By Matt Janson
May 22 2003

"We're the Pride Of South Australia and we're known as the Adelaide Crows" The first 2 lines of the song that has been so annoying to the Bulldog faithful in the last 7-8 years. We all know by now what has happened in the past, especialy come finals time. If we are to move forward though it is necessary to forget the past and concentrate on the now and future.

Unfortunately, the Western Bulldogs travel to Adelaide with a 1-7 record and uncertainty in their future both on and off the field. Thankfully though the Crows are not exactly in premiership form, losing their last 2 games.

The selectors have seen the light at long last and have decided to take action with some players returning from injury. Already 2 players have felt the axe and have to play with Werribee this week. After weeks of subtandard performances, both Nathan Eagleton and Wade Skipper have been dropped. Eagleton may think that this is the end for him as an AFL player whilst the long term diagnosis is better for Skipper.

As it is a Sunday game (do we ever play on a day not beginning with sun?) 5 players have come into the squad. Both Marcus Picken and Nick Bruton are both on the extended bench once more after being there but not getting a game in recent weeks. It appears likely that one of those 2 should appear in the final 22.

Steven Kretiuk is a welcome addition to the squad. His career has been plagued by injury and he is in line to make yet another after missing the last 3 games. It also adds some much needed muscle, height and aggression to the defence.

The other 2 players returning from injury are Daniel Cross and Shane Birss. Both got throuhg last weekend with Werribee with no further injury after Birss was sidlined through an eye injury and Cross a hand.

TEAMS:
BULLDOGS:
B: Robbins, Croft, Power
HB: Smith, Harrison, R.Murphy
C: McMahon, West, Dimattina
HF: McGuinness, Harris, Giansiracusa
F: Garlick, Bowden, Brown
R: Darcy, Hahn, Johnson
INT: Gilbee, Boyd, Kretiuk, Picken, Bruton, Birss, Cross

ADELAIDE:
B: Hart, Bassett, Crowell
HB: Begley, McGregor, Torney
C: Gallagher, Ricciuto, Stenglein
HF: Mattner, Perrie, Johncock
F: McLeod, Goodwin, Ladhams
R: Clarke, Bickley, Edwards
INT: Biglands, Doughty, Bode, Shirley, Massie, Nelson, Marsh