Where and when: Adelaide Oval, Saturday, June 4, 1.15pm (11.45am AWST)

TV: Delayed until 2.15pm on Channel 7 in Perth. Live on Fox Footy, Kayo and the AFL Live Official app.

Last time we met: Adelaide 8.8 (56) def. by West Coast 14.14 (98) at Adelaide Oval, round 18, 2021

Gun small forward Jamie Cripps inspired a thumping West Coast win on enemy territory, bagging five goals to ensure star ruckman Nic Naitanui (200 games) and debutant Connor West celebrated their milestones in style. Liam Ryan (three goals) and Jack Petruccelle (two) added to the attacking threat, while Tim Kelly (26 disposals) and Shannon Hurn (24) were influential throughout the uplifting road triumph.

What it means for the Eagles: Heading into the mid-season bye next week, with cavalry on the way for the second part of the campaign, the Eagles will be desperate to bring home four points from Adelaide and avoid the unwanted record of equalling the club’s longest losing streak of eight consecutive games.  

The stat: The Eagles have won the past five clashes between the clubs, and boast a 4-2 record against the Crows at the Adelaide Oval.

The match-up: Rory Laird v Tim Kelly

Laird’s transformation from two-time All-Australian defender to gun midfielder has been impressive and the Crows’ reigning best and fairest is in rare form, averaging 32 disposals and 7.6 clearances per game. He looms as a major threat to the Eagles’ hopes of winning the engine room battle, especially coming off a 38-disposal, 14-clearance effort against Geelong. But Kelly is also in outstanding touch following his own dominant 38-disposal effort, plus a goal and five tackles, on a tough night against the Bulldogs last round to continue his strong campaign to date. Kelly enjoyed facing the Power at Adelaide Oval in round six, when he gathered 31 touches.

It’s a big week for: Tom Barrass

The gun full-back could get the job on returning Crows star Taylor Walker, who has kicked 18 goals in his seven games this season and looms as a stumbling block to the Eagles’ hopes of notching a first win since round four against Collingwood. 

Big call: Jamie Cripps to match his five-goal haul in last year’s corresponding fixture.

The West Coast took a small step forward despite a disappointing 31-point loss to Adelaide at Adelaide Oval today.

The Crows jumped the Eagles in the first quarter and led by that 31-point margin at the first change before a more competitive contest thereafter as Adelaide won 13.10 (88) to 8.9 (57).

Importantly for West Coast some its senior players built on their form, with skipper Luke Shuey, wingman Andrew Gaff and defender Shannon Hurn all significant contributors in their performance.

Unfortunately, it was again a case of too little too late with the Crows controlling the game in the opening stanza when they rattled on five goals, owned field position and kicked their goals a little too easily.

Their spread out of the middle was damaging as Matt Crouch, Rory Laird and Ben Keays consistently pumped the ball into the Eagles defensive half.

They had key forwards Taylor Walker and Darcy Fogarty  (three goals each) presenting strongly and causing issues for the Eagles defence.

After quarter time, the Eagles lifted their intensity around the contest with Shuey, Gaff, Tim Kelly and Jack Redden winning their share of the ball while Jack Darling (two goals) was again a threat deep in attack.

The Eagles nudged to within 21 points in the final term, but could not find the next goal that would have piled pressure on the Crows.      

DETAILS

ADELAIDE 5.2 9.6 10.10 13.10 (88)
WEST COAST 0.1 3.4 5.5 8.9 (57)

GOALS  
Adelaide: Fogarty, McAdam, Walker 3, Soligo 2, Laird, Milera
West Coast: Darling 2, Cripps, Gaff, Kennedy, Petrevski-Seton, West, Redden

BEST  
Adelaide: Laird, Walker, Fogarty, Crouch, Hately, McAdam
West Coast: Gaff, Kelly, Shuey, Darling, Hurn, Redden

INJURIES 
Adelaide: Parnell (quad)
West Coast: Winder (knee)

LATE CHANGES
Adelaide: Nil
West Coast: Jeremy McGovern (back) replaced in selected side by Luke Foley

SUBSTITUTES 
Adelaide: Harry Schoenberg (replaced Parnell in the fourth quarter)
West Coast: Patrick Naish (replaced Winder in the fourth quarter)