Despite boasting a high-powered assault, Adelaide do not desire a shootout in opposition to Essendon of their season-shaping fixture, utility Luke Pedlar says.
The seventh-placed Crows sit above eighth-placed Essendon by proportion getting into Sunday’s fixture at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium.
Adelaide have topped the 100-point mark six occasions this season and are the second-highest scoring staff within the competitors, behind Brisbane.
But Pedlar says the Crows’ focus is on defence in opposition to the Bombers.
“On the weekend we got into a bit of a shootout with North Melbourne in the first half and we kicked 77 points but they also kicked 51,” Pedlar mentioned on Tuesday.
“We don’t really want the game to be played like that.
“When our defence is at its strongest we assault effectively from that, so we’ll come into this week and hopefully defend rather well and maintain them to a low rating.”
The Crows have won just one of six games away from Adelaide Oval this season but Pedlar said they had taken confidence from their last road trip – a two-point loss against flag favourites Collingwood at the MCG.
“We have not obtained the job executed a number of occasions away from house,” he mentioned.
“But Collingwood are among the finest sides of the final two years fairly simply and we matched it with them on the large stage so hopefully it is no totally different this weekend in opposition to Essendon.”
Pedlar is the latest Rising Star nominee – he has played 14 games this season, his third on the Crows’ list, after injuries restricted him to five matches in his initial two years.
The 21-year-old, who had two shoulder reconstructions and was troubled by groin injuries in past seasons, wasn’t aware he was still eligible for the award.
“It’s only a little bit of a reward for a little bit of a block of labor that I’ve executed this yr,” he mentioned.
“It’s good to get a little bit of recognition however staff success is my focus going into this again finish of the yr.
“I didn’t actually know I was still eligible so I wasn’t really expecting it, to be honest.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
