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Adelaide Crows vs Melbourne Demons Preview & Tips - Crows to continue top four charge in AFL

Adam Cusworth

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Last updated: 04 Jul 2025

Adam Cusworth 04 Jul 2025

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Adelaide Crows vs Melbourne Demons expert predictions for Sunday’s Round 17 AFL game
Crows have won 4 out of their last 5 matches
Demons have lost 4 consecutive games

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Adelaide Crows (Getty Images)

Adelaide Crows vs Melbourne Demons Preview
Head to Head
Adelaide Crows Form
Adelaide Crows Team News
Adelaide Crows Team List
Melbourne Demons Form
Melbourne Demons Team News
Melbourne Demons Team List

Adelaide Crows vs Melbourne Demons Preview

Adelaide can take another step towards a top four spot with a decisive win over Melbourne. The Crows have won four of their past five and site in 3rd spot and they should be too good for the Dees following four straight defeats.

Adelaide have won four of their past five, including three by bit margins
Melbourne have lost four in a row
Josh Rachele has kicked 2+ goals in six of his past eight matches
Christian Petracca has averaged 28 disposals in his past four matches against Adelaide

Head to Head

Melbourne have taken out the past four matches between the two sides by an average margin of just under 20 points. They were 15-point winners the last time the two sides met, which was in Gather Round last season.

Adelaide Crows Form

Adelaide have won four of their past five. Three of those were by big margins against West Coast (66 points), Sydney (90) and Richmond (68) while they were on either side of the ledger in tight matches against Brisbane and Hawthorn.

Despite coming up against some of the top sides in their past five matches, the Crows top the competition for inside 50s in that period, while they are 4th for clearances and 5th for scoring.

Riley Thilthorpe booted five against Richmond and is averaging 2+ goals per game this season. Josh Rachele has kicked 13 in his past five matches. He has hit the 2+ in six of his past eight.

Jordan Dawson and Rory Laird both picked over 25 disposals in the Richmond match. Dawson has had 20+ in 10 of his past 12 matches. Rory Laird has had 25+ in four of his past five.

Adelaide Crows Team News

Adelaide have few players on the injury list and are a chance to go in unchanged this weekend. Chris Burgess booted seven goals in the SANFL last weekend but is among a host of players that will find it hard to squeeze in.

Adelaide Crows Team List

B: J.Worrell, J.Butts, R.Laird

HB: M.Hinge, M.Keane, W.Milera

C: I.Cumming, J.Dawson - C, D.Curtin

HF: B.Keays, R.Thilthorpe, M.Michalanney

F: J.Soligo, T.Walker, D.Fogarty

FOLL: R.O’Brien, I.Rankine, J.Peatling

I/C (FROM): Z.Taylor, J.Rachele, B.Smith, A.Neal-Bullen, L.Murphy, H.Bond, S.Berry, C.Burgess

Melbourne Demons Form

Melbourne have lost their past four matches. They cost themselves with inaccuracy against St Kilda, Collingwood and Port Adelaide before the loss to the Gold Coast Suns last weekend.

The Demons have been a strong centre clearance side and rank 4th in this measure over the past five rounds, seizing the opportunities provided by Max Gawn. But around the ground there is a drop off in the clearance battle and they rank just 12th for inside 50s and 15th for scoring in that period.

Jake Melksham kicked five goals last weekend, while Kozzie Pickett (three) and Bailey Fritsch (two) chimed in. Pickett has kicked 18 from his past eight matches.

Fritsch has kicked 2+ in his past three. Christian Petracca has had 25+ disposals in seven of his past nine matches. Clayton Oliver has had 25+ in two of his past three, missing out last weekend with 24.

Melbourne Demons Team News

Melbourne’s Blake Howes and Harrison Petty will both miss with concussion. Charlie Spargo is edging closer to a return, while Jake Lever was solid in the VFL after being axed last weekend. Jack Billings put his hand up for selection with a three-goal and 25-disposal effort at the lower level.

Melbourne Demons Team List

B: J.Bowey, S.May, J.Lever

HB: J.McVee, D.Turner, C.Salem

C: X.Lindsay, C.Petracca, E.Langdon

HF: J.Viney, B.Fritsch, K.Chandler

F: J.Melksham, M.Jefferson, K.Pickett

FOLL: M.Gawn - C, C.Oliver, T.Sparrow

I/C (FROM): J.van Rooyen, K.Tholstrup, J.Billings, H.Langford, T.Rivers, T.McDonald, J.Adams, H.Sharp

Verdict

Adelaide Crows v Melbourne Demons

Crows will have too much firepower and can win comfortably.

Adelaide -25.5

Handicap -25.5

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