The first game on Saturday for AFL Round 22 is between North Melbourne Kangaroos and Adelaide Crows. The opening bounce is set to commence at 1:45 PM with the game to be played at Blundstone Arena. The favourite for the match is home team North Melbourne Kangaroos. View our preview and teams for the game between North Melbourne Kangaroos and Adelaide Crows.
Round: Round 22 , August 23, 2014, 1:45 PM
Stadium: Blundstone Arena
Weather: 17° Possible shower.
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Preview:
WITH North Melbourne all but assured of a finals spot after its win over the Western Bulldogs last Sunday, the Crows have more on the line in this game. The sixth-placed Roos seem set for a home elimination final regardless of the result, but the Crows would likely surrender their hold on eighth with a loss. Adelaide beat North convincingly when they met in round 13 this year at Adelaide Oval, but has yet to play at North’s Blundstone Arena home and has won just one of its five previous games in Tasmania. The Roos were hit hard at the Tribunal this week with Brent Harvey and Daniel Wells’ suspensions, which could give the Crows the edge this Saturday.
LAST FIVE TIMES
R13, 2014, Adelaide 16.13 (109) d North Melbourne 10.13 (73) at Adelaide Oval
R20, 2013, Adelaide 11.13 (79) d North Melbourne 10.10 (70) at AAMI Stadium
R9, 2013, Adelaide 18.17 (125) d North Melbourne 19.10 (124) at Etihad Stadium
R13, 2012, North Melbourne 17.19 (121) d Adelaide 13.11 (89) at Etihad Stadium
R11, 2011, North Melbourne 18.7 (115) d Adelaide 10.8 (68) at Etihad Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. In the Crows’ win over the Kangaroos in round 13, midfielders Scott Thompson (30 possessions) and Rory Sloane (25) starred, while Sam Kerridge kicked four goals.
2. Adelaide is ranked 10th for inside 50 marks this season (averaging 10.6 a game), while North Melbourne is 11th (10.5 a game).
3. The Crows are the No.1 team for centre clearances in 2014 (averaging 14 a game), with the Kangaroos ranked 12th (12 a game).
4. The Crows have been a strong contested marking team in 2014, averaging 10.9 a game to be ranked second in the AFL. The Kangaroos are ranked eighth, having averaged 10 a game.
5. North has a 3-2 record at Blundstone Arena, while Adelaide will be playing at the Hobart venue for the first time.
6. Andrew Swallow averages 19.9 player rating points against Adelaide, the best at North Melbourne under the Official AFL Player Ratings, brought to you by Gatorade. Brodie Smith was the Adelaide’s top-scoring player when the clubs met in round 13 this year with 29 disposals and a goal.
Teams :
NORTH MELBOURNE
B Michael Firrito, Scott D. Thompson, Luke McDonald
HB Shaun Atley, Nathan Grima, Sam Wright
C Ryan Bastinac, Andrew Swallow, Ben Jacobs
HF Nick Dal Santo, Ben Brown, Sam Gibson
F Lindsay Thomas, Drew Petrie, Aaron Black
FOL Todd Goldstein, Ben Cunnington, Levi Greenwood
I/C Lachlan Hansen, Jack Ziebell, Leigh Adams, Kayne Turner
EMG Brad McKenzie, Mason Wood, Aaron Mullett
IN Lachlan Hansen, Kayne Turner
OUT Daniel Wells (Suspension), Brent Harvey (Suspension)
ADELAIDE
B Luke Thompson, Ben Rutten, Luke Brown
HB Brodie Smith, Daniel Talia, Rory Laird
C Brodie Martin, Scott Thompson, Rory Sloane
HF Richard Douglas, Josh Jenkins, Matthew Wright
F James Podsiadly, Taylor Walker, Eddie Betts
FOL Sam Jacobs, Patrick Dangerfield, Brad Crouch
I/C Matthew Jaensch, Jarryd Lyons, Charlie Cameron, Ricky Henderson
EMG Brent Reilly, Sam Kerridge, Mitch Grigg
IN Ben Rutten, Rory Laird, Scott Thompson
OUT Sam Shaw (Hamstring), Mitch Grigg (Omitted), David Mackay (Concussion)
