Yze tipping Crows for flag
March 12, 2006

MELBOURNE onballer Adem Yze says Adelaide deserves to be flag favourite after the imperious manner in which the Crows demolished the Demons on Friday night.

The hard-running Crows kept the Demons to three points in the second half and, crucially, appears to have solved the goalkicking woes that have plagued them for several years.

While Yze says several weeks of travel may have left the Demons flat, he can see last year's minor premiers again taking the mantle as the team to beat.

"They are coached really well, they have got their game plan down pat so far. They were top of the ladder last year and they showed why (against us)," he said.

"I would say they would be (flag favourites). They just look so settled. West Coast you would think be up there, but with the off-field stuff it might have unsettled them a bit. Adelaide looks to be cherry ripe at the moment.

"There is no reason why we can't match it during the year, but they are pretty much the favourites at the moment."

While the Demons travelled to Darwin and the Gold Coast in the last month and flew to Adelaide on the day of the game on Friday, they looked overwhelmed and outclassed by the Crows.

It was Adelaide's 10th consecutive win over Melbourne at AAMI Stadium, with many being embarrassing margins similar to Friday night's 85-point drubbing.

"We are not too sure (what happened). We travelled on the day of the game, which we wouldn't do normally during the year," he said.

"So you move on. We play the Kangaroos next week (in a NAB challenge match) and then we are into it. One loss is obviously disappointing and we didn't want to lose that way, but we move on and look towards round one."

Hamstrung ball-winner Cameron Bruce is hopeful of returning next week, while Brock McLean is also close to full fitness after battling soft tissue injuries.

Veterans Clint Bizzell, Ben Holland and Daniel Ward were also expected to get valuable match practice in the VFL over the weekend.

"Hopefully for round one we will have a full list to choose from so you can't get any better than that. Then we need to get a win," Yze said.

Sunday Herald Sun