The changes
Troy Menzel can consider himself unlucky, after he was the unfortunate Crow that the Adelaide match committee decided to omit to make way for the return of captain Taylor Walker.
Walker’s selection improves what was already a formidable Crows forward line last week, as the Crows will look to stretch the key defensive depth of the Hawks.
Walker has struggled in his previous three games against the Hawks, managing only four goals, but he is nevertheless always one to watch out for given his goal-scoring abilities.
What to expect
Adelaide sent a resounding message to the competition as they demolished the flag favourite GWS Giants by 56 points last Sunday at Adelaide Oval.
The Crows displayed incredible scoring potency, kicking 20 goals after quarter time to the Giants’ 10, with reigning All Australian Eddie Betts kicking four goals.
Betts led a group of 11 Crow goal kickers in total, indicating one of the Crows’ key strengths.
The Crows were the highest-scoring side in the competition in 2016, averaging 114 points per game while topping the 100-point mark in 18 of their 25 games.
They did this reputation no harm last week, as their final score of 147 points was the highest score of the round.
The Hawks will have identified that if they restrict the Crows ability to create a fast-flowing, high-scoring game, they will go a long way toward bringing down the South Australian premiership threat.
Players to watch
Hawks fans would be aware of names like Rory Sloane, Taylor Walker and Eddie Betts.
But as the Giants found out last week, the Crows line-up now goes much deeper than these recognisable names.
23-year old Rory Laird headlined a band of young Crows who were among their team’s best players.
Laird, who was named in the All Australian squad of 40 players in 2016, finished with a game-high 40 disposals. He has become a player that the Crows rely on heavily to make good decisions with ball in hand and kick-start their offensive game from a defensive line.
While Matt Crouch (29 disposals), Wayne Milera and Charlie Cameron (23 each) were also among the Crows leading ball-getters.
Crouch, 21 years old, Milera, 19, and Cameron, 22, are a part of why the Crows are being so highly touted this year.
If the Hawks, as GWS did, overlook this young brigade’s dynamics of skill, speed and contested ball-winning ability, they will likely suffer a similar fate to the Giants.
Read: Hawthorn announce Round 2 team
