We’re back in the City of Churches for Friday night footy as the Crows host the Bombers at Adelaide Oval. Both teams will be feeling pretty positive about this one, coming off great wins last week. The Crows won a thriller against the previously undefeated Carlton, while Essendon were very good against the Bulldogs. It now means that this match is an important one, with the winner back in the finals discussions.
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AFL $60,000+ Crows v Bombers
AFL $5,000+ Crows v Bombers High Roller
AFL $3,000+ Crows v Bombers $2 Mini
AFL $2,000+ Crows v Bombers Fiver
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Betting Markets
Adelaide ($1.48) vs Essendon ($2.66) - Odds thanks to PlayUp
Line: Adelaide -13.5
Points: 174.5
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Additionally, we have a full Adelaide vs Essendon Betting Preview where we provide our best bet for the game as well as a great value Same Game Multi!
Weather
Adelaide - Partly cloudy, 19 degrees.
No issues with the weather in this one. Let’s play!
Where to Attack
Adelaide have been particularly restrictive on opposition forwards with some tight-scoring matches and their defence working rather well together recently. Meanwhile the twin ruck combination of Scott Draper and Todd Goldstein aren’t setting the world on fire individually, but they’ve been able to restrict their opposition ruck to below average fantasy scoring. Look to exploit the Bombers through the midfield and on the outside.
Game script: Adelaide mids/forwards, Essendon backs
Value Plays
Brayden Cook ($6,530) has been looking a little lost on the wing in his two games so far this season, but he holds his spot and gets a decent positional match up here against the Bombers who concede above average stats to outside mids. You’d like to see him get on the end of a couple of passes for some +3’s and hopefully hit the scoreboard at a budget price.
Mid-Priced Plays
Sam Berry ($10,130) could be a sneaky play in this one, given his recent numbers don’t look great on paper. Just make sure he isn’t given the sub vest again! Last week, Berry came on as the sub and made a huge impact with 9 disposals and a match winning goal in the last quarter. With Matt Crouch out of this one through suspension, it seems logical that Berry comes in for that inside mid role without taking minutes away from Rankine, Soligo or Rachele in the midfield. While he’s had a frustrating 18 months, if we go back to his 2022 season, Berry averaged 84.3 for the season with a high of 124, so he’s very capable of going big.
Sam Durham ($10,350) was one of the Bombers’ best last week with a shut down role on the Bont, while picking up 81 fantasy points for himself. With Setterfield and Perkins still out injured, it’s likely Durham is given a similar role - perhaps on Dawson? While he’s yet to show us consistency, we know he’ll have a good role to be in the thick of the action.
Mason Redman ($11,730) has been down on his usual output from last season but that just means we’re getting a nice price to go back to the well. Still averaging 81 for the season with a high of 109, and with 8 tons last season, we’d love to see him go large again here.
Premium Plays
Nic Martin ($15,440) - There’s a few premiums I’m happy to fade in this one for various reasons, so I think Nic Martin becomes an excellent choice in the Defender position. Martin is averaging 108 for the season with a high of 145 in a key distributor role across half-back. He’ll get plenty of kick ins, and opponents don’t seem to mind him having the ball as his efficiency isn’t always the best. Only worry is if Ben Keays goes for a defensive-forward tag. Otherwise, Martin should rack them up once again.
Zach Merrett ($17,040) - His price is the highest of the slate, but it’s worth mentioning Zach Merrett’s excellent record against the Crows. If you ignore the concussion-subbed score from Round 1 in 2018, his other six most recent matches against the Crows have produced fantasy scores of 150, 115, 138, 126, 134 and 101.
Suggested Draftstars Lineup
Cheat Sheet
AFL Fantasy Draftstars Projections- Rd6 Crows vs Bombers - Downloadable File (.xlsx)
