Sam Jacobs

Jamie Kloeden reporting for AFANA from Australia

Facing Geelong after a big win over Essendon promised to be a huge challenge for the Adelaide Crows and making it especially hard was the venue being Simonds Stadium. The visitors hadn’t tasted success there since 2003 but their great form presented them with their best chance for some time. The Cats are known as a good performing team in wet conditions. With rain forecast, they were going into the encounter as favorites although perhaps not by as much as previous seasons.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Kevin Sheedy took part in his 900th career match as a player and coach. This is a first in League history. Sheedy played 251 games with Richmond and coached Essendon in 635 games. This was his 14th game as coach at GWS.

Jamie Kloeden reporting for AFANA from Adelaide, Australia

After a disappointing loss to North Melbourne last week, the Adelaide Crows returned home to face a young Richmond side that has shown plenty of positive signs this year but really needed another win to show that they deserve to be in the Finals mix this year.

Jamie Kloeden reporting for AFANA from Adelaide, Australia

All of Adelaide is a buzz at the moment with the hometown Crows exceeding all expectations in their first year with Brenton Sanderson at the helm. St Kilda is also having a solid start to the year under their own first year mentor but the Scott Watters led Saints faced a big challenge on the big stage of Friday Night Football in Round 12. When the two sides met last in 2011, St Kilda recorded a phenomenal 103 point victory with Neil Craig going on to relinquish his position as Adelaide coach in the days that followed. A lot has changed in that short time with the Crows looking like a totally different outfit in the first half of season 2012.

Round Five saw cross-town rivals Port Adelaide and Adelaide meet for the 32nd time. Although Port led the overall scorecard 17-14 it was the in-form Crows who went into the game as the favorites. Over the years the “Showdowns” - as these match ups are known - have often been fierce contests with high intensity starts and, not to disappoint, this game featured a phenomenal opening.

After a narrow loss in one of the games of the season in Round Two against Geelong, Hawthorn were looking to get back on the winners list against the unbeaten and confident Adelaide Crows in Round 3. The next four quarters showed just why the Hawks remain one of the favorites for the Premiership title this year.

West Coast has lost only one game of its last 12 and continues to be the surprise package of the 2012 home and away season. The Adelaide Crows have been struggling and faced their worst finish in the club’s history with only seven wins. Rain bucketed down as the game got under way and whilst this was a blessing to a dry and parched Western Australia, it made for slippery, wet conditions at the football.

Carlton forward Simon Wiggins has decided to retire after failing to play any senior games in 2010. Wiggins, who played alongside Coach Brett Ratten, debuted in 2001 and has played 116 games for the Blues.