Talking points

u The venue won’t be a problem for the Crows. They have played the Bulldogs in Ballarat four of the past five years.

u Adelaide has little trouble making the scoreboard tick over, so the return of Josh Bruce to stiffen the Bulldogs’ backline is especially timely.

u Elliott Himmelberg gets a chance to stake his claim in that Crows’ forward set-up this afternoon with the injury to Riley Thilthorpe.

u Nick Murray attracts few plaudits outside the Crows, but has become an integral part of the back six. He makes a welcome return today.

u Rory Lobb, the wingman, has been an interesting tactical device from Luke Beveridge

Ashley Browne

Prediction: Western Bulldogs by eight points

Grand Final Start Time

u One of the game’s time-honoured traditions will remain intact with the 2023 Grand Final set to start at 2.30pm at the MCG on Saturday, September 30. Incoming chief executive Andrew Dillon is a strong supporter of daytime Grand Finals, but in making the announcement this week, the League noted the “great presentation of a twilight event” and said that future start times would be reviewed.

PIES’ FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

u Ladder-leading Collingwood is the new star attraction of the AFL following the release of the rounds 16-23 fixtures. The Magpies will feature in four Friday night blockbusters, taking on the Western Bulldogs (round 17), Carlton (round 20), the Geelong Cats (round 22) and the Brisbane Lions (round 23). The fixture for round 24, will be announced one month before. See fixture page 52.

HEAD to HEAD

Played 48: Western Bulldogs 26, Adelaide Crows 22.

Past five: Western Bulldogs 3, Adelaide Crows 2.

Most recent game: round 6, 2022, Western Bulldogs lost to Adelaide Crows by 1 point at Mars Stadium.

Highest attendance: 70,088, first preliminary final, 1997, at the MCG.

Western Bulldogs

Home record: 18-8

Away record: 8-14

Highest score: 24.11 (155), round 11, 1998, at Princes Park.

Lowest score: 2.14 (26), round 9, 2018, at Adelaide Oval.

Greatest winning margin: 87 points, round 16, 1992, at Waverley Park.

Longest winning sequence: 5, round 1, 1999, to round 11, 2001.

Most goals in a game: 7, Chris Grant, round 20, 1994, at Whitten Oval.

Adelaide Crows

Away record: 8-18

Home record: 14-8

Highest score: 24.17 (161), first preliminary final, 1998, at the MCG. Lowest score: 4.10 (34), round 20, 1994, at Whitten Oval.

Greatest winning margin: 77 points, round 5, 2006, at Football Park.

Longest winning sequence: 4, round 1, 2002, to round 13, 2004.

Most goals in a game: 8, Tony Modra, round 5, 1997, at Princes Park; Josh Jenkins, round 7, 2016, at Marvel Stadium.

Clarkson Steps Away

u North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has stepped away from the club indefinitely as he continues to deal with the fall-out of an investigation into alleged mistreatment of First Nations players in his time at Hawthorn, allegations he strongly refutes. The club said Clarkson will have “whatever time he needs to restore his health”. Brett Ratten becomes interim senior coach.