The Crows and Suns have met five times, with Adelaide holding the overall advantage 5-0.
Gold Coast is the best contested-possession team in the AFL, averaging 152.2 per game.
Led by captain Gary Ablett and prolific onballer Dion Prestia, the Suns midfield is their biggest weapon. Gold Coast is No.2 in the League for clearances and third in scores from stoppages.
Crow Taylor Walker has averaged 4.5 goals per game in his two clashes with the Suns.
Ablett has amassed more possessions (289) than any other player this season. Prestia (258 possessions) is also ranked in the top 10 (sixth overall). Scott Thompson leads the way for Adelaide with 238 – ranked 15th.
Of Ablett’s 289 disposals, 163 have been contested – ranked No.1. Patrick Dangerfield is third overall on 143. Prestia and Ablett are No.1 and No.2 in the competition for loose ball gets, and both rank top 15 in clearances – Ablett is No.1. Dangerfield is fourth (62). Ablett has also kicked 14 goals – ranked top-20 in the Coleman Medal race.
Thompson has averaged 35 possessions in five games against Gold Coast. The dual Crows Club Champion amassed a career-high 51 in Adelaide’s win over the Suns at Metricon Stadium in 2011. Ablett has averaged 35.8 and two goals in five games (as a Sun) against the Crows.
Ruckman Sam Jacobs is third in the AFL for hit-outs to advantage (85). Jacobs collected 20-plus possessions for the fourth time this season against Carlton on Sunday. He’s averaging more disposals than any other ruckman in 2014.
Rising Star winner Jaeger O’Meara is second in the competition for tackles with 64 – two more than acting Crows co-captain Rory Sloane, who is third overall. Sloane (49) and O’Meara (51) also lead their respective teams for inside 50ms – ranked second and third in the League.
Crows forward Matthew Wright is equal-second in the AFL for goal assists (11).
Last round, Adelaide fielded eight players with 35 or fewer games of experience – more than any other team in this games bracket, including GWS (seven). The maturing Suns only had four players with 35 games of experience or fewer in their win over the Bulldogs.
Rebounding defender Brodie Smith is ranked (equal) first in running bounces (28) and combined inside/rebound 50ms (33 and 45).
The Suns have won five straight games to sit in third place on the AFL ladder. The Crows have won four of their last six matches.
