Adelaide and Port Adelaide have met 42 times. The ledger is even at 21 wins apiece.
The result of Sunday’s Showdown could be crucial to the finals aspirations of both teams. The Crows are currently top of the AFL ladder: one win and percentage ahead of Geelong. The Power sit fifth with 11 wins and a healthy percentage.
The Crows have won the past four meetings between the two teams, including the most recent encounter by 17 points in Round Three, 2017.
Adelaide coach Don Pyke has a perfect winning record in Showdowns (3 – 0).
The Crows have won five of the seven Showdowns at Adelaide Oval.
Sixteen of the 42 Showdowns have been decided by two goals or less.
On Sunday, forward Tom Lynch will play his 100th AFL game. Lynch played six games for St Kilda before joining the Crows, where he’s played 93 matches, ahead of the 2012 season.
If selected, defender Jake Lever will line up in game No.50.
Like Lever, Adelaide forward Eddie Betts is aiming to be fit for Showdown XLIII. Betts has a remarkable record in Showdowns, having kicked 27 goals in seven games for the Crows against the Power.
Captain Taylor Walker holds the record for most goals in Showdowns with 33.
The Power have conceded the fewest points (1,371) of any team so far this season. The Crows have the fourth-best defensive record (1,467 points against).
Adelaide (2,011 points) remains the highest-scoring side, while Port Adelaide is third with 1,793 points.
The Power lead the League in scores from stoppages (731 points). The Crows have scored the most points from turnovers (1,312).
Crows captain Taylor Walker (462) and Power star Robbie Gray (437) are first and third in the competition for scoreboard impact according to Champion Data.
Walker is equal-fifth in the Coleman Medal with 43 goals from 17 games.
Gray and Eddie Betts have each kicked 41 goals this season – ranked equal-ninth in the League.
Betts (133) and Gray (129) are top-two for disposals in forward 50m this season.
Power forward Charlie Dixon is third for contested marks with 42. Dixon is also equal-second for marks on the lead (48) while Crow Taylor Walker is equal-sixth with 40.
Dixon has been the target of 208 of Port Adelaide’s forward 50m entries this season. Only North Melbourne forward Ben Brown (234) has been the target of more inside 50ms.
Port Adelaide averages more inside 50ms (60.1) than any other team.
Midfielders Rory Sloane (137) and Brad Ebert (136) are the two leading tacklers in the competition. Ebert is also fifth for inside 50ms (87). Crow Rory Laird is equal-fourth for rebound 50ms (97).
Port Adelaide is the No.1 team for rundown tackles (48).
Eleven Port Adelaide players have played every game this season – ranked No.1 in the competition. Eight Crows have played all 18 matches.
Port Adelaide onballer Ollie Wines is ranked ninth for contested possessions (239) – one ahead of Crow Matt Crouch with 238. The pair is level for clearances with 105 each – ranked 13th in the AFL.
Crouch has been the leading possession winner in the last two Showdowns with 32 and 33 disposals, respectively.
Port Adelaide captain Travis Boak has averaged 27 possessions and 1.5 goals in his last four games against Adelaide.
Power star Paddy Ryder is the second-ranked ruckman in the League according to Champion Data.
Ryder has a 54.7 per cent winning hit-out record – ranked No.1 of any ruckmen to have played more than 10 games this season. Crow Sam Jacobs has won 50.7 per cent of hit-outs.
Ryder also averages the second-most clearances (4.3) of any players.
Crows champion Mark Ricciuto and former Power star Josh Francou hold the record for most Showdown Medals, having won three each.
Full list of Showdown Medal winners
Only two players have won the Showdown Medal in a losing side. Simon Goodwin and Shaun Burgoyne were joint winners in Adelaide’s Round 20 win in 2005, while Graham Johncock claimed the honour in the Power’s 12-point win in Round Five, 2013.
