Will Crows trip at finals hurdle?

Chris Cavanagh looks at the big questions before the first qualifying final.

ANALYSIS: PRESSURE BUILDING ON FLAG FAVOURITE CROWS

ADELAIDE

Do the Crows really have no weak links?

Two-time North Melbourne premiership player David King wrote two weeks ago that they didn’t, being the “most powerful and complete team in the competition”. A loss to Sydney the same day suggested the Crows are not unbeatable. However, Adelaide’s defence is rock solid, its forward line is the most potent in the competition and its midfield has developed over the course of the season with Matt Crouch becoming an elite player. There is a reason the Crows are premiership favourite, but finals football is a whole new ball game. In an ideal world Don Pyke wouldn’t be making multiple team changes this week but Taylor Walker and Daniel Talia are certain to come in and Hugh Greenwood is a big chance. Meanwhile, Rory Sloane wants to play nine days after surgery to remove his appendix. Hardly a smooth run into September.

How much will home-ground advantage count for?

The Crows at Adelaide Oval have been a frightening prospect in recent years. Adelaide has won 25 of its past 30 matches at the venue and has slipped up just three times on its home track this year, two of those by margins of 14 points or fewer. The Crows are averaging 112 points for and 67 points against at their home ground this year. A free kick count of 28-14 in Adelaide’s favour against Sydney at Adelaide Oval two weeks ago also did not go unnoticed.

WHAT: Adelaide Crows v GWS Giants

WHERE: Adelaide Oval

WHEN: Thursday September 7, 7:20pm (local time)

TICKETS:Final release Tuesday September 5

GWS GIANTS

Can the Giants return to their early-season form?

It’s fair to say Greater Western Sydney has been a little flaky over the past two months. After sitting atop of the ladder at Round 14 with 10 wins from 13 games, the Giants have gone on to record four wins, three losses and two draws over the past nine weeks. They have beaten only one top-eight side, Melbourne, in the second half of the season and are coming off a final-round stinker against Geelong. With the club’s injury list — a big problem mid-season — now at a minimum, there are no excuses for Leon’s Cameron’s side over coming weeks.

Will Steve Johnson play?

It’s going to be a very tough call for coach Leon Cameron and his match committee. Johnson played 77 minutes against Geelong on Saturday night but was barely sighted, the forward managing just eight disposals and going scoreless for a total of 15 SuperCoach points. It made for three goalless games from Johnson’s past four outings and he has had little impact in other areas, his tackle and pressure act numbers both below par. Johnson has proven to be a big-game player over the years and has X-Factor but there is a good chance his season — and career — could well be over.

THE ODDS

Head to head

Adelaide $ 1.45

Margins

GWS Giants $ 2.85

Adelaide 40+ $ 3.75

Adelaide 1-39 points $ 2.15

GWS 40+ $ 12

GWS 1-39 points $ 3.30

The line: -14.5

First goalscorer

Taylor Walker $ 2.75

Eddie Betts $ 2.75

Jeremy Cameron $ 2.75

Josh Jenkins $ 3

Jonathon Patton $ 3

Mitch McGovern $ 3.25

Toby Greene $ 3.50

Follow the money

78 per cent of support at TAB is for the Crows to win

LAST TIME THEY MET

Adelaide won 22.15 (147) to 14.7 (91) in Round 1 at Adelaide Oval

FORM WATCH

— After seven games without a loss, Adelaide dropped the last two home-and-away games

— The Giants’ loss to Geelong in Round 23 ended a four-match winning run

— Adelaide has won seven of its eight clashes against GWS from Round 4, 2012 to Round 1, 2017

— The Giants’ only victory against Adelaide was at Spotless Stadium in Round 8, 2015

— Adelaide is 9-3 at the Adelaide Oval this season

— GWS is 1-4 at Adelaide Oval from Round 5, 2014 to Round 1, 2017 (0-3 v Adelaide)

— GWS has won four, lost five and drawn one game outside of NSW/ACT this season

— These teams have never met in a final

THE STAT

Adelaide — Turnovers

Adelaide’s ability to punish opposition turnovers is better than any side in the competition, averaging 73 points per game and outscoring their opposition by 24 points per game from turnovers

GWS — Stoppages

The Giants have been the most dominant stoppage team of the season, winning the clearance count by 7.6 per game, and centre clearances by 2.2 per game. Overall, they have scored the third most points from stoppages

EARLY TIP

Adelaide by 20 points