1. Taylor Walker
In his first season as captain, key forward Taylor Walker has well and truly led the way for the Crows.
Walker has kicked 26 goals in ten games, including a bag of six against North Melbourne and hauls of four majors against the Gold Coast Suns and GWS Giants.
Standing at an imposing 192 centimetres and 100 kilograms, Walker has been a prominent aerial force.
He averages almost eight marks per game – and if he doesn’t mark the ball, more often than not he brings it to ground, allowing dangerous small forward Eddie Betts to get involved in the game.
The job of manning Walker will most likely fall to James Frawley or Brian Lake – but with the Crows forward lien also containing Josh Jenkins (198cm) and Tom Lynch (191cm), it will in interesting to see how the Hawks’ defence sets up.
2. Billy Hartung
The Hawks could try to expose the Crows with their outside runners - and if so, Billy Hartung will be crucial.
In just his second season of AFL football, Hartung is establishing himself as an important part of the dual reigning premiers’ midfield.
The pacy midfielder missed the first two games of 2015 but has played every game since.
He was rewarded for a career-high 26-disposal game against Melbourne with the Round 7 NAB AFL Rising Star nomination, a feat he matched in Rounds 9 and 10.
3. Rory Laird
Who is Rory Laird you might be asking?
He’s arguably been one of the Crows’ most-improved players this season, alongside midfielder Cam Ellis-Yolmen.
With 44 AFL games under his belt, Laird is enjoying a breakout season, averaging 22 disposals per game off a half-back flank.
The 21-year old’s offensive rebound from defensive has been crucial for the Crows – and he has managed more effective disposals than any other teammate in 2015.
The Hawks will be keen to curtail Laird’s influence, with forward pressure important? from the likes of Cyril Rioli and the returning Paul Puopolo important.
4. Jordan Lewis
It’s been an up-and-down start to the season for the 2014 Peter Crimmins Medallist, not in terms of form, but week-to-week continuity.
Lewis has missed three games – two with suspension and one through injury – but when he’s played, he has been dominant.
Heading into the bye, Lewis led the competition in a number of areas – disposals per game, kicks per game, uncontested possessions per game and inside 50s per game.
The Hawks vice-captain averages 32.6 disposals per match in 2015.
Lewis will be looking forward to a return to Adelaide Oval, where he was one of the most influential players on the ground against Port Adelaide in Round 4, collecting a game-high 36 possesions.
5. Kyle Cheney
Fifty games has been a long time coming for Crows defender and former Hawk Kyle Cheney.
The 25-year old – who was originally recruited by Melbourne in the 2007 NAB AFL Draft - will bring up the milestone tonight, in his eighth AFL season, at his third club.
Cheney has found his niche in the Crows’ back six, playing eight of ten games and providing a no-nonsense attitude to defence.
This will be Cheney’s first game against the Hawks after being traded at the end of last year.
He will no doubt have a big role to play for the Crows – possibly on prominent Hawks forward Jack Gunston.
