AFL: PRESSURE MOUNTING ON THE CROWS

IT’S Gather Round in South Australia and there’s no team needing a win more than the Adelaide Crows.

The Crows, who were widely tipped to be playing in the finals and even a smoky to win the AFL flag have made an inauspicious start to the season by losing its first three matches.

Only Brisbane and the three teams tipped to finish in the bottom three spots, North Melbourne, Hawthorn and the hapless West Coast Eagles can match that performance.

The Crows went down by a goal to the Gold Coast Suns in Round 1, then lost to Geelong at home in Round 2 by 19 points and then were thrashed by Fremantle by 35 points in Perth.

Last round the reigning Premiers Collingwood got the pressure monkey of its back with a win against Brisbane on Thursday night and the Crows will be attempting to do the same when they take on Melbourne at Adelaide Oval.

After a poor start to the season the Demons have won three matches in a row.

Last Saturday they proved too good for Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval and they have stayed in Adelaide since.

The Demons forward line is functioning as a cohesive unit with Harrison Petty and Ben Brown complimenting Bailey Fritsch and others.

The Crows are $2.30 with PlayUp and Melbourne is $1.62.

The other big clashes in Gather Round are on Saturday which are back to back matches at Adelaide Oval with the undefeated Fremantle Dockers against Carlton followed by the Western Bulldogs versus Geelong.

GWS are still $5 flag favourite with PlayUp while the Sydney Swans drifted to $6.50 after they lost to Richmond.