R 14 - Adelaide v North Melbourne

Round 14 is upon us and a fresh Adelaide come back from the bye to face of against a wavering Nth Melbourne outfit.

Should be a cracking game, post away....

Really looking forward to this one!

A massive game for Adelaide. If they can dispatch North Melbourne then the draw opens up and they have a clear path to a top 4 spot if they're good enough.

They will be well prepared after the bye, which came after one of their best away wins in recent memory. Confidence will be sky high, they will be fresh with their first choice team all on the park, and in front of their home crowd.

I can't see Adelaide losing this one, and in fact I think it could be a bit of a 'statement' game for them.

The last 3 or 4 years have seen some awesome games against North Melbourne. We kept winning close ones until they got us in round 1 this year.

Should be another great game, high scoring too. Dependent on the weather.

i'll tip the former magpie player Lindsay Thomas to get an early free kick this week

Paul wrote:The last 3 or 4 years have seen some awesome games against North Melbourne. We kept winning close ones until they got us in round 1 this year.

Should be another great game, high scoring too. Dependent on the weather.

I could be wrong but according to my (often terrible) memory the 2 times North have ventured to Adelaide Oval to play us we have absolutely flogged them. The first was 2 years ago when Eddie kicked 'that' goal that saw a pocket named after him, and the second was round 1 last year when Tex tore them a new one.

The only close games we've had against them in the last few years have been away. They hate coming here.

bayman wrote:i'll tip the former magpie player Lindsay Thomas to get an early free kick this week

How's Brad Scott?? I'm pretty sure a few weeks ago he was one of the coaches that basically said his players were coached to go in low and deliberately draw the free, and then he cries a river when Thomas doesn't get one.

Gingernuts wrote:

bayman wrote:i'll tip the former magpie player Lindsay Thomas to get an early free kick this week

How's Brad Scott?? I'm pretty sure a few weeks ago he was one of the coaches that basically said his players were coached to go in low and deliberately draw the free, and then he cries a river when Thomas doesn't get one.

And it looks like it'll cost him a river in fines as well

Speaking of rivers, the weather forecast for the game looks wet and wild!

The question is who will this help/hinder?

The argument will be that it will help North - but, they play most of their games under cover so maybe not.

Not sure who the wet weather advantages. We tend to play our worst in the wet, while North would be very comfortable playing under the Etihad roof.

Unfortunately, the weather will probably adversely affect the quality of the match, and the attendance, on what is a marquee night for the club.

Brucetiki wrote:Not sure who the wet weather advantages.  We tend to play our worst in the wet, while North would be very comfortable playing under the Etihad roof.

Unfortunately, the weather will probably adversely affect the quality of the match, and the attendance, on what is a marquee night for the club.

Absolutely sheeting down here in Victor Harbor at the moment. Hopefully it clears up a bit before game time.

I'll be there layered up and with my thermos of 'coffee'.

An ugly win, but any win is a win right.

Adelaide really struggled with the windy conditions at times, especially with goal kicking, but were generally great around the ground and really shut North's attack down. On a perfect night, the scoreline would've been ugly.

A win is a win

Wind definitely contributed to the wayward kicking - was very swirly and unpredictable. That said they missed plenty of easy opportunities still. I think after the first few didn't behave predictably it got in their heads a bit.

Wasn't a pretty game. Entry into the forward 50 was very ordinary, partly due to conditions and partly to the North pressure. The crows should have won the game by lots more but happy with the 4 points.

Good that the Crows had more scoring shots and ran the game out comfortably but they still need to sharpen up their disposal.

Despite not kicking straight last night, I feel like Adelaide are finally starting to get a real streak of ruthlessness about them. The way they've closed out the last two games has been utterly comprehensive.

Gingernuts wrote:Despite not kicking straight last night, I feel like Adelaide are finally starting to get a real streak of ruthlessness about them. The way they've closed out the last two games has been utterly comprehensive.

Totally agree - held the Eagles scoreless in Perth which is unheard of and then had 14 shots to 3 in the last against North. That finishing power would have many clubs nervous

It was the first time the Eagles had ever been held scoreless in a quarter at Subiaco.

They have an incredible fighting quality about them. They have been 'in' every game they have played this year. The only two games that they played second fiddle to their opponents was the Bulldogs and Geelong games, and even then they still had opportunities to win both.

They have been able to absorb opposition momentum beautifully over the last month or so as well, most notably against GWS, West Coast & last night. It makes me think of a boxer absorbing a round or two of punishment from him opposition before firing out of his corner and unleashing his own knockout combination.

I reckon a lot of it comes back to their huge scoring power in the forward half, and increasingly their rock solid defence. The Adelaide midfield only needs to basically achieve parity in the key stats (contested ball and clearances) and it's a victory to the Crows.

Have not seen them play this kind of football in nigh on 20 years.