Preview Round 17: Collingwood v Adelaide

AFL

SUMMARY

Round 17 COLLINGWOOD v ADELAIDE Time, Place, TV: Saturday July 16, 7:40pm EST Adelaide Oval 7mate / Fox Footy 7:30pm Weather: Min 5 Max 15 Chance of rain 5%: <1mm Wind: NE 14kph Betting: Collingwood $4.90 Adelaide $1.17

The Adelaide juggernaut keeps on rolling with the third-placed Crows moving into the top four for the first time this season after their seventh win on the trot. Victory over Collingwood will take the Crows to at least second on the ladder and an outside chance of top spot depending on the result of the Hawthorn v Sydney Swans blockbuster. In any case, the Crows find themselves perfectly positioned for a top two finish and the chance to play both finals at the Adelaide Oval before going to the MCG for the big dance. It's a tantalising prospect, but one they can't afford to think about against an improving Collingwood outfit. The Magpies put up their best display of the season to shock Greater Western Sydney and keep their slim finals hopes alive. With captain Scott Pendlebury finding plenty of the ball and Travis Cloke recapturing his best up forward, the Magpies cannot be underestimated. Still, the Crows are building nicely and it's hard to find a weak link among them.

LAST FIVE TIMES

1. R2, 2015, Adelaide 12.18 (90) d Collingwood 9.9 (63) at Etihad Stadium
2. R18, 2014, Adelaide 14.14 (98) d Collingwood 12.10 (82) at the MCG
3. R9, 2014, Adelaide 10.16 (76) d Collingwood 7.13 (55) at the Adelaide Oval
4. R16, 2013, Collingwood 17.9 (111) d Adelaide 12.12 (84) at the MCG
5. R9, 2012, Collingwood 10.15 (75) d Adelaide 6.13 (49) at AAMI Stadium

THE SIX POINTS

1. The Crows dominated the stats when the teams last played in round two last year, leading the way in disposals (426 to 352), marks (126 to 61), inside 50s (58 to 44) and clearances (45 to 29). Collingwood was held to just two goals in the first half in the 27-point loss.
2. Adelaide has been impressive in clearances this season averaging 39.1 per game to be ranked third, while Collingwood is the worst in the competition with 33.1.
3. The Magpies hold a big advantage in the career meetings between the two clubs having won 25 of their 39 encounters. However, the Crows are fighting back with wins in the past three.
4. Adelaide continues to be the highest-scoring team in the competition with an average of 112 points per game. Collingwood is 14th, but last week against the Giants they kicked their highest score since round eight.
5. Collingwood will need to break its duck at Adelaide Oval having lost to the Crows and Power in their two visits to the ground. The Crows have won six of their seven games there this year, the only blemish coming against Geelong.
6. It's only a matter of time before Adelaide defender Rory Laird breaks into the top 100 of the Schick AFL Player Ratings. Laird is ranked 111th overall after ending last season ranked 188th in the competition. Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury will be the highest-ranked player on the ground at No.3 overall.

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …Travis Cloke.
Was last week's dominating performance against GWS a fluke or a permanent return to the form for the Collingwood key forward? Cloke will have his hands full with Adelaide stopper Daniel Talia, who has come out on top on nearly every individual match up he's had this year.

PREDICTION: Adelaide by 18 points.