SUMMARY
The Swans return to Friday night footy for the first time this season to welcome the Crows to the SCG, and there's little doubt the visitors will be itching for the ball to be bounced after last week's shock loss to Collingwood at home. Adelaide key defender Daniel Talia will resume his long-running battle with Sydney superstar Lance Franklin and if his midfielders don't increase their work rate in round five, he could be in for a tough night. The Swans have had a good spread of contributors this season and Oliver Florent, Dean Towers, Callum Sinclair and Harry Cunningham are some of the lesser lights to have stepped up in important moments alongside Franklin, Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker and Isaac Heeney. It's hard to see the Crows kicking a winning score without skipper Taylor Walker and Josh Jenkins finding some form against the miserly Sydney defence, but if Sam Jacobs can control the ruck duel with Sinclair, they're a chance to at least to get enough scoring opportunities.
WHERE AND WHEN: SCG, Friday, April 20, 7.50pm
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
R22, 2017, Sydney 13.5 (83) d Adelaide 11.14 (80) at Adelaide Oval
1SF, 2016, Sydney 18.10 (118) d Adelaide 12.10 (82) at the SCG
R4, 2016, Adelaide 16.17 (113) d Sydney 15.13 (103) at Adelaide Oval
R18, 2015, Sydney 17.15 (117) d Adelaide 9.11 (65) at the SCG
R3, 2014, Sydney 21.8 (134) d Adelaide 9.17 (71) at Adelaide Oval
THE SIX POINTS
1. The Crows probably should have won when these teams last played – they had more disposals, marks, scoring shots and inside 50s. Josh Kennedy was the star for the Swans with 31 disposals, one goal, seven tackles and five clearances.
2. One advantage for Adelaide could be in the centre clearances, where they're ranked equal second and averaging 15 per game, compared to the Swans who are 10th with an average of 13.3.
3. Sydney has dominated recently, winning six of the last seven contests including three by more than 50 points.
4. The Crows' scoring continues to drop away compared to 2017; they've averaged 91 points per game this season compared to 107 last season. Their 9.4 (58) last week against Collingwood was their lowest score since round 18, 2016.
5. Lance Franklin has made a successful start to the season with 17 goals to lead the Coleman Medal race. It's his best first four weeks of a season since 2008 when he kicked 21 goals and went on to reach the century.
6. Young Swan Isaac Heeney's exciting form has seen him rise to 28th in the AFL Player Ratings, a career-high for the forward-turned-midfielder.
IT’S A BIG WEEK FOR…
After a disastrous loss to Collingwood last Friday night and a poor individual match, Crows captain Taylor Walker must have a presence inside 50 if his team is to be any chance of an upset.
AFL.com.au PREDICTION: Sydney by 31 points
