It doesn't get any more difficult
Hugh Goddard couldn’t have asked to return for a more challenging task. Adelaide’s firepower in attack, led by captain Taylor Walker, All Australian small forward Eddie Betts, powerhouse key Josh Jenkins and linkmen Tom Lynch and Mitch McGovern, has the Crows ranked No. 1 for points for this season at 112.4 per game. And whilst the South Australians don’t accumulate a massive amount of entries, when the ball does go inside 50 they score. They are ranked No. 1 for both scores per inside 50 (53.1%) and goals per inside 50 (30.7%). Adelaide has three players inside the League top-ten for goal kicking, with Jenkins and Betts on 27 goals and Walker on 24 on the back of two hauls of five in the last fortnight. The loss of Sam Fisher hurts the Saints, but the form of Sean Dempster, Jarryn Geary and Dylan Roberton last week ensures the back six is travelling west in form.
Adelaide Oval hoodoo
The introduction of Adelaide Oval in recent seasons may have been a major success for the game and for football in that part of the world, but not so much for St Kilda. Alan Richardson’s side has lost all five appearances inside South Australia’s sporting cathedral, and by a considerable margin at an average of just under ten goals. More recently, the Saints pushed Port Adelaide for three and a half quarters at Adelaide Oval in Round 1 before being eclipsed late in the piece. In their last encounter, the Crows cruised to a 46-point win after the Saints lost Jarryn Geary and Leigh Montagna in the warm-up, before Nick Riewoldt was concussed in a sickening incident.
Top-end bunch making an impact
They say premiership lists are built from grouping consecutive drafts together to form the nucleus of sustained success. On Sunday afternoon, the Saints could have six players from the last three National Drafts taken within the first 25 picks: 2015 – Jade Gresham (pick No. 18); 2014 – Paddy McCartin (No. 1), Hugh Goddard (No. 21) and Daniel McKenzie (No. 22); 2013 – Jack Billings (No. 3) and Luke Dunstan (No. 18). Of that group, McKenzie was the only player not taken in the first round, although he was plucked with the first selection in the second round. And with Jack Lonie and Blake Acres banging on the door, St Kilda’s top-end youth is playing a significant role in the club’s progress in 2016.
Can the Saints midfield respond?
Adelaide’s ability to cope with the departure of decorated champion midfielder Patrick Dangerfield this season has been impressive. In his absence, the Crows have spread the load, with veteran star Scott Thompson continuing to get the job done, along with Rory Sloane. St Kilda’s midfield will be seeking redemption after having their colours lowered by Lachie Neale and co last Saturday night. David Armitage and Jack Steven were exceptional in the win over the Dockers, but the contribution diminished from there. Similarly to the Dockers, the Crows possess dash and class on the outside in Brodie Smith and Paul Seedsman. And given their potency in attack, it will be imperative the Saints win the contest in the middle to give St Kilda the best opportunity of winning on the road for the first time since Round 9 last year.
Place your Betts
Eddie Betts’ form since crossing from Carlton to Adelaide at the end of 2013 has seen the goal sneak flourish into one of the best small forwards in the last decade. Hauls of 51.22 and 63.25 in 2014 and 2015 have acquired two goal kicking prizes at West Lakes and already he has 27.14 next to his name this season. At Adelaide Oval, where he has a pocket named after his wizardry, Betts has kicked 20 of goals this season at the ground, including two bags of five and four goals. Saints small defender Jarryn Geary is set for a big test on the All Australian forward come Sunday afternoon. The St Kilda leader heads across to South Australia in form having stifled the influence of another All Australian in Hayden Ballantyne last week, holding the goal sneak goalless in the Saints’ win over Fremantle.
