Footy Forecast: Your weekly AFL preview from SA’s most diehard fans
An Adelaide Crows fan who jumped ship from Fitzroy in the ’90s says North Melbourne will be “no sweat” for his side, while a Port Adelaide supporter says she is still backing her team despite never winning her tips.
“No sweat” against the Kangaroos — Adelaide Crows’ Shane Ferro
Eyre Peninsula resident Shane Ferro has supported the Adelaide Crows since 1991, ditching VFL team Fitzroy for South Australian pride.
“I just love the way they play all through the years, basically from day one to now, they’re just so exciting to watch,” he said.
Adelaide exacted revenge on 2017 Grand Final opponents Richmond at the MCG last Sunday, winning by 37 points. He admits he had to sit on the back lawn and take a couple of deep breaths to relax as the Crows trailed their 18th placed opponents at half time.
“It was pretty scary in the first couple of quarters, I know that much. Those first two quarters I think it was a bit of a yeller,” Ferro said.
“Obviously coach Matthew Nicks had a bit of a spray in the rooms at half time, but they came out and they got the job done.”
A “damn good” Izak Rankine was best on ground performance with 33 disposals, nine tackles and one goal, while defender Wayne Milera continued his good form with a game-high 34 touches.
Adelaide, who will be named Kuwarna for Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round, will face an up-and-coming North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon.
Adelaide will be hot favourites as North Melbourne look to break its Adelaide Oval hoodoo, having never won at the venue in 13 matches.
Ferro said it would be “no sweat” for the Crows, tipping his side to win by at least 30 points.
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“I think North have faded away a bit since the days of the Corey McKernan’s, Wayne Carey’s and Glenn Archer’s,” he said.
“I’ve never really been a big fan of them, but Wayne Carey was brilliant when he was with the Crows.”
Ferro believes Rankine will be able to continue his good form from last week while a returning forward has been tipped to kick a big bag of goals.
The Crows will welcome back key forward Darcy Fogarty this weekend who returns from a nagging back injury that sidelined him for five weeks.
Key forward Riley Thilthorpe was ruled out of the clash on Friday morning with back soreness following reports he had been playing with injury for majority of the season.
“It will be good to see him back. He’s a very strong boy, and he kicked a few goals last week in the SANFL, so I reckon he will be primed and ready to go.”
Ferro said he will miss his all-time favourite player Taylor Walker when he eventually retires, Walker is out again this week with hamstring issues.
“He’s been to the Eyre Peninsula a few times for our Crows supporter Christmas parties. He’s a brilliant spokesman, good entertainer, and he makes you laugh with his jokes,” he said.
“I love that man.”
“True believer” — Port Adelaide’s Jane McCoy
Jane McCoy has lived through the highs and lows of life as a Port Adelaide supporter, with her favourite memory dating back to the 2004, where she watched a famous six-point preliminary final victory against St Kilda at AAMI Stadium.
“Strangers in the grandstand were all hugging. Some people were crying that we got into the Grand Final,” McCoy said.
“Obviously, we then went on to win the Grand Final against Brisbane the following week.”
Since then, McCoy has witnessed “lots of memorable moments that were not so great”, including a “very expensive” trip to Sydney in 2024 to watch Port capitulate in a must-win final.
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“We also flew to Melbourne to watch the Hawthorn vs Port prelim final in 2014 where we lost by three points, that was pretty devastating,” McCoy said.
“The 2017 elimination final when West Coast kicked the winning goal after the siren in extra time. The kids were crying.”
It was more heartbreak for supporters last Friday night, with Port registering its fourth loss by three points or fewer this season
McCoy said post-Showdown fatigue got the better of the team as they fell short by two points in a thriller against the Western Bulldogs.
“Handballs going to the opposition, missed kicks, the whole team looked a little bit sluggish. It was still a close game, but they looked tired to me,” she said.
Defender Aliir Aliir was among the team’s best again, finishing the match with 21 disposals, 13 marks and nine intercept possessions.
Full-forward Mitch Georgiades was also among the best booting four goals but was a bit wayward with four points as well.
“Georgie is usually pretty good, but he missed a few important kicks on the weekend that could’ve won us the game,” McCoy said.
Port has the hard task of heading to TIO Stadium in Darwin on Friday night to take on the Gold Coast Suns, who have won their past nine consecutive matches at the venue.
Port Adelaide will be referred to as Yartapuulti for the next two rounds to coincide with Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round
“In my tips, I always pick Port and that’s why I never win. But they might bounce back — I’m always a true believer — but it’s going to be tough,” McCoy said.
“Most of the team will need to do better to get over the line. Jason Horne-Francis will need a big performance, when he’s on his game, he’s a strong, brilliant player.”
Port will be without defender Miles Bergman for an extended period after suffering a ruptured ligament in his big toe in last week’s loss, while Josh Lai will miss after entering 12-day concussion protocols after a head-knock.
Small forward Tom Anastopolous is set to make his long-awaited debut on Friday night after impressing with his 22 disposal and three goal performance in the SANFL last Saturday.
McCoy would love to welcome back some of Port Adelaide’s past stars to help the team push for a top 10 finish.
“I used to love Chad Wingard back in the day he was just brilliant. Jay Schultz hardly ever dropped the ball or missed a kicked so he would be handy these days,” she said.
“I think we’ll be lucky if we finish in the eight to be realistic this year, but I hope I’m wrong.”
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