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As we wind toward the end of a pretty mediocre season, we finally come face to face with our favourite bunnies of this decade, the Crows, or otherwise known as the Crowbunnies. Now, while you've got to have a fair bit of respect for the Crows, the best thing about them has been how they lost a couple of Preliminary Finals to us - including that one they had us on toast over at the Girly Ground, a week before cup number three arrived in the trophy cabinet.
When it's mattered, we've been able to beat the Crows... so what's going to happen this week when it has all the relevance to West Coast of a Brad Hardie opinion?
Squads |
| West
Coast Ruck |
B |
Matthew Spangher (30)
|
Darren Glass (23) |
Adam Selwood (37) |
Adelaide
Ruck |
| Nick Naitanui (9) |
F |
Chris Knights (21) |
Kurt Tippet (4) |
Richard Douglas (26) |
Ivan Maric (20) |
| Tom Swift (15) |
HB |
Sam Butler (26) |
Beau Wilkes (42) |
Shannon Hurn (25) |
Scott Thompson (5) |
| Brad Ebert (18) |
HF |
Bernie Vince (28) |
Trent Hentschel (37) |
Brent Reilly (3) |
Tyson Edwards (9) |
| |
C |
Matt Rosa (24) |
Matthew Priddis (11) |
Tim Houlihan (19) |
|
| |
C |
Nathan Van Berlo (7) |
Robert Shirley (12) |
Brad Symes (15) |
|
| |
HF |
Andrew Embley (32) |
Josh Kennedy (17) |
Scott Selwood (10) |
|
| |
HB |
Andrew McLeod (23) |
Scott Stevens (27) |
Simon Goodwin (36) |
|
| |
F |
Quinten Lynch (21) |
Callum Wilson* (36) |
Mark LeCras (2) |
|
| |
B |
Graham Johncock (18) |
Ben Rutten (25) |
Michael Doughty (11) |
|
|
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| West
Coast Interchange |
David Wirrpanda (44), Brent Staker (41), Ben McKinley (27), Ryan Davis (45), |
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Jason Porplyzia (40), James Sellar (29), Andy Otten (22), David Mackay (14), |
Adelaide
Interchange |
Weather |
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Chance of a shower
Maximum Temperature:17
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Changes |
The Eagles have held off on a game for one C.Fletcher this week, despite seeing Chris Masten (knee), Mitch Brown (foot) and Paddy McGinnity (ill) out of the team. Will there be one more chance for the rabble to abusive at their favourite scapegoat? Instead, the recalled trio are Brent Staker (who should keep the scapegoaters happy anyway), Matt Spangher and Ryan Davis.
The Crowbots have made one change with David Mackay in for Rory Sloane. |
Injuries and Suspensions |
Anyone that's out now, is out for the rest of the year you'd think, and there's a fair grab bag of Eagles out. Obviously we've been Coxless (groin) for a while, which is OK in a rowing team, but not so great for the Eagles. Equally, Daniel Kerr (groin?) is gone for the year, but it was a pretty ordinary year while it lasted anyway, so I doubt he's too cut up about it. Others who've been sitting it out for a while include Mark Nicoski (back), Brett Jones (hamstring, may be available next week) and the long term pair of Luke Shuey (fibula) and Beau Waters (elbow) who I seem to recall last played back in the Jurassic Era. They've been joined by Chris Masten (knee), Mitch Brown (foot), and Ash Hansen (hip). Oh, and while Adam Hunter might be playing WAFL, it looks like he may no longer have a shoulder to talk of.
The Crowbots have a couple of notable outs - particularly Nathan Bock (foot) and Brett Burton (hip), while Patrick Dangerfield (back) and Nick Gill (fibula) are also on the sidelines. On the whole though, not a huge number of major outs. |
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Lead up |
Hey people! The Eagles have won three in a row! Since the start of 2008, that's a run of unprecedented form. Still, the Eagles are 7-13, and even the strangest mathematical possibility of making a highly unexpected (and probably undeserved) finals appearance is gone like the wind.... still, it's a dramatic improvement over the last stanza of 2008 when everything just turned to complete and utter poo.
The Crowbots on the other hand have been pretty good in 2009, but a pretty good run mid-season, where the Crows looked a pretty good chance for top four has melted all wicked witch like with three losses in the last five weeks. Admittedly to St Kilda, Geelong and Collingwood, who not-quite-coincidentally sit 1-2-3 on the ladder. And they did nearly neuter the Cats at the Cattery. |
Matchups |
We all know that there's been a pretty good pile of talent at Crowland for a while, and a fair bit of that's an experienced back half; Graham Johncock, Ben Rutten, Michael Doughty, Andrew McLeod, Scott Stevens and Simon Goodwin are probably as experienced a six names as you could find. Thus this week we've got a challenge up forward for the Eagles: exuberance v experience. Hopefully exuberance will (1) turn up and (2) be enough. It's quite possible that if Quinten Lynch isn't playing forward, that McLeod alone may have a higher games tally than the entire of the Eagles forward structure with the likes of Mark LeCras and Josh Kennedy looking the experienced pair alongside Ben McKinley and Callum Wilson. Though it's always possible Wirra might play forward again, which makes a bit of a difference.
Not of course that I believe that much of the Eagles named team. But one thing that's for certain is that Nick Naitanui's development as a ruckman will continue this week against a relatively inexperienced Ivan Maric and the even less experienced James Sellar. NicNat's been coming along pretty nicely as a ruckman and looks a bit of experience away from scaring the living shit out of most opposition teams.
Its the midfield brigade they play to that may define the effectiveness of the ruck divisions this week. Again the Crows have the experienced set with Tyson Edwards, Robert Shirley and Scott Thompson leading the way. Compared to them, the Eagles midfield brigade is a creche with Matt Priddis almost looking like an old man next to the likes of Brad Ebert and Tom Swift. Of course, there is a bit of experience around to help out in Adam Selwood and Andrew Embley, but it's important the babies of the team can continue to develop.
Defensively, the last month has been the International Month of the Man-Child with the emergence of Shannon Hurn from promising talent to scary good defender. Alongside Sam Butler and Darren Glass, they've held together a pretty solid back six over the last few weeks, though Mitch Brown's loss will be tough. However, there is always the danger man in any game. In this one, it's Jason Porplyzia, who's the Crowbot's equivalent to LeCras. Probably the man to watch in Adelaide's forward line. |
Recent Meetings
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| One and one last year - which was pretty costly to the Crowbots at the end of 2008 when they missed the top four on percentage then going out in week one to the Eddies. They wouldn't want to screw up another season with a loss to the Eagles, and this week's crucial for any outside chance at all they have of scratching their way into a double chance. |
| 2008, Round 9 |
Subiaco Oval |
| West Coast |
|
1.4 |
|
7.5 |
|
10.10 |
|
14.13 (97) |
| Adelaide |
|
0.3 |
|
1.7 |
|
4.12 |
|
5.17 (47) |
| Sat 24th May 2008 |
West Coast by 50 |
| 2008, Round 2 |
Football Park |
| Adelaide |
|
6.4 |
|
10.5 |
|
13.6 |
|
21.7 (133) |
| West Coast |
|
2.1 |
|
4.4 |
|
7.5 |
|
8.9 (57) |
| Sat 29th Mar 2008 |
Adelaide by 76 |
| 2007, Round 13 |
Football Park |
| West Coast |
|
3.3 |
|
7.7 |
|
11.10 |
|
14.11 (95) |
| Adelaide |
|
4.3 |
|
6.6 |
|
8.10 |
|
10.14 (74) |
| Sun 1st Jul 2007 |
West Coast by 21 |
|
Head to Head |
| Overall: |
|
West Coast |
18 |
|
Adelaide |
14 |
|
Draws |
0 |
| At Football Park |
|
West Coast |
6 |
|
Adelaide |
11 |
|
Draws |
0 |
| West Coast biggest win: |
135 points; West Coast 26.21 (177) d Adelaide 5.12 (42) at Subiaco Oval, 1995, Round 19 |
| Adelaide biggest win: |
76 points; Adelaide 21.7 (133) d West Coast 8.9 (57) at Football Park, 2008, Round 2 |
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Summary |
With everything to play for, at home and an opposition that have one eye on the boarding gate for the end of season trip, you'd think this is a monty for the Crows. Though that's pretty much what I thought two weeks ago before the Doggies forgot to show. Somehow though, I don't think this lightning's going to strike twice.
The Crows should have enough juice to win this one, though if they forget you have to turn up to win, it could be a very interesting game. |
Prediction: Adelaide by 17 points. |
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