Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew is bracing himself for a fired-up Adelaide in Saturday’s AFL clash between the Suns and Crows.
The Suns are out to bounce back from a humiliating 92-point defeat to Richmond last weekend but the Crows are nursing hurt pride themselves after being blown away by arch-rivals Port Adelaide in a Showdown mauling.
A third-quarter blitz by the Power led to a 57-point loss for the Crows – their second defeat in a row leaving them eighth on the ladder and looking nervously at the teams below them in the race for the finals.
For Dew, the Crows’ big loss was the last thing he needed.
The Tigers’ defeat featured a first half Dew labelled “embarrassing” where the visitors had 100 points on the board before the break as the Suns slumped to an 11th-consecutive loss and bottom of the ladder.
He now faces the last club the Suns would want to take on after such a humbling.
Since joining the AFL, the Suns have played the Crows 12 times with Adelaide emerging victorious every time.
Eight of those wins have come by over 50 points with a 28-point loss in round 14, 2013 as close as the Suns have got to beating the Crows.
“What we do know is Adelaide will bounce back,” Dew said.
“Their second-half was like our first-half so they’ll be looking to respond as well and they’re a good footy club.”
In response to their defeat, Crows coach Don Pyke has axed midfield veteran Richard Douglas and youngster Jordan Gallucci with Riley Knight and Tyson Stengle coming into the team.
Dew resisted wielding the axe following his own team’s big loss but has been forced into a pair of changes with Jack Martin (finger) and Wil Powell (knee) both out injured.
Sean Lemmens and veteran Michael Rischitelli replace that pair for the Suns.
“We don’t think it’s been a habit to be as poor as we were in the first half so we had to show some faith and back the guys in for this week,” Dew said.
“If it was a repeat behaviour I think we could do that (make changes) but also we do need guys banging the door down from the NEAFL level.”