Footy Forecast: Your weekly AFL preview from SA’s most diehard fans
Crows and Power fans give InDaily this round’s opinions. One saying he can’t wait to see the St Kilda coach “in the box getting very angry and animated over probably nothing” and another wading into the Zak Butters controversy.
Fresh off last weekend’s Gather Round, South Australian fans are ready to tackle this week’s must-win matchups.
Ready for “Rossball”: Adelaide Crows’ Peter Cirocco
Crowject podcast founder Peter Cirocco aptly dubbed last week’s Gather Round matchup between Adelaide and Carlton “the coach killer cup”. Luckily for coach Matthew Nicks, Adelaide came away with the win.
“Whoever was going to lose that game, and depending on the margin, it could have been Michael Voss’s game he coached for the Blues. But if Nicks was to lose that game, it would be pitchforks,” Cirocco said.
The Victorian crowd “brought the weather with them”, as the Adelaide Crows fought off their opponents in a wet Thursday night Gather Round opener to become 28-point victors.
Midfield-forward Josh Rachele had his breakout game, finishing with 26 disposals and four goals.
“He was looking fantastic with the goals that he kicked. Just to be in the right place at the right time and be able to lift in all aspects when required was phenomenal to see,” Cirocco said.
“I think it’s finally the arrival of Rachele and doing it against a club that he grew up loving as well was huge.”
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Adelaide Crows will face St Kilda at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night, with the saints fresh off a victory against Port Adelaide at Gather Round.
Cirocco said Billy Dowling, who has been toiling away in the SANFL side, was unlucky to miss out on selection this weekend after amassing 30 disposals and two goals in his last outing against Woodville West-Torrens.
But he was pleased that 20-year-old midfielder Charlie Edwards will make his long-awaited debut on Saturday night against St Kilda, after impressing selectors with a 28 disposal and seven clearance game in the SANFL.
Despite Adelaide’s stellar recent record against St Kilda, Cirocco remained weary over Saints coach Ross Lyon’s “Rossball” game style and star player Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.
“It always scares me, but I can’t wait to see him in the box getting very angry and animated over probably nothing,” he said.
“I think we’ll be able to match their midfield, and as long as we get on top of Nasiah we will get up by 40 plus points.”
The Crowject founder will be cheering the players on from the stands alongside LGBTIQA+ supporter group the Rainbow Crows, saying he was an advocate with the group.
Surprisingly, the Crows diehard made a rare admission that he “stood in solidarity” with Port Adelaide supporters after midfielder Zak Butters was handed down a controversial fine for allegedly abusing umpire Nick Foot…
“Stand up for our player”: Port Adelaide’s Brett Hill
Chiropractor by trade and Port Adelaide superfan by nature Brett Hill was left bemused by the $1500 fine for Zak Butters and was disappointed with the umpiring performance in last week’s 14-point loss to St Kilda.
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Umpire Nick Foot reported Butters for abusive language after the star player allegedly said, “how much are they paying you?”, which surrounding Port Adelaide players have denied.
“I absolutely think the club should challenge the fine. There’s enough reasonable doubt and it’s unreasonable for him to actually get fined for that,” Hill said.
“We as a club should show that we’re willing to stand up for our player and stand up for our club and fight it with all means necessary.”
Hill had nothing but love for the “exceptional” Butters, who had a near best on ground performance with his 31 disposals and one goal game.
“I think the whole team seemed a bit more committed and switched on last week to be honest,” he said.
“They were winning their fair share of the football and having a decent crack. I think we were just lacking in skills and the finishing in front of goals wasn’t quite up to standard.”
Port Adelaide are set to face a red-hot Hawthorn at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on Saturday afternoon, which has been a heated rivalry in recent years with multiple matches decided by less than a goal.
Despite Hawthorn’s form, Hill has predicted a close match-up to be “decided by less than two goals either way”, with a few Hawthorn “danger men” set to give him and other Port fans some nightmares.
“Jack Gunston is in great form for a guy his age, and defender Josh Weddle running the lines and getting it into the forward line quickly is a big danger,” Hill said.
“But there’s no reason why we can’t win, if we keep that intensity and keep improving anything is possible.”
Port Adelaide key forward Jack Lukosius will be sidelined for up to two months after he suffered yet another setback with a groin injury.
“We have to bring in Dante Visentini to try him out as that ruck-forward hybrid option,” Hill said.
And his prayers were answered, with Visentini awarded for his 14-disposal and 35-hitout game against South Adelaide last week.
Hill was hopeful to see livewire forward Tom Cochrane back in action after returning to the SANFL last week from a hamstring injury, kicking a goal in the process.
Cochrane will have to wait another week for his opportunity, with Port Adelaide opting to select Christian Moraes for his 21-disposal match.
Whilst Hill will not be making the trip across the border to support the team, he will be laying back on a houseboat north of Mannum to enjoy the game.
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