Back for another year, the SEN.com.au team gives you an insight into how every game will play out across the weekend.
Labelling something a ‘certainty’ in any sport is fraught with danger.
But we’ll attempt to find some anyway.
Here is what we consider certainties for the Round 4 Thursday night clash between Adelaide and Melbourne.
Adelaide
Dawson to have 25+ disposals
Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson has come in for criticism for his start to the season.
The 26-year-old is rated as the 309th-best player in the competition according to Champion Data, but he’s still picking up enough footy with returns of 26, 26 and 27 disposals across his three games in 2024.
Given we’re expecting a response from Dawson in this one, the midfielder should continue eclipsing that 25-touch marker but make better use of his touches.
He had 30 and a goal the last time the Crows hosted the Dees at the Adelaide Oval. It could be a similar performance from the left-footer on Thursday.
Rankine to kick 2+ goals
Izak Rankine loves the big stage and he’ll be raring to go for Gather Round.
The small forward has kicked multiple goals in two of three games in 2024 and he booted three last time out against the Demons at the MCG.
With Adelaide’s talls struggling and Steven May back into the Melbourne side to support Jake Lever, the Crows may need to take a different route inside 50 and Rankine should be their man.
Expect a strong performance from the 23-year-old to kick off the festival of footy.
Lachlan Geleit
Melbourne
Oliver to have 25+ disposals
Clayton Oliver has an affinity with the Adelaide Oval and playing against the Crows.
Across 14 career games at the venue, 'Clarry' averages 30.6 disposals which includes a 41-touch haul in last year’s Gather Round loss to Essendon.
Oliver has also averaged 32.1 disposals against Adelaide in nine games, so we’re tipping him to get a fair bit of the pill in the opening match of the 2024 Gather Round.
In 2024 the Demons midfielder averages 28 touches so we feel he can rack up at least 25 against the Crows tonight.
May and Lever to combine for 4+ intercept marks, 10+ intercept possessions
Steven May is back in the Melbourne side and ready to reconvene with his defensive mate Jake Lever.
Last weekend, Fremantle’s key defenders Luke Ryan and Alex Pearce combined for six intercept marks and 17 intercept possessions as Adelaide’s midfield and forward line failed to connect.
The Demons are arguably a better defensive side than the Dockers so we’re banking on May and Lever to have a similar impact at the Adelaide Oval tonight.
Lever was in fine form with seven intercept marks against Port Adelaide last week and May took four the last time he played a full game in Round 1.
The Dees’ defensive duo are perfectly placed to get busy on a night where all the pressure is on their opposition.
Andrew Slevison
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