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Team V Adelaide.

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Cunningham will play. He is a bit of a favourite of Chris Connollys & was probably the best travelling player last season.
 
Rodney Eades Assesment of the Game

From afl.com

The two games that appear the most intriguing this weekend are the two clashes between the South Australian and West Australian clubs – West Coast versus Adelaide and Adelaide versus Fremantle. All four teams could make the finals.

Let’s look at the Crows and the Dockers on Wednesday, with the Eagles and the Power to come on Thursday.

The teams: Fremantle is expected to take a big step forward this year mainly because of the recruitment of Des Headland and the maturation of its younger players.

This group includes Matthew Pavlich, Justin Longmuir, Paul Hasleby, Trent Croad, Troy Simmonds and Stephen Koops, who have all played more than 60 games and should now step up to become the backbone of the side, although unfortunately for the Dockers, Croad is suspended and will miss this match, while Longmuir, if he plays, will be underdone. This robs Fremantle of some strikepower, although it may be offset by the reappearance of Clive Waterhouse after a long absence.

The Crows have enjoyed a very good pre-season and their injured players are returning at the right time.

Game Styles: Fremantle depends upon its run and this will only improve with Headland’s inclusion. Last year, the Dockers had a tendency to play a loose man in defence and once the ball is won, they attempt to utilize the spare player or players where possible. If they couldn’t create the loose player, then they struggled to work the ball up the ground.

There has been a gentle shift in Freo’s approach over summer and the side appears more willing to play on more quickly and move the ball into the corridor.

Adelaide, most of the time, will play an accountable one-on-one style of football. The Crows move the ball quickly in the corridor and preferably, longer into the forward line. The missing link has been a consistent marking target in the forward line. Wayne Carey and the eventual return of Scott Welsh will bolster this enormously, while Ronnie Burns also adds strikepower.

Strengths and concerns:
Adelaide’s midfield is its main weapon. The Crows have two good ruckmen who give their quality on-ballers first use. Consequently, they are very good at all stoppages, and Fremantle will need to negate their efficient takeaways from these situations.

One area of concern for Gary Ayres will when Pavlich plays on the ball. Tyson Stenglein will probably get the job but Pavlich will have a major size advantage if he pushes forward.

Fremantle also has a great midfield so it will be interesting to see whether there is much tagging or it becomes just a head-to-head battle, and the Dockers may also elect to have Peter Bell run with Andrew McLeod. Bell’s orders could be to push forward by running hard and forcing McLeod to play defensively.

Carey will be underdone but it remains a dilemma for Chris Connolly as to who to play on him. The Dockers are solid in defence but have no-one to match Carey’s strength.

X-Factor: For the Crows at this time of the year, it has to be Carey. He can win a game off his own boot but is 32 and hasn’t played much football for 18 months. The Crows would be happy with a moderate return.

The Dockers’ game breaker could be Jeff Farmer, a big name recruit in 2002 who didn’t have much impact, but is a match-winner who would have taken a great deal of time during Adelaide’s preparation this week.

Where it will be won and lost: the game will be won in the midfield where the Crows have an advantage due to their two ruckmen – Matthew Clarke and Rhett Biglands. If they can give their midfield first use of the ball too often, the game will be over. Fremantle has the capacity to kick a winning score but will need quality service against the likes of Ben Hart, Nigel Smart and Nathan Bassett.

Result: Expect a top-quality match. Adelaide’s experienced and top-shelf midfield, as well as the home ground advantage should enable it to win an entertaining contest. Adelaide by 19 points.
 

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Freo over the years have developed a reputation of beating the sides they shouldn't, and being thumped by the sides they should beat.

On paper Adelaide look strong with some under rated players like Tyson Edwards, Stenglein and Perrie, plus the usual AA players.

If Freo want credability, this is the time to snatch a giant chunk.
 
Originally posted by goaldrush
I've tipped the Crows because at AAMI Stadium they are very hard to beat.

I just keep having these flash backs of round 1 last season when the strife torn Kanga's went to visit the Wizard Cup Champs Port in what was expected to be a 10 goal beating.......................................
 
Out of everyone I've seen do their tips in the media, the only 2 people to tip us have been Basil Zemplis and Caroline Wilson :D

If these 2 experts believe we will win, then we should :)
 
Originally posted by Freo Hitman
I just keep having these flash backs of round 1 last season when the strife torn Kanga's went to visit the Wizard Cup Champs Port in what was expected to be a 10 goal beating.......................................

Yeeeessssssss .... but ... that was Kangaroos & Port. What has that got to do with freo & Crows?

Remember that Port have never beaten Kangaroos for premiership points, just as Freo has never beaten Crows at AAMI Stadium for premiership points.

If you think that is a point of similarity, do bear in mind that it happens to be the wrong way around similarity.
 
Originally posted by ok.crows
Yeeeessssssss .... but ... that was Kangaroos & Port. What has that got to do with freo & Crows?

.

Just think ....DE JA VU Bro.... DE JA VU !! ;)
 

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