SUMMARY
No prizes for guessing the headlines leading into this Friday night blockbuster at the Adelaide Oval. All the talk will be about the return of Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield for the first time since leaving the Crows at the end of last year. Dangerfield has been in superb form for the Cats, averaging 29 disposals and leading the League in inside 50s with 7.4 per contest. The second-placed Cats are building nicely after a comfortable 44-point win against West Coast at Simonds Stadium. They face a Crows team eager to make amends for last weekend's 15-point loss to the Western Bulldogs. Captain Taylor Walker has come under plenty of scrutiny and he and Eddie Betts need to provide more support up forward to Josh Jenkins.
WHERE AND WHEN: Adelaide Oval, Friday, May 13, 7.20pm ACST
LAST FIVE TIMES
R23, 2015, Geelong 17.17 (119) d Adelaide 11.14 (80) at Simonds Stadium
R1, 2014, Geelong 18.11 (119) d Adelaide 12.9 (81) at Simonds Stadium
R17, 2013, Adelaide 14.10 (94) d Geelong 14.8 (92) at AAMI Stadium
R18, 2012, Geelong 15.12 (102) d Adelaide 11.9 (75) at Simonds Stadium
R7, 2012, Adelaide 19.8 (122) d Geelong 10.12 (72) at AAMI Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. Veteran defender Andrew Mackie was the star for the Cats when they beat Adelaide by 39 points in Round 23 last year. Mackie had 34 disposals and 11 marks to have a huge impact on the contest.
2. Adelaide must tighten up its defence if it is to cause an upset. They Crows are the highest-scoring side in the competition with an average of 113 points, but are ranked only 10th defensively. Geelong is ranked second in both categories.
3. Geelong has the upper hand on Adelaide in the past five years with a 5-2 record since 2011. Overall, the Cats have won 20 of their 37 games against the Crows in the meetings between the two clubs.
4. Getting first use of the ball out of the middle has been crucial to Geelong's early-season success. The Cats are second in centre clearances with 15.1 per game, while the Crows are 10th with 13.6. The Cats are equal-fifth in overall clearances while the Crows are ninth.
5. The Crows are quickly turning Adelaide Oval into a fortress. They have won their past eight games at their new home ground, including five by six goals or more. Geelong doesn't mind playing there either, having won its past two games at the venue, both against Port Adelaide.
6. Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield is on track to overtake injured Brownlow Medallist Nat Fyfe as the highest-ranked player in the Schick AFL Player Ratings. Dangerfield has improved every week this season and is second with 660.7 points – just 2.9 points behind Fyfe. Dangerfield is 50 points ahead of North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein.
READ: Stats that matter: Round Eight
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Patrick Dangerfield.
This is the game Adelaide fans have had in their calendar since the start of the season. Danger has been on fire for the Cats this year and you wouldn't bet against him rising to the occasion against his former side.
AFL.COM.AU PREDICTION: Geelong by 18 points
