Fifth clash in 14 months

On Saturday night, Fremantle meets Adelaide for the fifth time since round 10, 2012. The clubs played three times last season, all Crow wins including a sudden-death semi-final in Adelaide. Freo got one back at AAMI Stadium in round 10 this year in what was a hard-fought slog in the wet. Sub Cam Sutcliffe came on late and stood tall to kick and create the match-winning goals.

Crows not a spent force

After falling desperately close to making the 2012 Grand Final, Adelaide has endured a difficult season this year and currently sit in 11th place, two games and percentage outside of the eight. But as their thrilling win over top-two team Geelong proved on Sunday, the Crows are not a spent force, even without their gun midfielder Patrick Dangerfield. Those saying Fremantle’s run home to close out the season is easy should ask Cats’ coach Chris Scott what he thinks about that.

Danger-less but still dangerous

Without Dangerfield, who has torched Fremantle more than once in the past, the Ryan Crowley tag is not so clear. The classy Rory Sloane has also been a thorn in Freo’s side and appears more than likely to find his match vision on Crowley’s laptop this week. Brad Crouch is an emerging star in the Adelaide engine room and must also be watched closely.

Travel, six-day break

Fremantle comes off a six-day break and a travel game ahead of the Patersons Stadium clash with Adelaide. The conditioning staff will be busy this week ensuring all the players are fit and firing come Saturday night.

Bailey returns

The Crows welcome back strategy coach Dean Bailey on Saturday for his first game of the year. The AFL had suspended the former Melbourne coach from speaking directly to Crows players during their first 16 matches this season for his involvement in the 2009 tanking scandal at the Demons.