Alright, ladies and gentlemen, as we gear up for a bit of an Australian razzle-dazzle between the Western Bulldogs and the Adelaide Crows, let's take a moment to ponder over the variables here. The 24-round regular season is barely breathing in Round 18, with both teams looking to punch their tickets to the glorious September finals.
Looking at their past tussles, the Adelaide Crows seem to know a thing or two about ruffling the Bulldogs' fur. They've dished out a whooping before, but the Bulldogs sure have had their biting moment. It's a bit of a roller coaster, this rivalry, a classic game of fetch if you will.
Fast-forward to their season records, it's a bit of a puzzle. The Crows perch themselves pretty comfortably with an 11-5 record, while the Bulldogs pause at 10-6. Both teams have been remarkably consistent, though the Bulldogs could surely do without those pesky losses.
Now, heading into the recent results, the Crows seem to have been on an AFL rendition of the 'Tour de France', pedaling away smoothly with the exception of a minor hiccup against Hawthorn. The Bulldogs, on the other hand, have been a rampant pack, showing quite an appetite in their recent games. A minor stumble against Hawthorn only seems to have fueled their fury.
Finally folks, let's peek at the standings. The Crows are perched pretty at number 3, while the Bulldogs have dogged their way to the 6th position. It's a titanic tussle indeed.
In the great theatre of unpredictable AFL happenings, rest assured this battle would be no less than an epic. But alas, my gut tells me the Bulldogs, favored by 8.5 points in some circles, will bark louder against the flying Crows. Keeping the Adelaide's bird-eye domination in the past and their rocking form aside, the dogged determination of the Bulldogs, and the burning desire to climb the standings ladder, gives them the slight edge.
Albert's Prediction: Western Bulldogs by 9.