Crows wary of in-form Tigers in AFL

Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson says we’ll find out if his Crows are the real deal in Saturday night’s season-shaping showdown against Richmond.

Sanderson views the encounter as “a cracking game” between AFL clubs scratching for lower reaches of the top eight.

The seventh-placed Crows host the storming Tigers, who have won six in a row to rise to 12th – just one tantalising victory from eighth spot.

Sanderson has challenged his players to embrace the hype of the finals-shaping fixture at a sold-out Adelaide Oval.

“They’re ready,” he said after Adelaide’s match-eve training session.

“The attitude around the group all season, even when we started 0-3, has just been spot-on.

“We just haven’t been able to execute consistently well.

“That will be one of our key focuses tomorrow night: can we handle the big occasion, are we able to execute when it really matters?”

Sanderson resisted summoning dual club champ Scott Thompson, who is battling back-related hamstring soreness and will miss for the third time in four games.

“He hasn’t been able to get through the last three times we have played him,” he said of the prolific ball-winner.

“Particularly at this time of year, we had to ensure that he could get through a good training base before we could expose him to another AFL game … just not quite right.”

The Crows lost Andy Otten (knee reconstruction) and Tom Lynch (neck), replaced by Sam Shaw and James Podsiadly.

Lynch was hurt, and criticised, for ducking his head in a tackle last week but Sanderson called for some slack for the half-forward.

“Don’t forget, out here against Melbourne (in round seven) when he came out and lifted his head, he had got his jaw smashed in half,” he said.

“Tommy this time, instead of lifting up his head in the contact, he actually kept his head down. It could have been disastrous for him.”

Richmond, who have won four of their past five games against Adelaide, named Ben Lennon for midfielder Matt Thomas (knee) – and the Tigers have Sanderson wary.

“They’re red-hot,” he said.

“Their contested ball numbers are really good, plus 20 contested ball so they’re really good around the contest. They’re a side full of talent.”

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