Opposition Analysis: Adelaide Crows

ADELAIDE will be looking to break through for their first preliminary final appearance since 2012 when they take on Hawthorn at the MCG on Friday night.

Beaten by five points in that game at the hands of the Hawks, the Crows will have nothing to lose in this encounter and will continue the attacking brand of football that saw them defeat Western Bulldogs by seven points in last week’s elimination final.

“Scoreboard pressure is critical in the AFL game, particularly in finals so it hasn’t always been a strong point of ours but tonight and when we played against West Coast (in Round 22) we were able to hit the scoreboard and put some pressure on,” Adelaide Coach Scott Camporeale said post-match.

While the Crows may have lost the key statistical battles, the potency of the forward line, with the likes of Eddie Betts, Taylor Walker and Josh Jenkins, is what makes them such a damaging side.

“I thought we were able to score, so that was the thing that was keeping us in the game,” Camporeale said.

“Some of the key stats for us weren’t ideal on the night, but to the boys credit they just found a way to keep hitting the scoreboard and keep ticking it over so (we) never felt out of the game.”

But an improved performance will again be required as the Crows face the reigning premiers in a do-or-die clash, according to Camporeale.

“We probably thought going in to the game (against the Bulldogs) it was going to be a battle of ground ball, contested possession, clearance – we obviously didn’t get the job done there which we’re disappointed with and we’ll have to make sure that’s at a better level going into Hawthorn obviously," he said.

Players to watch

Eddie Betts was best on ground in Adelaide’s elimination final victory over the Western Bulldogs.

Betts kicked five goals from 12 disposals and is the Crows’ leading goal kicker with 63 so far in 2015.

Veteran midfielder Scott Thompson was crucial through the middle of ground with 26 disposals, seven inside 50s and three clearances against the Bulldogs, and has consistently been a key in the Crows’ engine room this season.

Potential changes

The Crows could send an unchanged team into Friday night’s semi final.

However, if they do decide to make changes, Rory Atkins and former Hawk Kyle Cheney could come under pressure to retain their places.

Atkins managed only seven disposals against the Dogs, while Cheney also had just the seven disposals and one mark, and was subbed out of the game during the third quarter.

With their SANFL reserves side missing out on finals, last week’s emergencies James Podsiadly, Jake Lever and Jarryd Lyons are the likely candidates to be included if any changes are made.