VENUE & TIME: AAMI Stadium, Sunday, June 27, 2:40pm
HEAD TO HEAD: Played:18, Adelaide 10, Melbourne 8,
LAST TIME: Melbourne 7.15 (57) d Adelaide 5.11 (41), round 3, 2010 at MCG
LAST TIME AT VENUE:Adelaide 22.18 (150) d Melbourne 11.8 (74) Round 8, 2008, at AAMI Stadium
WALKING WOUNDED: Adelaide could welcome back Nathan Bock (groin) and Bernie Vince (ankle). The club champion severely injured his ankle at training and hasn't played since Round 8. Brett Burton and Andrew McLeod are both sidelined after knee surgery with a return date still not confirmed. Phil Davis will have to pass a fitness test after his concussion and shoulder injury against the Dockers while Chris Knights' (foot) comeback is also indefinite. Daniel Talia's season was ended at training last week after a serious knee injury with Will Young expected to return in a month. James McDonald (hamstring), Daniel Hughes (ankle), Rohan Bail (fractured cheekbone) and Michael Newton (calf) are all a week away from returning for the Demons while Sam Blease (leg) could miss two, as will Luke Tapscott (hip). Max Gawn's knee injury will see him out of action for over a month while John Meesen's return from an ankle injury is indefinite. Ricky Petterd will miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury, but Jake Spencer (knee) will need to prove his fitness.
FORM:
Crow's Past Five:
Round 12: Loss, 11.11 (77) - 19.10 (124) v Hawthorn, at Aurora Stadium
Round 11: Win, 16.9 (105) - 12.10 (83) v Fremantle, at AAMI Stadium
Round 10: Loss, 12.4 (76) - 19.9 (123) v St Kilda, at Etihad Stadium
Round 9: Win, 10.12 (72) - 18.13 (121) v Brisbane, at AAMI Stadium
Round 8: Loss, 11.9 (75) - 12.12 (84) v North Melbourne, at Etihad Stadium
Demons' Past Five:
Round 12: Draw, 11.10 (76) - 9.22 (76) v Collingwood, at the MCG
Round 11: Loss, 9.6 (60) - 15.11 (101) v Carlton, at the MCG
Round 10: Loss, 10.7 (67) - 18.13 (121) v Geelong, at Skilled Stadium
Round 9: Win, 17.9 (111) - 16.14 (110) v Port Adelaide, at TIO Stadium
Round 8: Loss, 6.10 (46) - 10.15 (75) v West Coast, at the MCG
Melbourne was unlucky not to get a win against Collingwood in its last match and has now only recorded one victory in the past month; a nail biting one-point win over the Power. The Crows' month has been similar but Adelaide has managed to post two wins against an underdone Brisbane and an emotional victory over Fremantle to farewell Tyson Edwards. Adelaide was thumped last round, though, by Hawthorn and the issue still remains that the Crows' cannot string together four quarters. Another retirement was announced during the week, with Brett Burton to call it a day at the end of the season but the veteran is expected to play again before the year is out. Will Adelaide produce another emotionally charged performance? The Demons are a win-and-a-half in front of Adelaide, and after a purple patch early in the season where they won three in a row, Melbourne's come crashing back down to earth with four losses on the trot.
WHO'S HOT: Richard Douglas is proving to be one of Adelaide's most important and consistent players this season. Douglas can play up forward or through the middle with coach Neil Craig even having used him down back. The goal sneak collected 25 possessions against the Hawks, six marks, six tackles and a goal. That performance came on the back of arguably his best display for the year when he finished with 31 disposals, eight marks and three tackles in Adelaide's stunning win over Fremantle. Brent Moloney was sensational for the Demons against Collingwood where he racked up 38 touches including eight marks, seven tackles and eight inside-50s. It was an impressive performance for the ball magnet, who backed his solid display the week before in the loss to Carlton where he collected 27 touches. Moloney also hauled in 37 disposals against Richmond in Round 4 in another team high performance. The midfielder leads his team in the highest average possessions per match, averaging just over 26.
WE THINK: With both sides enduring poor seasons, Adelaide's form over the last month suggests it will have enough to record a victory against Melbourne on home soil. Adelaide's three wins this season have been at AAMI Stadium and the home ground advantage and the 19th man should get it over the line. Adelaide by 21 points.