Oh, Brother!
Against St Kilda, the Crows will play without a ‘Crouch’ on their team sheet for the first time in nearly two years. Matt will miss a few weeks after straining his hamstring in the win over Richmond, while Brad is still recovering from groin soreness.
The last time Adelaide fielded a team without either of the siblings was in Round 10, 2016. On that occasion, the Crows beat Greater Western Sydney by 22 points at Adelaide Oval. The Crouch brothers will be sorely missed, but the performance of big-bodied onballers Hugh Greenwood and Cam Ellis-Yolmen last week was a testament to the Club’s midfield depth.
Greenwood and Ellis-Yolmen both played, arguably, their best AFL games recording career-high possession tallies and combining for 11 clearances and two goals. The pair’s ability to stand up again and support experienced heads Rory Sloane and Bryce Gibbs will be crucial on Saturday night.
Bryce going about his business
For a player who attracted so much fanfare in the trade period, Bryce Gibbs’ brilliant start in Crows colours has gone under the radar to an extent. Overshadowed by Rory Laird’s history-making first two games and Josh Jenkins’ five-goal haul last week, Gibbs has put together a fortnight of high-quality football.
The Carlton recruit is averaging a personal best 31.5 disposals, 16.5 contested possessions, 7.5 inside 50ms and 7.5 clearances after two rounds. He ranks top 10 in the AFL for disposals, effective kicks, inside 50ms, clearances and metres gained. Gibbs has also kicked three goals.
Bryce Gibbs has made a seamless transition to Adelaide
Tall order
Promising St Kilda second-gamer Rowan Marshall will be pitted against two-time All Australian nominee Sam Jacobs in the ruck. The Saints recalled Marshall, who debuted against the Sydney Swans in Round 18 last season, at the expense of Billy Longer.
Jacobs ranks fourth in the League for hit-outs to advantage (24) after two rounds and third for total disposals among all ruckmen (33). He’s also recorded an elite efficiency of 83.5 per cent – the best of any ruck with 30 or more disposals this year.
The Crows will be hoping ‘Sauce’ can give his midfielders first use against a very capable and potentially damaging Saints on ball bridge led by Jack Steven, David Armitage and Seb Ross.
Ready to respond
Adelaide is a recent example of a team able to respond with a strong performance after a disappointing loss and week of external scrutiny. After a lacklustre display on Good Friday, St Kilda has been criticised publicly and also internally, with coach Alan Richardson questioning the mindset of his group.
From all reports, the Saints have endured a tough week on the track and also made four changes at selection, including dropping regular midfielders Jack Steele and Koby Stevens in the wake of a lopsided contested possession count (150 – 119) in the loss to the North Melbourne.
Crows coach Don Pyke described St Kilda’s effort against the Roos as an ‘aberration’ and said he was expecting a far more competitive performance from the home team on Saturday night.
Feeling at home
Adelaide and St Kilda haven’t done battle at Etihad Stadium since Round Four, 2014, when Eddie Betts, Matt Crouch and James Podsiadly all played in their first wins for the Crows. The last four matches between the teams have been played in South Australia. Both sides played at the Docklands venue in Round One this season, with Adelaide going down to Essendon and St Kilda overcoming the plucky Brisbane Lions.
Of St Kilda’s 11 wins last year, nine were at Etihad Stadium. The Saints have won six of their last eight matches at the ground, including a 67-point win over eventual premiers Richmond in Round 16 last season. St Kilda will have the home-crowd advantage again on Friday night, but will have to overcome a poor recent record against the Crows, who have won their last seven games against the Saints.
The team song after Adelaide's most recent clash with St Kilda at Etihad Stadium
