last chance to stay in the mix for September. The rejuvenated Crows look to have them covered, however. Quicker, more versatile and with many more scoring options, it's Adelaide by 30 points.