Double Blues chasing history against the Crows

By PETER CORNWALL

There’s plenty on the line here in another tantalising clash – but it’s certainly not to do with ladder position and unlikely to show much about finals hopes.

It’s all about the Double Blues’ attempt to become the first side since Port Adelaide in 1914 to make it unbeaten through an entire home-and-away season.

Sturt has won its past 30 minor round games in succession – 13 to end last season, 17 in a row this year.

It has won its past 18 games at Unley – a run extending back to Round 5 last year against the Eagles.

The Blues’ 85-point win against West Adelaide last week was its 20th straight victory against the Bloods.

Sturt’s most recent loss against West was more than a decade ago – Round 16, 2015.

The Blues were so hot last Saturday they led by 106 points 12 minutes into the third quarter – 18.4 to 0.6.

There were uneasy feelings for Westies fans who recalled Sturt keeping them to a meagre 0.6 in 2021 when the Dublas won by 76 points.

There was plenty of relief on their part when Joel Parker ended the drought in the third quarter.

But the Blues have been particularly ruthless over the past seven games, playing with attacking flair to average 136 points per game with a winning margin of 78.

The allround strength of the Unley club is borne out by the fact it is leading the Stanley H Lewis trophy for best club through all competitions by a whopping 525 points.

If Sturt beats Adelaide – also a real flag threat – at Fortress Unley, the Blues will charge into finals with a flawless 18-0 record, the league’s first undefeated campaign since 1914 when Port went 12-0 in a seven-team competition.

It was only four seasons ago Glenelg went into the final minor round unbeaten but missed out on completing a home-and-away whitewash after a Round 19 loss by 36 points to Port Adelaide at Alberton.

There always seem to be people who say you need a loss when you’ve been on a long winning run – get it out the way before the finals, apparently.

Well, after being beaten by Port after their 17-game winning run, the Bays were knocked off by the Eagles in the second semi-final and grand final.

There is no form like winning form and the Blues will be looking to keep winning, with the determination to consign to history the finals losses that ended last year’s charge.

While coach Martin Mattner said the first three quarters against West were “some of the best football we’ve played all year”, the Crows will be tough.

Adelaide has plenty of quality right across the ground, outstandingly led by ultra-consistent skipper Jack Madgen, and should not be considered anything else but a genuine premiership threat.