Western Bulldogs vs Adelaide
Sunday 18 August 2013, 4:40pm
Venue: Etihad Stadium

Head to head:

Round 4, 2013: Adelaide Crows 12. 8 (80) defeated Western Bulldogs 4. 4 (28), AAMI Stadium
Round 2, 2012: Adelaide Crows 11. 16 (82) defeated Western Bulldogs 9. 10 (64), AAMI Stadium
Round 13, 2011: Western Bulldogs 14.16 (100) defeated Adelaide Crows 10. 10 (70), Etihad Stadium
Round 19, 2010:  Adelaide Crows 7. 11 (53) defeated by Western Bulldogs 8. 13 (61), AAMI Stadium
Round 5, 2010: Western Bulldogs 18. 13 (121) defeated Adelaide Crows 10. 12 (72), Etihad Stadium

Last time they met:

  • The Dogs had a dirty day in the wet at AAMI stadium  producing their lowest ever score against Adelaide and a shoulder injury to Ryan Griffen.
  • Adelaide’s +32 uncontested possessions, +19 uncontested marks and +12 inside-50s attest to their more effective ball movement.
  • Patrick Dangerfield was lethal forward of centre with 21 disposals and four goals. Rory Sloane also produced a fine effort with seven tackles, eight clearances and 17 contested possessions amid 29 disposals.
  • Adam Cooney and Tom Liberatore were among the Bulldogs’ best. Cooney defied the conditions to rack up 30 disposals, 10 clearances and two goals while Liberatore’s workmanlike effort yielded 33 disposals, seven tackles, eight clearances and a staggering 23 contested possessions.

Recent Form:

Western Bulldogs

The Dogs are increasingly finding reward for their tireless attack on the ball. With last week’s hard-fought victory against Carlton, the side’s past four matches have produced two wins along with two gallant losses at the hands of Hawthorn and Sydney. In terrific form, the Dogs have led the competition over the past month for total disposals, total tackles and contested possession differential while ranking second for inside-50s and clearance differential. Captain Matthew Boyd is in selection considerations again, seeking to prove his fitness after a stint on the sidelines with a calf complaint. Playing well with three matches remaining and opportunities aplenty to add to their six-game win tally, the Bulldogs will look to extend their hot streak against the Crows this Sunday.

Adelaide

Mixed fortunes have summed twelfth-placed Adelaide’s form  in the past four weeks. A thrilling comeback victory against the Cats, a frustrating loss to Fremantle, a dramatic defeat in the dying stages to Port and a staunchly determined win over North Melbourne punctuate the club’s past month. In their past four matches, Adelaide has won the contested possessions, uncontested possessions and total disposal count. They have also averaged 2.5 more scoring shots than their opponents, with inaccuracy proving costly at times. Jarryd Lyons and Shaun McKernan are options on the selection table after being omitted last week in favour of returnees Rory Sloane and Sam Shaw. The Crows will be desperate to extend their record to three straight wins against the Dogs and keep their season alive in doing so.

Key match ups and game breakers:

  • The Crows have been highly adept at controlling the ball and intercepting opposition disposals in 2013. Adelaide ranks fifth in the AFL for total kicks and fifth for total marks. The side has also conceded the fourth fewest opposition marks of any team this season and ranks fifth in the AFL for generating opposition turnovers. The Bulldogs played into Adelaide’s hands with their poor disposal efficiency  the last time the teams met and will need to tighten up to avoid costly turnovers. Ideal playing conditions under the roof at Etihad Stadium will provide the Dogs a better chance to be more effective with their disposal.
  • The Bulldogs’ four goals in the round four clash with Adelaide came from Cooney, Boyd and debutant Jackson Macrae. Now, a new-look forward line featuring Jarrad Grant in career-best form (10 goals in his past three matches) should mount greater challenges for Adelaide. Seeking redemption for a quiet round four, Daniel Giansiracusa (30 goals this year) and Luke Dahlhaus (24 goals) will also strive to continue their recent successes this weekend. Crows defenders Daniel Talia (23 goals conceded this year), Ben Rutten and Andy Otten, all strong in the air, are capable of cutting off errant forward-50 entries.
  • Patrick Dangerfield has cemented his status as an elite-level player this year. Despite missing two matches, Dangerfield ranks ninth in the competition for inside-50s and tenth for contested possessions to go along with 26 goals. He didn’t miss a beat upon returning from a shoulder injury two weeks ago, booting four goals in round 19 against Port Adelaide and amassing 13 inside-50s last weekend against North Melbourne. In his new shut-down role, Mitch Wallis has restricted Sydney’s Josh Kennedy to 18 disposals and Carlton’s Marc Murphy to 23 in the past two weeks and may be allocated Dangerfield on Sunday.