TonyK
CibbuanoMatch preview: Adelaide v West Coast
September 23rd 2006 01:26
ADELAIDE V WEST COAST
WHERE & WHEN: AAMI Stadium, 3:00pm (CST), Saturday, September 23
TV & RADIO: Channel 10. 3AW, ABC National, K-Rock, Triple M, 5AA, 6PR, NIRS
HEAD TO HEAD: Played - 28, Adelaide - 13, West Coast - 15
LAST TIME: West Coast 26.9 (165) def. Adelaide 12.11 (83), Round 17, 2006 at Subiaco Oval. The Crows had won eight in-a-row leading up to this clash but were comprehensively thumped by the Eagles who were coming off a loss to Collingwood the previous week.
FINALS HEAD TO HEAD: Played - 3, Adelaide - 2, West Coast - 1
LAST TIME IN A FINAL: West Coast 14.9 (93) def. Adelaide 11.11 (77), 2005 Preliminary Final, Subiaco Oval
HEAD TO HEAD AT THIS VENUE: Played - 14, Adelaide - 10, West Coast - 4
LAST TIME AT THIS VENUE: West Coast 13.12 (90) def. Adelaide 13.10 (88), Round 2, 2006 at AAMI Stadium.
TAB SPORTSBET: Adelaide $2.20, West Coast $1.62
BETFAIR: Adelaide $2.36, West Coast $1.38
Adelaide's injury woes in the second half of the season have been well documented, but they will be bolstered by the return of stars Andrew McLeod and Brett Burton.
Burton missed five weeks with a hamstring injury, while McLeod has been on the sidelines for the past fortnight as a foot injury continued to trouble the star.
Both players have done plenty of work on the track, but their still has to be a question mark over their fitness and their ability to run out four quarters, especially against a West Coast side which is regarded as the best running team in the competition.
McLeod's return is a big boost for the Crows, and where he lines up is an unknown.
Will coach Neil Craig pinch hit him through the midfield and up forward or return him to his customary position off half-back.
Wherever McLeod lines up you would expect him to be used in 10 to 15-minute bursts each quarter, and with his sublime skills is capable of causing some damage with very little football.
I wouldn't be suprised if Eagles coach John Worsfold uses Adam Selwood in a negating half-forward role to cut down McLeod's run off half-back, which has been integral to the Crows success this season.
Meanwhile Burton's inclusion gives Craig a much needed option up forward in a forward line which is without Trent Hentschel, Ken McGregor and skipper Mark Ricciuto.
Burton's ability to push up into the midfield is also a key.
Craig has shown tremendous faith in his 22, making only the two changes- surely the temptation to bring back McGregor and Ricciuto would have been great.
But the non-star system which Adelaide has stood by all season has served them well in their past two outings, with the likes of Jason Porpylzia and Nathan Bock impressive in recent weeks.
Adelaide will be desperate to atone for last year's preliminary final loss to the Eagles at Subiaco Oval and the more recent embarassment of round 17 when West Coast dished out an 82-point hiding- Adelaide's worst loss in over two years.
The Crows look likely to tag Eagles captain Chris Judd, with Robert Shirley to be given the tough assigment of minding the 2004 Brownlow medallist.
However, Adelaide can't afford to go too negative against a West Coast midfield which runs eight to ten deep and need to back their stars of Simon Goodwin, Tyson Edwards and Scott Thompson to win their fair share of the football.
You would expect former Crow Tyson Stenglein to get the task of minding Goodwin.
The forward line is the biggest concern for Craig and its difficult to envisage how Adelaide will kick a winning score.
Key forwards Scott Welsh and Ian Perrie have managed a meagre 17 goals between them this year and Burton has missed a lot of football and his impact on the game remains questionable.
You would expect All-Australian full-back Darren Glass to line-up on Welsh while the versatile Adam Hunter could be given the job of minding the dangerous Burton.
With three of their top five goalkickers still missing, Adelaide forward Matthew Bode looms as a key for the Crows.
Bode has kicked 30 goals in arguably his best season, and veteran Drew Banfield looks likely to get the task of minding the lively Adelaide forward after keeping him goalless in round 17.
Meanwhile West Coast will head into today's clash chock full of confidence.
Their midfield brilliance was on display last Saturday night against the Western Bulldogs, with Daniel Kerr and Andrew Embley key contributors with 29 possessions apiece after enforced lay-offs.
Kerr provides the Eagles with some much needed hardness around the football and tends to get forgotten with the stars of Chris Judd and Ben Cousins shining so brightly.
While Embley is capable of pushing forward and has provided a few headaches for the Crows in recent times, most notably there past two encounters at AAMI Stadium and there appears to be no logical match-up for the Eagles vice-captain.
The return of Ashley Hansen last week was a key for the Eagles.
It was no suprise that Hansen's return coincided with Quinten Lynch booting six majors.
The Eagles have a 12-0 win-loss record this year when Hansen plays and his ability to present all day and provide a lead-up target enables Lynch to lead into space and not be forced wide to the boundary.
With windy conditions forecasted at AAMI, it will be crucial for both sides to use the corridor to maximise their scoring opportunities.
The last time these two sides met in round 17 West Coast had 434 disposals- 226 of those were handballs as they broke the Adelaide midfield with their superior run.
A similiar tactic today will be hard for the Crows to counter given the Eagles midfield depth.
Again the key for West Coast is Lynch, his match-up against All-Australian defender Ben Rutten is a key- if the "Big Unit" can kick three or four the Eagles will win.
This match will be won or lost for both sides in the midfield and it will be a matter of whether the Crows can break even against the Eagles stars, or the depth and run of West Coast will prove too much to bare.
All-Australian Dean Cox didn't play the last time these two sides met and his dual with Adelaide ruckman Matthew Clarke will be decisive.
Both players are evenly matched in terms of hitouts this season, but its Cox's ability to get the football around the ground and be a link-man that will be of concern to Adelaide.
Cox averages a touch over 17 possessions a game this season while his Crows counterpart averages a meagre eight touches.
The Eagles have won five of their past six against the Crows, including their past two at AAMI Stadium, so the venue will hold no fears for John Worsfold's men.
While Adelaide have enjoyed the week's break, two of their stars in McLeod and Burton have missed a lot of football and their ability to make a significant impact in the cauldron of a preliminary final is questionable.
The Eagles will get up in a hard-fought tussle and book a replay of last year's grand final against Sydney. West Coast by 17 points.
ADELAIDE
B: Johncock, Rutten, Bassett
HB: Mattner, Bock, Torney
C: Burton, Goodwin, van Berlo
HF: Thompson, Perrie, Reilly
F: Bode, Welsh, Biglands
FOLL: Clarke, Shirley, Edwards
I/C: Doughty, McLeod, Stevens, Porplyzia
EMG: Massie, McGregor, Douglas
IN: Burton, McLeod
OUT: Douglas, Massie
WEST COAST
B: B.Jones, Glass, Selwood
HB: Waters, Hunter, Stenglein
C: A.Embley, Cousins, Braun
HF: Chick, Hansen, Butler
F: Kerr, Lynch, Seaby
FOLL: Cox, Judd, Fletcher
I/C: Armstrong, Banfield, Graham, R.Jones
EMG: LeCras, Rosa, Staker
IN: Banfield, Graham
OUT: Wirrpanda (hamstring), Rosa
Field umpires: Ellis, Ryan, Goldspink
WHERE & WHEN: AAMI Stadium, 3:00pm (CST), Saturday, September 23
TV & RADIO: Channel 10. 3AW, ABC National, K-Rock, Triple M, 5AA, 6PR, NIRS
HEAD TO HEAD: Played - 28, Adelaide - 13, West Coast - 15
LAST TIME: West Coast 26.9 (165) def. Adelaide 12.11 (83), Round 17, 2006 at Subiaco Oval. The Crows had won eight in-a-row leading up to this clash but were comprehensively thumped by the Eagles who were coming off a loss to Collingwood the previous week.
FINALS HEAD TO HEAD: Played - 3, Adelaide - 2, West Coast - 1
LAST TIME IN A FINAL: West Coast 14.9 (93) def. Adelaide 11.11 (77), 2005 Preliminary Final, Subiaco Oval
HEAD TO HEAD AT THIS VENUE: Played - 14, Adelaide - 10, West Coast - 4
LAST TIME AT THIS VENUE: West Coast 13.12 (90) def. Adelaide 13.10 (88), Round 2, 2006 at AAMI Stadium.
TAB SPORTSBET: Adelaide $2.20, West Coast $1.62
BETFAIR: Adelaide $2.36, West Coast $1.38
Adelaide's injury woes in the second half of the season have been well documented, but they will be bolstered by the return of stars Andrew McLeod and Brett Burton.
Burton missed five weeks with a hamstring injury, while McLeod has been on the sidelines for the past fortnight as a foot injury continued to trouble the star.
Both players have done plenty of work on the track, but their still has to be a question mark over their fitness and their ability to run out four quarters, especially against a West Coast side which is regarded as the best running team in the competition.
McLeod's return is a big boost for the Crows, and where he lines up is an unknown.
Will coach Neil Craig pinch hit him through the midfield and up forward or return him to his customary position off half-back.
Wherever McLeod lines up you would expect him to be used in 10 to 15-minute bursts each quarter, and with his sublime skills is capable of causing some damage with very little football.
I wouldn't be suprised if Eagles coach John Worsfold uses Adam Selwood in a negating half-forward role to cut down McLeod's run off half-back, which has been integral to the Crows success this season.
Meanwhile Burton's inclusion gives Craig a much needed option up forward in a forward line which is without Trent Hentschel, Ken McGregor and skipper Mark Ricciuto.
Burton's ability to push up into the midfield is also a key.
Craig has shown tremendous faith in his 22, making only the two changes- surely the temptation to bring back McGregor and Ricciuto would have been great.
But the non-star system which Adelaide has stood by all season has served them well in their past two outings, with the likes of Jason Porpylzia and Nathan Bock impressive in recent weeks.
Adelaide will be desperate to atone for last year's preliminary final loss to the Eagles at Subiaco Oval and the more recent embarassment of round 17 when West Coast dished out an 82-point hiding- Adelaide's worst loss in over two years.
The Crows look likely to tag Eagles captain Chris Judd, with Robert Shirley to be given the tough assigment of minding the 2004 Brownlow medallist.
However, Adelaide can't afford to go too negative against a West Coast midfield which runs eight to ten deep and need to back their stars of Simon Goodwin, Tyson Edwards and Scott Thompson to win their fair share of the football.
You would expect former Crow Tyson Stenglein to get the task of minding Goodwin.
The forward line is the biggest concern for Craig and its difficult to envisage how Adelaide will kick a winning score.
Key forwards Scott Welsh and Ian Perrie have managed a meagre 17 goals between them this year and Burton has missed a lot of football and his impact on the game remains questionable.
You would expect All-Australian full-back Darren Glass to line-up on Welsh while the versatile Adam Hunter could be given the job of minding the dangerous Burton.
With three of their top five goalkickers still missing, Adelaide forward Matthew Bode looms as a key for the Crows.
Bode has kicked 30 goals in arguably his best season, and veteran Drew Banfield looks likely to get the task of minding the lively Adelaide forward after keeping him goalless in round 17.
Meanwhile West Coast will head into today's clash chock full of confidence.
Their midfield brilliance was on display last Saturday night against the Western Bulldogs, with Daniel Kerr and Andrew Embley key contributors with 29 possessions apiece after enforced lay-offs.
Kerr provides the Eagles with some much needed hardness around the football and tends to get forgotten with the stars of Chris Judd and Ben Cousins shining so brightly.
While Embley is capable of pushing forward and has provided a few headaches for the Crows in recent times, most notably there past two encounters at AAMI Stadium and there appears to be no logical match-up for the Eagles vice-captain.
The return of Ashley Hansen last week was a key for the Eagles.
It was no suprise that Hansen's return coincided with Quinten Lynch booting six majors.
The Eagles have a 12-0 win-loss record this year when Hansen plays and his ability to present all day and provide a lead-up target enables Lynch to lead into space and not be forced wide to the boundary.
With windy conditions forecasted at AAMI, it will be crucial for both sides to use the corridor to maximise their scoring opportunities.
The last time these two sides met in round 17 West Coast had 434 disposals- 226 of those were handballs as they broke the Adelaide midfield with their superior run.
A similiar tactic today will be hard for the Crows to counter given the Eagles midfield depth.
Again the key for West Coast is Lynch, his match-up against All-Australian defender Ben Rutten is a key- if the "Big Unit" can kick three or four the Eagles will win.
This match will be won or lost for both sides in the midfield and it will be a matter of whether the Crows can break even against the Eagles stars, or the depth and run of West Coast will prove too much to bare.
All-Australian Dean Cox didn't play the last time these two sides met and his dual with Adelaide ruckman Matthew Clarke will be decisive.
Both players are evenly matched in terms of hitouts this season, but its Cox's ability to get the football around the ground and be a link-man that will be of concern to Adelaide.
Cox averages a touch over 17 possessions a game this season while his Crows counterpart averages a meagre eight touches.
The Eagles have won five of their past six against the Crows, including their past two at AAMI Stadium, so the venue will hold no fears for John Worsfold's men.
While Adelaide have enjoyed the week's break, two of their stars in McLeod and Burton have missed a lot of football and their ability to make a significant impact in the cauldron of a preliminary final is questionable.
The Eagles will get up in a hard-fought tussle and book a replay of last year's grand final against Sydney. West Coast by 17 points.
ADELAIDE
B: Johncock, Rutten, Bassett
HB: Mattner, Bock, Torney
C: Burton, Goodwin, van Berlo
HF: Thompson, Perrie, Reilly
F: Bode, Welsh, Biglands
FOLL: Clarke, Shirley, Edwards
I/C: Doughty, McLeod, Stevens, Porplyzia
EMG: Massie, McGregor, Douglas
IN: Burton, McLeod
OUT: Douglas, Massie
WEST COAST
B: B.Jones, Glass, Selwood
HB: Waters, Hunter, Stenglein
C: A.Embley, Cousins, Braun
HF: Chick, Hansen, Butler
F: Kerr, Lynch, Seaby
FOLL: Cox, Judd, Fletcher
I/C: Armstrong, Banfield, Graham, R.Jones
EMG: LeCras, Rosa, Staker
IN: Banfield, Graham
OUT: Wirrpanda (hamstring), Rosa
Field umpires: Ellis, Ryan, Goldspink
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