Adelaide will look to get their season back on track after a shock loss last week when they host Melbourne, who are also at risk of losing two in a row. The Crows had probably the most surprising result of a very surprising week of footy in Round 7 – down 64-nil at quarter time against lowly North Melbourne, eventually beaten by 59 points. They didn’t adapt to the windy conditions in Hobart at all, and also seemed to not be taking their opponents seriously until it was too late. That was a mistake. That match aside though they’ve been incredible this season and a 6-1 record is still better than anything anyone else has got. If they can get back in the winners’ circle this week – and by a comfortable margin, ideally – then pundits at large will be happy to write off last week as an aberration.
Melbourne on the other hand had anything but an aberration last week – starting a game they should have won poorly and then fighting back late but too late to win is just a classic poor effort from them. The Demons have improved this year in some respects but they’ve lost matches they shouldn’t and as a result find themselves at 3-4 when they could easily be among the top four contenders at 5-2.
They did manage to pinch a win at Adelaide Oval over the Crows in 2014, their only win in the last seven v Adelaide which was also their only win over them in South Australia since 2001.
Jesse Hogan being out for the Demons this week makes the task all the harder, and the Crows should get a win.
The line is out to 43.5 points which seems excessive, even given Adelaide’s good form at home this year. The Demons +43.5 gets our investment.