Out-of-form Adelaide hopes to flip its fortunes in a blockbuster Showdown 59 clash with raring Port Adelaide on Friday night. Live updates below!
The Crows (3-4, 96.1%) go in having swung five changes including Jordan Dawson’s exclusion for personal reasons, giving the Power (3-4, 112.5%) every chance of another Adelaide Oval scalp after creaming Geelong last Saturday.
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The Crows have won six of the past eight Showdowns, including both of last year’s matchups — the first by five points, and the second by 98.
However, their ball movement remains problematic eight weeks into the season. They sit third-last in the competition for both chain-to-score rate and defensive-50-to-forward-50 success.
In particular, they’re not utilising the high-handball game like flourishing ball movement sides like the league-leading Swans.
“There are a couple of clubs, Richmond and Adelaide, that I don’t think have embraced this in any way, shape or form, and I think they’ve been left for dead,” two-time flag-winner David King told First Crack Preview on Wednesday night.
“I’m just concerned that the Adelaide Crows haven’t updated to the iPhone – they’re still using the old Motorola, the flip-phone.
“I think they need to get with modern footy, because the AFL average (handball metres gained) has jumped 30-40 per cent.”
Match details: Adelaide vs. Port Adelaide from 8:10pm AEST at Adelaide Oval.
Watch it live: On Fox Footy (channel 503), and streaming on Kayo, from 8:00pm AEST.
Follow Crows vs. Power in our live blog below!