Showdown Footy Forecast: Your weekly AFL preview from SA’s most diehard fans
It’s Showdown 60 and InDaily hears from an Adelaide supporter who says captain Jordan Dawson is set for a “huge game”, and a Port fan who has a “little bit of hope” after a horror injury toll last week.
“Could go either way”: Adelaide Crows’ James MacCulloch
James MacCulloch describes himself as a “day one” Adelaide Crows supporter, jumping from his beloved SANFL side West Adelaide to the Crows in 1991.
His side is fresh off a 17-point victory against fellow top four contenders Melbourne at Adelaide Oval last week, with the Crows supporter saying it showed the team could beat the best teams in the league.
“The thing that really made me happy was not only that it was against a top four team, but the game seemed really finals like,” MacCulloch said.
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“I think the boys needed experience in something like that to get them through the finals type matches at the end of the year.”
MacCulloch was particularly impressed with the team’s defensive output, saying the back six players were “amazing”.
“Guys like Wayne Milera, Max Michalanney were great and Mark Keane was incredible coming back from a broken leg,” he said.
Mark Keane finished his return match with 22 disposals and 10 marks, Wayne Milera amassed 27 touches and a goal, while forward Josh Rachele kicked three goals from his 17 disposals.
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“Players like Sam Berry and James Peatling in the midfield, those guys haven’t been given much talk up by other clubs, but they have certainly shown they are capable of matching it with the best players in the league,” MacCulloch said.
On Saturday night, Adelaide will face-off with archrivals Port Adelaide in the Showdown for the second time this year.
Last time the two teams met, Adelaide won by a single point in a thriller with Brayden Cook kicking the match-winning goal in the final seconds.
MacCulloch said despite the Crows being clear favourites heading into the game that the matchup is “generally close”.
“They always have a go at each other, so it could go either way,” he said.
“Even though the Crows have got a probably more talent on their team and some better players, and Port have quite a lot of injuries, I’m not thinking it’s going to be a big margin.”
He has tipped captain Jordan Dawson will have a “huge game” and Josh Rachele will “pop up and do a few good things”.
Adelaide will be making two changes to the lineup, with star defender Wayne Milera to miss with a hamstring injury and key defender Nick Murray being dropped.
Isaac Cumming will return to the side after missing a few weeks with a hamstring strain while Josh Worrell will also return after missing last week’s match.
MacCulloch said he will be wary not to change his daily routine too drastically on Saturday before the big game.
“If I do something extremely out of the ordinary, it’s not necessarily going to make the Crows lose, but it will certainly weigh on my mind if they do lose afterwards,” he said.
The Crows supporter said his all-time favourite memory is Darren Jarman kicking five goals in the final quarter of the 1997 AFL Grand Final and all-time favourite player is ruckman Shaun Rehn.
“He always personified heart at the Crows, and I just love that about him, but he was just such a soft-spoken character, and I just loved his overall personality around the club,” he said.
“That little bit of hope”: Port Adelaide’s Rhiannon ter Horst
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Rhiannon ter Horst “fell in love” with Port Adelaide in 1998 after her stepfather introduced her to the sport at age five.
She will be embracing an “us against them” mentality heading into a hostile Showdown matchup with the Crows on Saturday.
Port Adelaide is coming off a comprehensive loss by Collingwood last Saturday night in Melbourne, losing by 26 points.
Midfielder Jason Horne-Francis was the team’s standout player, finishing with 30 disposals and six clearances, while defender Darcy Byrne-Jones gathered 34 touches and 10 marks.
“I wasn’t surprised at the loss. Unfortunately, we’ve not had a great track record against Collingwood at the MCG, but also just seeing the injuries was more devastating than the result itself,” ter Horst said.
Port had a horror run of injuries in the match, with key defender Esava Ratugolea rupturing his patella, Jack Lukosius suffering a calf strain and Ewan Mackinlay a season-ending knee injury.
But ter Horst said it wasn’t all bad, with some standout performances from the Port Adelaide youth.
“I’m really liking the performance from some of the younger players, them getting really involved, showing a lot of heart,” she said.
“Seeing Jack Whitlock take a couple of really nice marks and kick a few goals was good.
“I’ve been really enjoying watching Corey Durdin as well this year in the forward line. He’s been a really good pickup from Carlton.”
Port Adelaide will head into Showdown 60 as clear underdogs on Saturday night, but ter Horst said there was still optimism for her side after going through an “emotional rollercoaster” in the last Showdown.
“The funny thing about the Showdown is no matter where you are on the ladder, no matter who’s injured, they’re just so chaotic that anything could happen. I’ve still got that little bit of hope,” she said.
ter Horst believes key forward Mitch Georgiades will need to play a starring role to see the team get a much-needed win.
“His accuracy has slid quite a bit this year compared to last year, so I really want to see him have a great game,” she said.
“I really want to see some better ball movement in the middle. We’re turning the ball over a lot once we get possession in the middle from the back lines, and we’re not maintaining that possession or moving it as efficiently as we should.”
Port Adelaide has made five changes to its lineup for the Saturday night clash after the disastrous injury toll last week.
Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Jacob Wehr and Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines will replace the injured players, while small forward Mitch Zadow and ruckman Dante Visentini will replace Tom Cochrane and Todd Marshall who have been dropped from the lineup.
The Port Adelaide fan said her standout moments come from her childhood watching her favourite player, Warren Tredrea, train at Alberton and spending time with premiership coach Mark ‘Choco’ Williams.
She will be looking forward to having a large, good-luck glass of wine at the Black Bull before heading in to watch the game alongside friends.
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