Footy Forecast: Your weekly AFL preview from SA’s most diehard fans
A fan so committed to the Crows that she started a footy podcast says her team faces its greatest test while one Port fan and co-host of The Creed podcast is still feeling the hurt from last week’s clash.
Adelaide Crows’ Lauren Connelly
Adelaide Crows supporter Lauren Connelly has been a fan since she was five years thanks to the influence of family members and a team poster plastered in the bedroom.
She said her “nuffiest” Crows supporter action was to start a fan podcast Here We Crow which recently wrapped up production.
“But I’m sure we will probably come back if the team manages to get in the finals or win a final,” Connelly said.
Adelaide convincingly defeated the Gold Coast Suns at Adelaide Oval last Saturday night, running away 79-point victors.
“I honestly didn’t see them smashing them as comprehensively as we did. However, it’s pretty clear that Gold Coast are in a bit of a shambles at the moment,” Connelly said.
“It was just a pure four-quarter performance from the boys, and I think it kind of sets us up nicely for the next few weeks.”
She said Izak Rankine had a “really good game” in the midfield where he gathered 31 disposals and one goal.
“It’s what we’ve all been waiting for, and it feels like he still hasn’t even hit his ceiling in that space,” Connelly said.
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“Wayne Milera is just absolutely gunning it at the moment, and I thought it was great to cap off a really good NAIDOC week with some outstanding performances from our two Aboriginal players.”
Adelaide will head to the SCG to play the second-placed Sydney on Friday night, but Connelly remains “quietly confident” that her team will perform well in the “biggest test” of the year.
Taylor Walker, who kicked five goals last week, has been managed, while Rory Laird will miss with an ankle injury. Isaac Cumming and Hugo Hall-Kahan will replace the duo.
Connelly said the ruck battle between Adelaide’s Lachlan McAndrew and Sydney’s Brodie Grundy will be where the game is won.
“I think that’s going to be really tough, and that’s going to really push McAndrew to his limits,” she said.
“Whoever wins that battle will hopefully win the midfield battle generally, and hopefully we can manipulate their defence, who seem to be a little bit weak at the moment.”
Despite the Crows sitting fifth on the ladder, Connelly said it “would depend on some upsets” over the next five rounds of the season to finish in the top four.
Connelly will be washing her hair before tonight’s game for good luck as it “seems to do the trick most of the time”.
A favourite memory for the fan was the Adelaide Crows’ victory against Geelong in Round One 2021 after finishing bottom of the ladder in 2020.
“The Crows have been on quite the journey since the 2017 Grand Final, which was horrific as we all know,” Connelly said.
“That was almost like grand final and I think the fact that we just played out of our skin and absolutely no one expected us. Obviously, Geelong were grand finalists the year prior.”
Her favourite player is the “once in a generation” dual Norm Smith Medallist Andrew McLeod, who she describes as “one of the silkiest, most amazing players we’ll ever see in our lifetime”.
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Port Adelaide’s Jamie Oliver
Port Adelaide fan and co-host of The Creed podcast Jamie Oliver started becoming a regular fan in the mid-2000s before becoming a long-term member in 2009.
Oliver said last week’s match against St Kilda was “another cliche of a game of two halves” suffering a 14-point loss last Saturday after being down by 36 points at half-time.
“It’s characteristic of our club this year is that we give it a crack right to the end. It’s just unfortunate that we gave Saint Kilda another head start,” Oliver said.
He picked defender Miles Bergman as Port Adelaide’s standout player who finished the match with 21 disposals and 10 intercepts. Jason Horne-Francis was also among the best with 23 disposals and two goals.
“I feel that if he wasn’t there, potentially we could have bled another one, two, or even three goals in the first half,” he said.
“The fact that he played out the game at a high standard, I thought he was our best on ground.”
Oliver said he was “feeling the hurt” from last week’s matchup as multiple star players went down with serious injuries.
Zak Butters is set to go under the knife this week after suffering an ankle syndesmosis injury, Mitch Georgiades will be sidelined with a concussion, Jack Lukosius will miss as he manages a baker’s cyst issue at the back of his knee, and midfielder Jason Horne-Francis will miss with a one-week suspension.
The injury depleted side will face the top-of-the-table Fremantle at Adelaide Oval on Saturday afternoon
“I’m not expecting any miracles, but I think that Freo will at least be a two goal a quarter better side unfortunately,” Oliver said.
“If we can keep it under six goals I think we’ll be probably pretty content, obviously you never want to lose, but it’s a big mountain to climb.”
Oliver said the recent Showdown 60 upset victory against the Crows was one of his favourite football experiences that he has attended with his two brothers.
“Our father passed away in February due to cancer, and he was a huge influence on our football, taking us to the footy, and being fans of Port Adelaide Football Club. The Showdown 60 win is something that he would have really relished,” he said.
“It’s the times when your team is going through a rough time and overcomes a bit of adversity that stick out to me.”
Four-time All Australian Robbie Gray is the Port supporter’s favourite player “just due to the magic that he could provide on game day”.
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