Adelaide coach Brenton Sanderson admits Taylor Walker could have played in the AFL this week, instead he'll be making his return in round nine while his teammates take on the Melbourne Demons and former teammate Bernie Vince.
MELBOURNE is praying for rain as former Crows best-and-fairest Bernie Vince faces Adelaide for the first time at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
Under new coach Paul Roos, the Demons have improved to become one of the most difficult teams to score against and Vince said a low-scoring game because of inclement weather would be ideal.
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Melbourne is averaging 10 fewer goals scored against them this season after adopting similar strategies to the ones Roos employed at Sydney and would cherish a low-scoring game.
The big choke is on.
The difference between Sydney under Roos and Melbourne under Roos has been that the Demons have not been able to put up big scores. That is the second part of the rejuvenation under Roos.
Showers are forecast for today and if they eventuate they are likely to slow down the match.
"In the last few games we've been able to keep sides to pretty low scores but we haven't scored a lot ourselves,'' Vince said.
"But I guess if it's wet, it will suit us — low-scoring game again.
Melbourne midfielder Bernie Vince takes a look at the new Adelaide Oval. Picture: Sarah Reed.
"Our attack is probably something that's let us down a bit but getting Chris Dawes back has been great.
"Hopefully our attack can lift a bit, but (playing) in the wet might suit us.
"Being realistic where we came from, coming off winning two games last year, 'Roosy' thought the best was to turn that around was to get our defence right first, to really try to choke the opposition and stop them scoring.
"The offence hasn't been put on the backburner but that's the thing we've found the toughest: to score. And it hasn't helped to have all of our key forwards out.
"That's probably the thing we've been working on the most.
Melbourne is acutely aware of Adelaide's potential to score freely after studying Vince's old side closely over the first six rounds.
"They're a very attacking side and they've scored big,'' Vince said.
"Even in the games that they've lost it's been a real shoot-out.
"We're going to try to stop what their strength is and that's their high scoring.
"We've just got to make sure we tackle well — all the little things — (winning) the contested ball and get the ball going our way and hopefully stop their outside run.
"They build up from half back and can then attack well. We need to shut down guys like David McKay and Brodie Smith and those sort of guys who really create that run.
"They've got some real guns in there that can really hurt us but if the surface is a bit wet it might suit us a bit more."
He is aware of the close attention he is likely to receive in the midfield.
Sam Kerridge, who took his old number, is likely to be standing right next to Vince at the opening bounce.
"Seventeen (No. 17) was pretty close to me because I used to wear it but looks like I might be wearing it again tomorrow (Saturday),'' Vince said.
Bernie Vince in action for Melbourne. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: News Corp Australia
HAPPY HOMECOMING FOR BERNIE
BERNIE Vince maintains he has no hard feelings over his departure from the Crows and could not look forward more to today's match at Adelaide Oval.
He remains close to the players — and he was one of the club's most popular figures when he played for Adelaide.
Vince is also enjoying his time at his new club, as much as it was a traumatic time when he was traded.
"No, none (hard feelings) at all from me,'' Vince said.
"I'm very good mates with all the guys still and I'll certainly say G'day to them after and there's no hard feelings from my side.
"I keep in pretty close contact with a lot of them anyway.
"I'm sure it will a bit of fun out there. It probably be a little bit weird, too, because I haven't played them yet.''
Vince loved the look at Adelaide Oval, the one he just missed calling his home ground.
But his new digs aren't bad, either.
"Yeah, well, I get to play at the MCG every week,'' Vince said with a cheeky smile.
"You could argue that one as well. But I love playing anywhere, just love playing footy for a job.''
He wasn't sure what to expect from the local supporters.
Vince said he would try to shut it out, regardless of the reaction to him playing against the Crows for the first time.
"It'll be an interesting one but I can't really answer that one,'' Vince said.
"It'll be up to the supporters how they treat me.
"But I don't think it will worry me either way too much. It'll probably be a bit better if they don't boo me but we'll see what happens.''
Vince lives in Melbourne's inner-city suburb of Richmond now, not far from the MCG, and speaks highly about his new lifestyle.
But he conceded there had been some nerves before he completed the shift.
"It was the unknown, going over there, not knowing what to expect,'' Vince said.
"But the boys and the coaches and the club have been awesome.
"I've settled in really well and Melbourne feels like home now.''
