Just a fortnight ago, the Adelaide Crows, under new coach Phil Walsh, were one of the more menacing football sides in the competition. They were 3-0 and playing with a tenacious ferocity that had rapidly seen them rise in premiership calculations. But in the last couple of weeks, the aura they built on the back of comprehensive victories over North Melbourne and Collingwood, has been stripped back following  losses to the Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide.
 
Whilst an injury curse has definitely descended on Metricon Stadium this year, Adelaide has been met with injury concerns of their own following their 24-point loss to the Power in Sunday afternoon’s Showdown. Former best and fairest winner Richard Douglas and Ricky Henderson have been ruled out of the trip to the Gold Coast, with star midfielder Rory Sloane another player under an injury cloud. Sloane was substituted out of the game on the weekend with a calf problem, but has been named to play on Saturday. Time will tell if he takes his place, but given the compeititon wide spate of calf injuries this year, he may not be risked.
 
Adelaide’s efficiency in attack was a major area of concern last weekend, with the Crows dominating the inside 50 count (71-42), but failing to impact the scoreboard effectively. A disposal efficiency rate of just 19 per cent inside forward 50 hurt them severely, however the mercurial Eddie Betts was a shining light, finishing with 5.3 as well as a couple of chances out on the full. He is up to 15 goals for the year – fifth in the Coleman Medal race – and has five and four from his last two outings. After kicking a career-high 51 majors in 2014, Betts has already sent an ominous warning to the competition in the early rounds of the season.
 
The Crows defense has come under forensic examination in the last couple of weeks with both Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs stretching them. 2014 Malcolm Blight medallist Daniel Talia has continued his strong form from last season, but the key post support he requires has been inadequate.
 
Adelaide is crying out for a second key defender to support Talia and they may well have one in the reserves in Jake Lever. The Calder Cannons product is raw and after missing last year with injury he hasn’t played a lot of football recently. But after being taken with pick No. 14 in last year’s draft – despite not playing at all in 2014 – Lever could blossom into the partner Talia needs to quell opposition attacks. With an in-form combination of Tom Lynch and Charlie Dixon awaiting the Crows, Walsh will require a defensive unit capable of reducing their impact infront of goal. Lever may just be the man.
 
At the start of the season it appeared like veteran midfielder Scott Thompson may be on the decline with his body struggling with injury and the onball division at West Lakes looking particularly potent. But, since returning against Melbourne in round three, the Herculean midfielder has accumulated 30, 38 and 27 possessions to remind the football world that he can still perform at the elite level. In the Crows disappointing loss to the Bulldogs, Thompson collected 38 disposals to be near his Brownlow vote accumulating finest. At 31.7 possessions per game, the two-time best and fairest winner is ranked second in the competition for average disposals.

Key Players

After a quiet couple of weeks, star midfielder Patrick Dangerfield returned to form against the Power with 36 possessions, 13 clearances and seven inside 50s. Whilst there has been a downpour of media speculation regarding his playing future, especially following Walsh’s decision to appoint Walker as the Crows new captain, Dangerfield has demonstrated his immense worth during the early stage of the season with his characteristic game breaking runs and ruthless attack on the ball. With no Douglas and potentially no Sloane this weekend, Dangerfield along with Thompson hold the keys to the Crows midfield. The dual All Australian was well held by former teammate Bernie Vince against the Demons in round three. With renowned tagger Andrew Raines elevated from the rookie list and named for his first appearance in red and gold, Rodney Eade may send Raines to clamp down on the star.
 
Taylor Walker began his reign as captain of South Australia’s pride and joy in emphatic fashion in round one. With the majority of the football world surprised by Walsh’s decision to select Walker over Dangerfield or Sloane, the likeable larrikin from Broken Hill tore North Melbourne apart in a Wayne Carey like fashion that quickly put his name back in the conversation as one of the best key forwards in the competition. He hasn’t been quite as destructive since then but he still has 14 goals next to his name after five games. Last time he played Gold Coast the Texan had a day out on Steven May, booting five goals to lead the Crows to a 32-point victory at Adelaide Oval. With May serving the first week of a three-game suspension for his hit on Tom Rockliff, Rory Thompson will get the job on Walker. A tough task made even harder with no May, nor Nick Malceski to direct traffic.
 
Adelaide’s need for another key defender to support last year’s best and fairest winner Daniel Talia has never been clearer than in the last fortnight with the Western Bulldogs Jake Stringer and Port’s Jay Schulz booting big bags against the Crows. Last year’s All Australian full-back will have his work cut out for him this week regardless of whether he goes to Lynch or Dixon who is coming off a Marcus Ashcroft medal winning performance against the Lions. Talia hasn’t quite reached the heights of 2014 just yet, but he has shown glimpses of his best, particularly against Travis Cloke and Collingwood in round two. His performance against the SUNS on Saturday night could go a long way to determining the outcome of the game. A crucial encounter for the Crows given their two-game losing streak and finals ambitions.

New Faces

Highly rated key defender Jake Lever slid down the draft calculations last year due to sitting out the year with a knee reconstruction. Despite his inactivity, the Crows banked their first pick on the Victorian, who has already built a strong reputation at West Lakes as a young player with outstanding character. At 194cm, Lever brings much needed height to a severely undersized Adelaide back six, which has relied heavily on Talia in the last couple of seasons. The Calder Cannons product has gradually built a case for selection in the SANFL over the early part of the season and against South Adelaide last weekend, Lever collected 26 possessions, 5 marks and 6 rebound 50s to firmly put his name up in lights for an AFL debut. Many eyes will be fixed on the backman to see if he can build a partnership with Talia that can build a foundation for the next decade.

Recent Results

Gold Coast: 1 win, 4 losses – 15th
Rd1 – Gold Coast 13.11 (89) def by Melbourne 17.13 (115) @ MCG
Rd2 – Gold Coast 10.16 (76) def by St Kilda 16.8 (104) @ Metricon Stadium
Rd3 – Gold Coast 13.18 (96) def by Geelong 16.9 (105) @ Simonds Stadium
Rd4 – Gold Coast 7.11 (53) def by GWS Giants 16.23 (119) @ StarTrack Oval
Rd5 - Gold Coast 18.10 (118) def Brisbane 7.12 (54) @ Metricon Stadium

Adelaide: 3 wins, 2 losses - 7th
Rd1 - Adelaide 21.14 (140) def North Melbourne 9.9 (63) @ Adelaide Oval
Rd2 - Adelaide 12.18 (90) def Collingwood 9.9 (63) @ Etihad Stadium
Rd3 - Adelaide 12.8 (80) def Melbourne 7.13 (55) @ Adelaide Oval
Rd4 - Adelaide 10.8 (68) def by Western Bulldogs 18.17 (125) @ Adelaide Oval
Rd5 - Adelaide 13.13 (91) def by Port Adelaide 18.7 (115) @ Adelaide Oval